Fans of Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) panicked when Carrie Ann Inaba revealed she would miss the show’s big Season 34 premiere. Beginning to wonder if the longtime judge is leaving it altogether, however, she quickly cleared the air.
So, here are all the details if Carrie Ann Inaba is leaving the show.
Carrie Ann Inaba is not leaving DWTS, why she missed the premiere
Carrie Ann Inaba, who has been a judge on DWTS since its first season in 2005, took to Instagram to let fans know she was “feeling quite under the weather” and wouldn’t make it to the premiere. While her absence stirred speculation about her leaving the show, Inaba reassured viewers she plans to return next week.
“I’m resting up and can’t wait to be back next week in good health,” she wrote in her post, also sending good luck to the Season 34 contestants and promising to cheer them on from home. Unlike past situations where absent judges have been temporarily replaced, producers reportedly confirmed no guest judge would fill in for Inaba. That meant Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough carried the panel on opening night. Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough also returned to kick off the highly anticipated season.
The DWTS Season 34 cast is stacked with big names, including Corey Feldman, Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel, social media personality Alix Earle, conservationist Robert Irwin, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars Jen Affleck, and Whitney Leavitt. The premiere, despite missing Inaba, went ahead with plenty of star power and fanfare.
Inaba has been candid about prioritizing her health in recent years, stepping away from The Talk in 2021 to focus on her well-being. Her latest message reminded fans of that commitment: “Health is the most precious gift we have.”
With her return expected next week, fans can rest easy knowing Carrie Ann Inaba isn’t leaving DWTS. Instead, she’s simply pressing pause to take care of herself before rejoining the ballroom for what promises to be an exciting new season.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon.net.
