Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone' Powers DWTS Season 35 Opener

Kelly Clarkson's breakout anthem "Since U Been Gone" got a whole new life Tuesday night — not on a concert stage, but on the ballroom floor of Dancing With the Stars. Season 35 kicked off with its male celebrity lineup, and one performance in particular stopped the room cold.

Ezra Frech Turns a Pop Anthem Into a Ballroom Statement

Paralympian track star Ezra Frech, born without a left leg and with only two fingers on his left hand, took the floor with pro partner Daniella Karagach to the pulse-racing energy of "Since U Been Gone" — the track that catapulted Clarkson into pop-rock royalty back in 2004. The tango they performed required Frech to lead predominantly from his left side, a technical challenge that would make seasoned dancers nervous. He made it look like art.

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba put it plainly, according to TheWrap: "This is why I love Dancing with the Stars — showing people what's possible in the face of adversity, showing people new ways to move." It was the kind of moment that reminds viewers why the show has stayed compelling for over three decades of combined seasons.

Kelly Clarkson, who has been earning industry recognition across multiple platforms, continues to prove that her catalog has an almost supernatural ability to soundtrack pivotal moments — whether in arenas or on primetime television.

Harry Shum Jr. Claims the Top Score

If Frech owned the emotional peak of the evening, Grey's Anatomy star Harry Shum Jr. owned the scoreboard. His cha cha to Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove" with partner Jenna Johnson earned the highest marks of Night One. Shum Jr. has danced extensively — on Glee, as a backup dancer for Beyoncé — but ballroom was new territory. The judges praised his musicality and raw potential across the board.

The actor is currently in active production on Grey's Anatomy while simultaneously competing on DWTS, a scheduling feat that would exhaust most people before the first rehearsal.

The Full Night: Charisma, Chaos, and One Elimination

The rest of Season 35's male celebrity lineup brought a wild mix of energy to the ballroom. Tyler Cameron — Bachelorette alum turned HGTV host — tangoed to Lenny Kravitz and impressed with his frame, even if Derek Hough wanted more extension through his ribcage. Taylor Hanson of Hanson fame quickstepped to Billy Joel in what judge Bruno Tonioli called a tribute worthy of the late Len Goodman.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez may have scored two 3s, but he kissed Tonioli on the cheek and had the studio audience cheering like it was a championship match. Witney Carson, his partner, is competing in her second trimester of pregnancy — quietly making history while doing it. Podcaster Connor Wood and baseball player Jackson Olson rounded out the night with charm to spare, even if their technique left the judges with notes.

Conner Leavitt — who has referred to himself on social media as the "nepo-husband" from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives — had a chaotic salsa that didn't land with the judges, and combined with low viewer votes, he and partner Adele Zaikman were sent home at the end of Night One.

On the technical side, ABC's online voting portal glitched during the premiere, forcing fans to vote via text only. Host Alfonso Ribeiro reported that despite the hiccup, the show received double the votes compared to last season's opener.

Kelly Clarkson's Cultural Staying Power

It's worth pausing on the Clarkson angle here — because "Since U Been Gone" isn't just a song anymore, it's a cultural reflex. Whether she's refreshing her Vegas setlist with show-stopping energy or soundtracking a Paralympic athlete's tango, Clarkson's music keeps finding new rooms to fill. Season 35 of DWTS continues Wednesday night with the female celebrity lineup.

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