Carrie Ann Inaba announced Tuesday that she will not attend the Season 34 premiere of Dancing With the Stars after saying she was “feeling quite under the weather.” Inaba, 57, posted the message to Instagram hours before the show was set to begin in Los Angeles, saying she was resting and expected to return next week.
“I wanted to share that I will not be at the show tonight as I am feeling quite under the weather,” Inaba 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. Have a great show everyone!”
A Page Six source said there will be no replacement judge for Inaba for the premiere. Fellow judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli were expected to evaluate the night’s performances. Page Six reported it had reached out to ABC for comment.
Members of the show’s community responded with well-wishes after Inaba’s post. Co-host Julianne Hough commented, “Get better soon sis,” while Season 34 contestant Hilaria Baldwin and choreographer Britt Stewart left supportive messages.
Inaba has been a fixture on the ABC competition series for two decades. In June she marked the 20th anniversary of her role on the show with an Instagram post reflecting on her time alongside fellow judges Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli, calling the experience “an incredible journey of self discovery” and saying she was grateful for her “seat at the table.”
The cast for Season 34, announced earlier this month, includes Hilaria Baldwin, Alix Earle, Jordan Chiles, Corey Feldman, Dylan Efron, Lauren Jauregui, Scott Hoying, Jen Affleck, Andy Richter, Baron Davis, Elaine Hendrix, Whitney Leavitt and Robert Irwin, among others, all competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy. The premiere aired live on DirecTV and Disney+ at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
Producers, network representatives and show officials did not immediately provide further comment on Inaba’s absence, and the show proceeded with Hough and Tonioli on the panel. Inaba’s statement and the Page Six report left the expectation that she will rejoin the series when she has recovered.
Inaba has often combined her judging role with public appearances and social media reflections on dance and competition; her absence for the premiere marks an unusual, short-term interruption to her long tenure on the series. ABC’s Dancing With the Stars will continue its regular broadcast schedule with the panel reduced to two judges for the premiere night, according to the Page Six account.