Carrie Ann Inaba is still a judge on Dancing With the Stars, but she recently missed episodes (including the Season 34 premiere) because she was ill and “under the weather,” not because she was fired or quit.

Why Is Carrie Ann Not on DWTS?

Quick Scoop

For people asking “why is Carrie Ann not on DWTS,” the current situation is:

  • She missed the Season 34 premiere in September 2025 due to feeling “under the weather” and dealing with an undisclosed illness.
  • She announced she would sit out that night’s show and rest, saying she couldn’t wait to return once she felt better.
  • The network and show framed it as a temporary health-related absence , not a permanent departure.
  • Afterward, she shared an update reassuring fans that she was recovering and grateful for their support.

So, if you tuned in and didn’t see her on the panel, it’s because of a short- term health issue around the Season 34 premiere, not because she’s gone from the show entirely.

Fans on forums and social media have been swapping theories, but the only confirmed info is that she was sick and taking time to rest, with every indication that she plans to return to DWTS when fully recovered.

TL;DR: Carrie Ann Inaba has been missing from some DWTS episodes because of an undisclosed illness and feeling “under the weather,” and her absence is described as temporary rather than a permanent exit.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.