Witney Carson is preparing for another season of Dancing With the Stars while navigating an exciting new chapter in her personal life. The two-time Mirrorball Trophy champion is currently pregnant with her third child, but she remains determined to return to the ballroom for Season 35.
Carson will be partnered with Guillermo Rodriguez, the longtime Jimmy Kimmel Live! personality who is making his Dancing With the Stars debut. The pairing has already generated plenty of interest, particularly because Carson will be competing while pregnant.
Despite the physical changes that come with pregnancy, Carson says she has been able to keep up with rehearsals so far. She has acknowledged becoming more out of breath during training, but she remains focused on preparing Rodriguez for the competition while listening carefully to her body.
Carson has emphasized that her baby’s health remains her top priority. She is approaching rehearsals with awareness of the changes happening during pregnancy and understands that her routine may need to be adjusted as the season progresses.
The professional dancer is no stranger to demanding Dancing With the Stars schedules. She has spent years mastering choreography, teaching celebrity partners and performing under the pressure of live television, making her return especially anticipated by longtime viewers.
Her previous season ended on a high note when she and Robert Irwin won the Season 34 Mirrorball Trophy. Returning as the reigning champion gives Carson another reason to be excited about the ballroom, even though this season will present a very different set of circumstances.
For Rodriguez, working with Carson also means learning from one of the show’s most accomplished professional dancers. He has described her as supportive and has approached the demanding rehearsal process with enthusiasm and humor.
As Carson’s pregnancy progresses, she knows that rehearsals could become increasingly challenging. Movements that feel manageable early in the season may require modifications later, meaning the pair will have to remain flexible as they prepare each week’s routine.
That uncertainty adds another layer to Carson’s comeback. Rather than knowing exactly what the season will look like, she is entering the competition prepared to adapt while keeping her health and pregnancy at the center of her decisions.
Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars is scheduled to premiere September 15 and 16 on ABC and Disney+, giving fans their first opportunity to see Carson and Rodriguez take the ballroom floor together. For Carson, the season promises to be unlike any she has experienced before, combining her competitive drive with one of the most meaningful personal journeys of her life.
Compiled with information from various sources.
