Season 32 of Dancing with the Stars is approaching fast. And it is shaping up to be a stellar season. Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough are handling hosting duties. Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tunioli, and Derek Hough have dusted off their judging paddles. The legendary judge Len Goodman retired after last season. Sadly, he passed away shortly thereafter.
Pro Lindsay Arnold recently announced that she wasn’t returning for the upcoming season. And she isn’t alone. Witney Carson is also exiting the ballroom. Witney and Lindsay are two of my favorite pros. I’m going to need a minute.
Witney is putting family first
Witney shared her announcement on TikTok. “This was not a decision that we took lightly. We definitely thought and prayed about it for a while, but we will not be doing Dancing With the Stars this season,” Witney stated. “As much as that pains me to say, I just felt very at peace with it.”
Witney and her husband, Carson McAllister, moved to Florida earlier this year. The couple welcomed their second son, Jet, in May 2023. He joined his big brother, Leo.
Witney continued, “You guys know that family is the most important thing to me, and we just really felt that moving our entire family across the country right now was not for us. Leo’s at an age where he needs consistency and dependability, and he hasn’t had that ever since he’s been born. We’re just really trying to give him that right now,” she added.
Last season, Witney and her partner, Wayne Brady, placed third in the competition. She announced her pregnancy with Jet on the show. In 2014, she took home the Mirrorball with Alfonso.
“I love dance. That is my passion, so this was definitely a hard decision. But I will be rooting for everybody on the show, I cannot wait to watch. I’m so excited,” Witney stated. “I definitely think this is just a break. I hope it’s not goodbye. But for now, we will be their No. 1 cheerleader watching,” she added. “Love you guys.”
Hopefully, DWTS will be renewed beyond the upcoming season. Fingers crossed that we will see Witney and Lindsay back in the ballroom. As for season 32? The full cast announcement will be September 13 on Good Morning America.
Dancing with the Stars will return in the fall, on Monday nights from 8 p.m. ET to 10 p.m. ET on ABC. It will also be streaming live on Disney+.
TELL US – ARE YOU SAD THAT WITNEY WON’T BE PART OF SEASON 32? WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE DWTS PROS?
