Katherine Jenkins' debut Dancing with the Stars performance was hailed the "best first dance on the first episode ever" last night.

The opera singer took to the stage alongside her professional partner Mark Ballas as they danced the foxtrot.

Katherine's efforts were praised, with judge Carrie Ann Inaba gushing that the blonde beauty's performance had stolen the show.

"[That was the] best first dance on the first episode ever," she told the Welsh star, who dazzled in a canary yellow dress.

Len Goodman called her foxtrot "cracking", while Bruno Tonioli said the dance was "exquisite".

"You're setting the bar so high that really you have a lot to live up to," he added, before Katherine was reduced to tears.

The stunning star was awarded 26 points two nines and an eight, for her foxtrot.

Actor Jaleel White and professional partner Kym Johnson emerged as the night's dual frontrunners, with 26 points also being awarded to them.

William Levy and partner Cheryl Burke scored a respectable 24 for their Cha-cha-cha.

Roshon Fegan, Gladys Knight, Sherri Shepherd and Jack Wagner tied in fourth place with 23.

Donald Driver garnered 21 points, while Gavin DeGraw, Martina Navratilova and Melissa Gilbert finished at the bottom of the leaderboard with 20.

"Without a doubt, this is the best first show of any season," said head judge Len of Season 14 of the hit TV series.