Exclusive: John Schneider on His First Week of Dancing With the Stars and His New Favorite Word

Safe. That’s the word that John Schneider heard during the first elimination ceremony of Dancing with the Stars. The ABC hit show resumed for its 27th season on Monday, Sept. 24 and Tuesday, Sept. 25 with a new crop of anxious celebrities stepping out onto the ballroom dance floor for the very first time.

Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider was more than relieved to hear that he’d be moving on into the second week of competition with his partner Emma Slater. The chance to tie in his love for music with a brand new experience is something the actor and singer is more than thrilled to continue.

“I’m very excited about being on Dancing With the Stars because it puts me right back in the middle of music where I have always felt I belong,” Schneider shared with Sounds Like Nashville exclusively. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for me to get my new music at the forefront of a brand new audience. I respect the judges and will do my best to incorporate their notes into subsequent dances. Having the opportunity to get these old bones moving with the amazing Emma Slater is something I am finding both challenging and exhilarating! My new favorite word? Safe!”

Schneider kicked off his DWTS experience with a fox trot to the “Theme from Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys),” by Waylon Jennings. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli awarded the pair an 18 out of 30 for their first trek out onto the dance floor.

DANCING WITH THE STARS – “Episode 2701A” – On part two of the spectacular season premiere, the 13 celebrities get ready to hit the ballroom floor once again, with a lot riding on their final scores, on “Dancing with the Stars,” live, TUESDAY, SEPT. 25 (8:00-10:01 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Eric McCandless) ALEXIS REN, ALAN BERSTEN, DANELLE UMSTEAD, ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV, EMMA SLATER, JOHN SCHNEIDER, MARY LOU RETTON, SASHA FARBER, NANCY MCKEON, VAL CHMERKOVSKIY, NIKKI GLASER, GLEB SAVCHENKO

“I did get loosey-goosey because I was having fun, not because my teacher [Slater] didn’t beat it into me,” Schneider said following his performance. “I took the notes [of the judges’ comments]. We’re going to work on the notes tonight [in rehearsal].”

Fans can catch Schneider on Dancing With the Stars when the competition continues for a second week.