Should we just go ahead and give the Mirrorball Trophy to Charity Lawson?

It might sound premature, but the “Bachelorette” star with Auburn ties made an extremely impressive debut on Season 32 of “Dancing with the Stars.” On Monday’s episode, Lawson received the top score of the night from the show’s judges — Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough — and dominated the dance floor with her pro partner, Artem Chigvintsev.

Chigvintsev, as you may recall, won the show’s coveted trophy in 2020 with another lead from “The Bachelorette,” Kaitlyn Bristowe. As a skillful DWTS veteran, he’s could be the ideal partner for Lawson, guiding her to victory on the ABC reality series.

Of course, there’s a long road ahead before the Mirrorball Trophy is within her grasp. Lawson is one of 14 celebrities announced for the series this season. There will be plenty of theme nights and eliminations — and perhaps a few surprises — as “Dancing with the Stars” progresses over the next couple of months.

In the meantime, viewers in Alabama can cheer for Lawson, vote for her if they’re so inclined … and listen up for a heartfelt “War Eagle!” during her biographical segments. If you didn’t watch the show this week, here’s what you missed:

Who she is: Charity Lawson is the most recent star of “The Bachelorette.” The Georgia native found love on Season 20 of the ABC reality series and is now engaged to Dotun Olubeko. Lawson, 27, earned two degrees at Auburn University, a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation and disability in 2018, and a master’s in clinical mental health counseling in 2022. Lawson has expressed great affection and respect for her alma mater, and her fandom for the Auburn Tigers runs deep.

READ: Alabama and Auburn’s celebrity football fans: The biggest stars who root for the Tide or Tigers

Dancing debut: Lawson danced a tango with Chigvintsev to the sounds of “Only Girl (In The World)” by Rihanna. She wore a sparkling silver gown and performed the steps with precision and flair. The couple ended the dance with a flourish, amid a shower of red balloons and confetti shaped like crimson hearts.

What Lawson said: “Being on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is honestly a dream come true. I grew up watching it with my friends, and I have one signature dance move that I always do when I go out. And it’s so over-used; I’m tired of doing it.” Lawson also revealed that she’d been a competitive cheerleader for 12 years, which was her primary dance experience.

What Chigvintsev said: The dance pro lauded Lawson’s cheerleading bona fides, but said their goal was to move her from the cheerleading field to the ballroom floor.

Judges’ reactions: All three seemed thrilled by Lawson’s performance, calling it exceptional for the first week of the season.

Tonioli said: “Sweet Charity! That was a tango stunner. … Those staccato poses (were) exquisite. The execution, for Week One, was superb. A stellar performance.”

From Inaba: “What week is it? That was incredible. … That was amazing. … That was just stunning, and you are elegant, and the lines were amazing.”

Hough’s thoughts: “Charity, that was exquisite. Beautiful, precise, elegant.”

How she scored: Lawson and and Chigvintsev received 22 out of 30 points from the judges. At the end of the two-and-a-half hour episode, they emerged in first place.

How results were tallied: Judges’ scores were combined with viewer votes that came in during the episode, determining who stays and who goes. Viewer vote totals weren’t announced during the program, which aired live.

Did she make the cut?: Yes, Lawson and and Chigvintsev remain in the competition as the early front-runners.

First out: Comedian/actor Matt Walsh and his partner, Koko Iwasaki, earned a low score of 12 out of 30 points. Although Walsh exuded charm and an appealing wit, he clearly was inexperienced on the dance floor. Iwasaki did most of the work during their cha-cha routine to “Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe. The studio audience booed when the judges offered criticism, but viewer votes didn’t save the couple and they were eliminated.

Up next: Thirteen teams will perform on the Oct. 3 episode, pegged as salsa night. Viewer votes and judges’ scores will be combined for the results totals, and one couple will likely be eliminated.

Still in the running: Charity Lawson and Artem Chigvintsev (22/30 points), Jason Mraz and Daniella Karagach (21/30), Ariana Madix and Pasha Pashkov (21/30), Lele Pons and Brandon Armstrong (19/30), Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy (18/30), Adrian Peterson and Britt Stewart (18/30), Mira Sorvino and Gleb Savchenko (17/30), Barry Williams and Peta Murgatroyd (16/30), Jamie Lynn Spears and Alan Bersten (15/30), Mauricio Umansky and Emma Slater (15/30), Alyson Hannigan and Sasha Farber (13/30), Harry Jowsey and Rylee Arnold (12/30), Tyson Beckford and Jenna Johnson (12/30).

If you watch: “Dancing with the Stars” airs Tuesdays at 7 p.m. CT on ABC and Disney+. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are co-hosts of the reality series.