Witney Carson is returning to Dancing With the Stars with a major personal milestone. The professional dancer is pregnant with her third child and plans to compete in Season 35 while expecting. Carson announced the news on Good Morning America on August 17, revealing that she will also be partnered with Guillermo Rodriguez for the upcoming season. The two-night Season 35 premiere is scheduled for September 15 and 16 on ABC and Disney+.
The announcement makes Carson the first professional dancer in the show’s history to enter a season knowing she is pregnant. She has danced on the show while pregnant before, but this time she will begin the competition already aware that she is expecting.
Is Witney Carson Pregnant?
Yes. Carson is expecting her third child with her husband, Carson McAllister. The couple are already parents to two sons, Leo and Jet. Carson shared her excitement about expanding their family while also making it clear that she intends to continue pursuing her professional career.
“I love dance. I love to compete. I love being on the show, and I also love being a mom, and I want to grow my family,” Carson said.
She added that if she and the baby remain healthy, she wants to continue doing both.
“My family is growing. We’re so blessed to keep growing our family,” Carson also told PEOPLE. “I can’t wait to become a family of five.”
Why Is Witney Carson’s DWTS Season 35 Return Historic?
Carson’s Season 35 comeback marks a first for the long-running dance competition.
Although other professional dancers have been pregnant during their time on the show, Carson is the first pro to enter a season already knowing she is expecting.
She previously announced her pregnancy during the Season 31 semifinals in 2022. Fellow professional Daniella Karagach also discovered she was pregnant during that season, but Carson’s current return is different because she will begin the competition while already pregnant.
That makes her Season 35 journey particularly unusual, as she will have to balance the physical demands of competitive ballroom dancing with pregnancy.
How Far Along Is Witney Carson In Her Pregnancy?
Carson revealed that she is approaching her second trimester. She acknowledged that competing while pregnant will be a new experience for her, particularly because of how far along she will be when the season gets underway.
“I’ll actually be the first professional dancer to compete being this far along pregnant, which is scary but also exciting,” Carson said. She also admitted that the physical demands could be challenging, but said she hopes the experience will ultimately inspire viewers.
“Working while growing a human is going to be a challenge,” she said, adding that she hopes people will embrace the journey.
What Did Witney Carson Say About Dancing While Pregnant?
For Carson, the decision came down to balancing her two major priorities: motherhood and dance. She said she, her husband and DWTS casting director Deena Katz had numerous conversations about whether returning for the season was the right decision. Their priority was making sure that Carson and her baby remained healthy.
“If you feel good enough, why not? Why not do it?” Carson recalled of the conversations surrounding her return.
She also pointed out that Dancing With the Stars is not simply something she loves — it is part of her livelihood.
“This is also like my livelihood. Like, the show is also something that I have to do to provide for my family,” she explained.
Who Is Witney Carson’s Partner On DWTS Season 35?
Carson will be partnered with Guillermo Rodriguez, best known as Jimmy Kimmel’s longtime sidekick on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The pairing was revealed alongside Carson’s pregnancy announcement on Good Morning America. Rodriguez is among the celebrities already confirmed for Season 35, with the remainder of the cast and professional pairings scheduled to be announced on September 2.
Has Witney Carson Competed On DWTS While Pregnant Before?
Yes. Carson has previously performed on Dancing With the Stars while pregnant. She announced her pregnancy during the Season 31 semifinals in 2022. That experience, however, differs from her upcoming Season 35 return because she was already well into the competition when she revealed the news.
Her current season will therefore be a first in another way: she is entering the competition knowing she is pregnant and preparing to perform during her pregnancy from the outset.
Who Is Witney Carson’s Husband?
Witney Carson is married to Carson McAllister, her longtime partner and high-school sweetheart. The couple married in 2016 and have two sons together. Their first son, Leo, was born in 2021, while their second son, Jet, was born in 2023. Carson has previously spoken about taking time away from DWTS to focus on her growing family.
Now, with their third child on the way, Carson is preparing to balance family life with another season in the ballroom.
How Many Children Does Witney Carson Have?
Carson and McAllister currently have two children, both boys. Their third baby will make the couple a family of five. The pregnancy announcement comes after Carson’s return to the DWTS spotlight last season, when she won the Season 34 Mirrorball Trophy with Robert Irwin.
How Many Times Has Witney Carson Won Dancing With The Stars?
Carson is a two-time Mirrorball champion. She won Season 19 with Alfonso Ribeiro in 2014 and returned to the winners’ circle in Season 34 alongside Robert Irwin in 2025. Her second victory made her return to the ballroom for Season 35 even more anticipated. Now, she will attempt to defend her status as reigning champion while taking on a completely new challenge.
When Does Dancing With The Stars Season 35 Premiere?
Dancing With the Stars Season 35 will premiere with a two-night event on September 15 and 16, 2026, on ABC and Disney+, with episodes streaming on Hulu the following day. The complete cast will be announced on Good Morning America on September 2.
