Witney Carson is expecting her third child and will return to Dancing With the Stars for Season 35, becoming the first professional dancer to enter a season already knowing she is pregnant.
Carson, 32, revealed the pregnancy on Good Morning America on Aug. 17. She and McAllister are already parents to sons Leo, 5, and Jet, 3, and she said the couple is looking forward to becoming a family of five.
The dancer said she is entering her second trimester and has experienced significant nausea during the early stages of the pregnancy.
With two young children at home, she said resting has been difficult, while her husband has helped support the family. Carson’s return creates a first for the ABC competition.
She previously performed on the show while pregnant, announcing her first pregnancy during the Season 31 semifinals in 2022.
Fellow professional Daniella Karagach also discovered she was pregnant during that season, but Carson is the first pro to begin a season knowing she is expecting.
Balancing Pregnancy and Competition
Before agreeing to return, Carson, McAllister and casting director Deena Katz discussed whether competing would be appropriate. Carson said the decision was based on how she feels and the health of her baby.
She will be paired with Guillermo Rodriguez, whose partnership was announced during the pregnancy reveal.
Carson said she does not intend to hide her growing bump in her costumes, describing the opportunity to compete while pregnant as something she feels proud of.
The challenge comes after Carson previously chose to sit out Season 32 in 2023.
She was then three months postpartum and said she did not feel physically ready to meet the demands of the competition while caring for her two young sons.
Her ‘DWTS’ Track Record
Carson is returning as the reigning Mirrorball champion after winning Season 34 with Robert Irwin. Her first championship came in Season 19 in 2014, when she competed with Alfonso Ribeiro.
She and McAllister began dating in high school and married in 2016. Their family grew with Leo’s birth in 2021, followed by Jet in 2023.
Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars will open with a two night premiere on Sept. 15 and 16.
The remaining celebrity cast is scheduled to be revealed on Good Morning America on Sept. 2, setting the stage for Carson’s return to the ballroom.
