Carrie Ann Inaba’s absence was felt at the judges table during the premiere of Dancing With the Stars season 34.
“That’s how to set of a new season of Dancing With the Stars! … It’s great to have all of you at home joining us in the ballroom and wonderful to see our judges. Well, two of them,” Alfonso Ribeiro quipped following the energetic opening number on the Tuesday, September 16, episode. “Carrie Ann is under the weather and hopes to be back with us next week.”
Cohost Julianne Hough also sent well-wishes to Inaba, 57, adding, “Get well soon, Carrie Ann. We love you.”
Following the first dance from Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, judge Derek Hough gave a warning to fans and performers. “The scoring tonight, just be mindful, it might be a little lower than you’re expecting because there’s a long way to go. This is a marathon. We want to give you guys room to grow,” he said.
Carrie Ann Inaba Skipping ‘DWTS’ Season 34 Premiere Amid Illness
Hours before the premiere, Inaba shared that she would not be present in the ballroom while battling an illness.
“I wanted to share that I will not be at the show tonight as I am feeling quite under the weather,” Inaba wrote via Instagram on Tuesday. “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! 
.”
Pros on the show were quick to send Inaba well-wishes on a speedy recovery. “Feel better Carrie Ann!!!” Jenna Johnson wrote, while Britt Stewart added, “Hope you feel better Carrie Ann! 
.”
Inaba was expected to return to the reality TV competition alongside fellow judges Derek and DWTS veteran Bruno Tonioli.
When the DWTS season 34 cast was revealed on Good Morning America earlier this month, Inaba was also not present. Despite her absence, Inaba shared she was looking forward to the upcoming season via her Instagram Story. “Here we goooooo!!!!” she wrote at the time alongside an article about the pros and celebrities.
Inaba has been a judge on DWTS since the show premiered in 2005 alongside Tonioli, 69, and the late Len Goodman, who died in 2023 after a battle with bone cancer. Ahead of season 34, Inaba reflected on her DWTS journey while sharing a throwback photo of the trio.
‘Dancing With the Stars’ Judge Carrie Ann Inaba Reacts to Season 34 Cast
“Look what I found. 
Len Goodman, @brunotonioliofficial and I, in our very first press photos for @dancingwiththestars. We were just babies. ( And I still love a good v neck and a hoop earring.) lol,” she wrote via Instagram in August. “It’s incredible to think that 20 years have gone by. Thank you so much to ALL OF YOU – our #DWTSFAMILY. We love you. And we are grateful for you. And I hope we make you smile this season and give you joy and inspire you this Season 34.”
She concluded, “So much has changed over the years, but the heart of this show has stayed the same. Children have grown up watching us, and we’ve lost friends and family members along the way. But we are still going strong. And that’s because we are one big dancing family. Happy Friday everyone! #dwts #DWTS34 #memorylane #Dancing #Judges #20thanniversary.”
Dancing With the Stars season 34 airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Episodes will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
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