Dancing With the Stars season 34: Why was Carrie Ann Inaba absent and when will she be back

Dancing With the Stars returned to television on Tuesday night (September 16) as season 34 of the beloved reality dance competition premiered on ABC, bringing a fresh lineup of celebrities to the ballroom. This year’s cast features a diverse mix of personalities from across entertainment, sports, and social media, including Hilaria Baldwin, Danielle Fishel, Alix Earle, Andy Richter, Elaine Hendrix, Jordan Chiles, Baron Davis, Dylan Efron, Corey Feldman, Scott Hoying, Robert Irwin, Lauren Jauregui, Jen Affleck, and Whitney Leavitt.

Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough returned as co-hosts, guiding the audience through the glittering debut. On the judges’ panel, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli took their seats as usual, but longtime judge Carrie Ann Inaba was notably absent from the premiere.

Why was Carrie Ann Inaba absent?

In a message posted to Instagram just hours before the live show, Inaba revealed that illness forced her to sit out opening night. “I wanted to share that I will not be at the show tonight as I am feeling quite under the weather,” she wrote. “I’m resting up and can’t wait to be back next week in good health. In the meantime, I wish all the contestants the very best of luck. I’ll be cheering you on from home.”

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According to her Instagram post, Carrie Ann Inaba is expected to join next week.

Fellow dancers and fans quickly sent her words of encouragement. Professional dancers Britt Stewart, Jenna Johnson, and Pasha Pashkov all commented on her post, urging her to get well soon. Viewers also flooded her with messages of support, noting that the premiere “just won’t be the same” without her presence.

Despite the absence, the ballroom was alive with energy as the 13 new celebrity contestants hit the dance floor for the first time, kicking off what promises to be another season of competition, drama, and sparkling performances. Dancing With the Stars season 34 airs weekly on ABC.