Dancing with the Stars professional Witney Carson has announced she is expecting her third child and will compete on season 35 while four months pregnant.
The 32-year-old dancer revealed the news on Instagram on Monday before confirming on Good Morning America that she will return to the hit ABC competition series alongside comedian Guillermo Rodriguez.
Carson shared her pregnancy announcement through a black-and-white video on Instagram featuring her husband Carson McAllister, their two young sons, and a sonogram picture. "We've been keeping a secret… a new addition to the McAllister gang coming soon! We are so grateful and overjoyed to be growing our family," she captioned the clip.
The couple are parents to two sons: five-year-old Kevin Leo and three-year-old Jet Carson. McAllister, 32, works as a mechanical engineer. The pair were high school sweethearts who met in American Fork, Utah, married in January 2016, and celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary earlier this year.
New Dance Partner and Television Return
Hours after her social media announcement, Carson appeared on Good Morning America to reveal her pairing with Rodriguez, 55. Rodriguez is best known as the former parking lot security guard who became the sidekick to television host Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night talk show.
"It wasn't on my bingo card to compete on Dancing with the Stars and be four months pregnant, but I think that's a beautiful thing," Carson told the hosts of Good Morning America.
Carson noted that she has relied heavily on her husband while dealing with morning sickness during her first trimester. "I think with two toddlers, it's very difficult to rest, but my husband has been an absolute champ and he has allowed me to rest, and he's very much taking care of all of us," she added.
Balancing Pregnancy and Competition
In a separate interview with People magazine, Carson discussed her decision to balance television work with her expanding family. "So my plan is to, as long as the baby is healthy and as long as I'm doing well, then we will compete again on this season on Dancing with the Stars, which is very exciting because I love being a mom more than anything, and I also love to dance," she said. "I love both. And so if I can do both, then that's what I want to do."
Carson added that competing while pregnant presents a unique challenge. "I'll actually be the first professional dancer to compete being this far along pregnant, which is scary but also exciting," she said. "And I'm hoping that if everything goes well and the baby's healthy, that it’ll be a really great experience."
Carson is a two-time Mirror Ball Trophy champion. She won the competition last season alongside celebrity partner Robert Irwin, and previously won season 19 in 2014 with actor Alfonso Ribeiro.
Season 35 Cast and Broadcast Schedule
Several other contestants have been confirmed for the upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars. Summer House star Ciara Miller will join the cast, following news surrounding her ex-boyfriend West Wilson and former best friend Amanda Batula. Love Island USA After Sun host Maura Higgins and Savannah Bananas baseball player Jackson Olson have also been announced as celebrity participants.
In addition, Kamri Peterson, who previously performed as a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, is joining the show's dance troupe for season 35. Another professional dancer is also set to return to the show after a two-year break.
The complete cast of celebrities and their professional partners will be officially revealed on September 2 on Good Morning America. Dancing with the Stars will premiere over two nights on September 15 and 16 on ABC and Disney+, with episodes available to stream the next day on Hulu. Representatives for Carson have been contacted by the Daily Mail for further comment.
