Witney Carson is pregnant, and in a first for the series, she’s returning as a professional dancer for the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars.

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Carson will be the first pro dancer on the series to enter an installment while pregnant. The news was unveiled on Good Morning America on Monday, where it was also revealed she will be partnered with Guillermo Rodriguez for season 35.

“I love dance. I love to compete. I love being on the show, and I also love being a mom, and I want to grow my family,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter. “So if I can do both and the baby is healthy, then I am gonna try and do it all, because women are amazing.”

Carson has performed while pregnant on Dancing previously; she announced she was expecting during the season 31 semifinals in 2022. In the past, fellow pro dancer Daniella Karagach said she found out she was pregnant during that same season’s premiere, however Carson is the first pro to go into a season knowing she is expecting.

The pro dancer says she and her husband had many conversations with Dancing‘s casting director Deena Katz, with the priority always being she and her child’s health. Carson says, “We just decided, kind of me, my husband,and Deena were like, if you feel good enough, why not? Why not do it?”

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“I am actually going into my second trimester next week, so this is the latest I’ve ever been pregnant dancing, competing; anything. The fact that I am going to be in a little dance costume, being pregnant, is going to be very interesting and something I’ve never done before,” Carson adds. “I’m really excited. This is what I feel is right for my family, and this is also like my livelihood. Like, the show is also something that I have to do to provide for my family.”

“Working while growing a human is going to be a challenge. But I think it’s going to be also hopefully inspiring, and hopefully it will go okay and people will will embrace it,” the Dancing pro says. Her GMA appearance ties in tandem with the release of her episode as a guest judge on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro on Monday. (Stay tuned for an in-depth interview with Carson about her announcement and all things Next Pro from The Hollywood Reporter on Monday night.)

Carson and her husband, Carson McAllister, share two sons.

The two-time mirrorball champion won her second season last year alongside Robert Irwin. She also won season 19 in 2014 alongside Dancing co-host Alfonso Ribeiro.

Season 35 of Dancing With the Stars will kick off with a double premiere on Sept. 15 and 16. The full cast will be announced on GMA on Sept. 2.

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