What Happened to Carrie Ann Inaba?
Carrie Ann Inaba remains a prominent figure in entertainment, best known as a long-standing judge on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." She actively advocates for awareness of autoimmune diseases, including Sjögren's syndrome and lupus, with which she has been diagnosed, and continues to manage her health while maintaining her television career. In 2026, she continues her role on DWTS and actively participates in health awareness campaigns.
Quick Answer
Carrie Ann Inaba is currently a judge on "Dancing with the Stars" (DWTS), a role she has held since 2005. She departed from "The Talk" in 2021 to focus on her health, as she lives with multiple autoimmune conditions including Sjögren's syndrome, lupus, and fibromyalgia. In 2026, Inaba continues to be open about her health journey, participating in advocacy campaigns for Sjögren's disease with Novartis, and is expected to return for Season 35 of DWTS in September 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Becomes a 'Fly Girl' on In Living Color
Carrie Ann Inaba gains national recognition as one of the original dancers, known as 'Fly Girls,' on the popular Fox sketch comedy series 'In Living Color.'
Joins Dancing with the Stars as a Judge
Inaba becomes one of the original judges on ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars,' a role she has held continuously since the show's premiere.
Begins dating Artem Chigvintsev
Inaba starts a two-year relationship with 'Dancing with the Stars' professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev.
Diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis
Inaba receives a diagnosis of spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that can cause pain and numbness.
Engaged to Jesse Sloan
Inaba gets engaged to accountant Jesse Sloan, whom she met on eHarmony. They later amicably end their engagement in September 2012.
Engaged to Robb Derringer
Inaba announces her engagement to actor Robb Derringer. They call off the engagement in September 2017.
Becomes Permanent Co-Host of The Talk
Carrie Ann Inaba officially joins 'The Talk' as a permanent co-host and moderator, replacing Julie Chen Moonves.
Takes Leave of Absence from The Talk
Citing health reasons and a need to focus on her well-being, Inaba announces she is taking a leave of absence from 'The Talk.'
Confirms Departure from The Talk
It is officially confirmed that Carrie Ann Inaba will not be returning to 'The Talk' for the upcoming season, making her departure permanent.
Shares Lupus Diagnosis
Inaba reveals on social media that she has been diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disorder, after years of experiencing symptoms.
Announces 2025 New Year's Resolution for Authentic Living
Inaba shares her resolution for 2025 to live an 'authentic and unpolished life,' focusing on family and reducing her social media presence.
Misses DWTS Season 34 Premiere Due to Illness
Carrie Ann Inaba is absent from the Season 34 premiere of 'Dancing with the Stars' due to feeling 'quite under the weather,' but returns the following week.
Experiences Medical Emergency on Flight
While traveling for Sjögren's disease advocacy, Inaba suffers a 'small medical emergency' on a flight, experiencing dizziness, numbness, and cold sweats, leading to hospitalization.
Discusses Sjögren's Diagnosis Journey
In an interview with Healthline, Inaba opens up about her long journey to receiving a Sjögren's disease diagnosis and her advocacy work with Novartis.
Opens Up About 'Debilitating' Pain from Sjögren's Disease
In an interview at Televerse 26, Inaba discusses the constant, debilitating pain she experiences due to Sjögren's disease, emphasizing the unglamorous reality of living with chronic illness.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Carrie Ann Inaba, born January 5, 1968, has had a multifaceted career in entertainment, initially gaining recognition as one of the original 'Fly Girls' on the sketch comedy series 'In Living Color' from 1990 to 1992. Her career pivoted significantly when she became one of the original judges on ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars' in 2005, a role she has maintained for over two decades.
Beyond her judging duties, Inaba joined the CBS daytime talk show 'The Talk' as a permanent co-host and moderator in January 2019. However, her tenure was marked by increasing health challenges. In April 2021, she announced a leave of absence from the show to focus on her well-being, citing her ongoing battle with multiple autoimmune conditions. By August 2021, it was confirmed she would not be returning to 'The Talk' permanently. This decision was largely driven by her diagnoses, which include lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and antiphospholipid syndrome. She has openly discussed the debilitating pain and fatigue associated with these conditions, which often require her to schedule her life around her health needs.
Since her departure from 'The Talk,' Inaba has continued her role on 'Dancing with the Stars,' which she considers her "home base." She has also become a vocal advocate for autoimmune disease awareness. In 2026, she partnered with Novartis for the 'SJÖUT for Sjögren's' campaign, aiming to encourage patients to speak up about their symptoms and seek diagnosis. In April 2026, Inaba experienced a medical emergency on a flight to New York, where she was traveling for this advocacy work, highlighting the unpredictable nature of her conditions. She was hospitalized but later recovered and continued her advocacy.
As of August 2026, Inaba remains an active judge on 'Dancing with the Stars,' with Season 35 expected to premiere in September 2026. She frequently shares updates on her health and personal life, emphasizing the importance of self-care and managing chronic illness. She has also expressed a commitment to living an "authentic and unpolished life," reducing her social media presence to focus on meaningful moments. Inaba has never been married but has been engaged twice, and as of late 2025, she stated she was happily single.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Carrie Ann Inaba made different choices?