Lindsay Arnold Praises Scott Hoying’s DWTS Progress

Lindsay Arnold has expressed her astonishment at the remarkable improvement Scott Hoying has made in his dancing since the start of Dancing With the Stars two weeks ago.

On September 23, Lindsay, who is 31, posted an Instagram Story featuring her adorable daughters, Sage (4) and June (2), as they mimicked the dance moves executed by her younger sister, Rylee Arnold, and her partner from Pentatonix during their second week on DWTS.

“There’s truly nothing more adorable than watching these little girls imitate their auntie @ryleearnold, not to mention Sage is spot on—this was a challenging routine!” Lindsay, who shares her daughters with husband Samuel Lightner Cusick, affectionately captioned the video. She also showered praise on Scott: “@scotthoying, you’ve come such a long way! So much content, performance, and technique improvement!”

During their week 2 performance, Rylee, age 20, and Scott, at 34, dazzled the audience with a cha-cha routine set to “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” by Eiffel 65, earning a score of 18 out of 30. Fortunately for them, the duo was safe from elimination and will be progressing to week 3.

In a delightful interview published on September 24 with Good Housekeeping, Rylee expressed her admiration for Scott’s musical capabilities: “What I appreciate about Scott is his musicality and ability to move! He possesses an exceptional sense of rhythm and an undeniable fierceness. I’m excited at the prospect of featuring some Pentatonix music in future performances!”

Rylee joined the cast of DWTS as a professional dancer in 2023, following Lindsay, who served as a professional dancer on the program from 2013 until her decision in August 2022 to step back and concentrate on motherhood.

Reflecting on her departure, Lindsay shared her experience via Instagram in August 2022, stating, “This has been one of the toughest choices to make, but ultimately I am prioritizing what I believe is best for myself and my family. As many of you know, our family resides in [Utah]. Participating in DWTS requires me to relocate myself and my daughter Sage to LA, leaving behind my husband Sam, who works full-time here in Utah.”

Since stepping away from the competition, Lindsay, along with her daughters, has been a supportive cheerleader for Rylee.

On reflecting about her sister’s journey, Lindsay said, “People frequently ask me if it’s harder not being involved in the show now that Rylee is performing. But honestly? Not at all. Watching Rylee is like reliving my own journey from twelve years ago. My emotions are heightened—I’m more invested in her success than I ever was for myself. I find myself feeling more nervous and excited for her.”

Lindsay went on to explain how her new perspective allows her to enjoy DWTS from a distance while still feeling connected: “This experience has kept me intertwined with the show, through Rylee. It’s just delightful to be a fan. I genuinely want to observe her journey and cheer her on. This is only the beginning for her, and it’s a thrill to witness.”