DWTS Star Witney Carson Hid a Terrifying Melanoma Secret
Witney Carson Returns to Dancing with the Stars as a Mentor—and Reveals a Secret Health Battle
Quick Summary: Two-time Mirror Ball champion Witney Carson joins the new spinoff Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro as a mentor and judge. In an exclusive interview, she opens up about her journey from So You Think You Can Dance contestant to DWTS pro—and the shocking secret she kept during her very first season: she was battling melanoma and dancing on a bleeding foot for weeks.
What’s Happening Tonight?
- Show: Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro (new spinoff on ABC)
- Guest: Witney Carson, reigning Mirror Ball Champion (Season 34 with Robert Irwin)
- Role: Mentor and guest judge for a three-week stint through the finale
- Challenge: The five remaining hopeful pros must choreograph a ballroom routine with a celebrity superfan—giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what pros really go through each week.
Important Point: This challenge is the most realistic test yet—it mirrors exactly what DWTS pros do every week: teach a non-dancer, create a stunning routine, and manage the mental pressure of making their partner look amazing.
Déjà Vu: From SYTYCD to DWTS Mentor
Witney says watching the contestants gave her major flashbacks to her own start on So You Think You Can Dance (Season 9, age 18, finished 3rd).
| Then (SYTYCD) | Now (The Next Pro) |
|---|---|
| On your own, fighting for your life | Contestants face new challenges weekly |
| One shot to prove yourself | One shot to earn a spot on DWTS Fall 2026 cast |
| Judges watch every move | Witney now sits in the judge’s chair |
“You are on your own. You are fighting for your life, essentially. And that’s what these kids were doing.” — Witney Carson
Witney’s Origin Story: From Troupe to Pro
- 2012: Competes on So You Think You Can Dance (Season 9) → 3rd place at 18.
- 2013–2014: Joins DWTS troupe (background dancers who support the main couples).
- Fall 2014: Gets the call — promoted to official pro, paired with singer Cody Simpson (Season 19).
Big Moment: Becoming a pro is the dream. But right as it happened, life threw a curveball.
The Secret Battle: Melanoma & A Bleeding Foot
Important Callout: Witney has a family history of melanoma (both parents had it). She gets regular skin checks.
What Happened:
- Right after getting the DWTS pro offer, a doctor found a small mole on top of her foot.
- Diagnosis: Melanoma (a serious skin cancer).
- Doctor’s warning: “If you don’t take care of this, you’ll need chemo.”
- Witney’s reaction: “Hold on. My dream is about to happen. I don’t have time for this!”
The Surgery & The Secret:
- She had surgery to remove the mole + lymph nodes on her hip.
- She told NO ONE on the show — not judges, not Cody, not producers.
- Not cleared to dance yet, but she danced anyway at first rehearsal.
- Her tennis shoe filled with blood. Every week after the live show, she went to the doctor to get re-wrapped.
- She hid it for FIVE WEEKS — almost half the season.
Imagine: Dancing live on national TV with a bleeding, healing foot — smiling through the pain, telling no one.
From Struggle to Triumph
| Season | Partner | Result | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 (2014) | Cody Simpson | Eliminated Week 5 | Dancing on a healing foot, silent battle |
| 19 (2014) | Alfonso Ribeiro | WON Mirror Ball | Just 4 months later! |
| 34 (2024) | Robert Irwin | WON Mirror Ball | Alfonso hosted; Witney now a wife & mom with full support system |
Full Circle: Alfonso Ribeiro — her Season 19 winning partner — hosted Season 34 when she won again with Robert Irwin. Two eras, two trophies, one incredible journey.
Watch Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro
- New Episodes: Mondays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
- Finale: One contestant earns a spot on the Fall 2026 DWTS pro cast
Summary
- Witney Carson returns to DWTS universe as a mentor/judge on The Next Pro.
- She relates deeply to the contestants — her own start on SYTYCD was just as intense.
- Big Reveal: During her very first pro season (with Cody Simpson), she secretly battled melanoma, had surgery, and danced for 5 weeks on a bleeding foot — telling no one.
- She won her first Mirror Ball months later with Alfonso Ribeiro, and her second a decade later with Robert Irwin.
- The show airs Mondays at 9 PM ET/PT on ABC.
FAQ
1. What is Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro?
It’s a new spinoff where professional dancers compete for a spot on the main DWTS cast for Fall 2026. Witney Carson is a guest mentor and judge for three weeks.
2. Who is Witney Carson?
A two-time DWTS Mirror Ball Champion (Seasons 19 with Alfonso Ribeiro, 34 with Robert Irwin). She started on So You Think You Can Dance (Season 9, 3rd place at 18).
3. What health issue did she face during her first pro season?
She was diagnosed with melanoma (skin cancer) on her foot right after getting the DWTS pro job. She had surgery but hid it from everyone on the show.
4. How long did she dance while injured?
Five weeks — nearly half the season. Her shoe filled with blood during rehearsals, and she got re-wrapped by a doctor after every live show.
5. When can I watch The Next Pro?
Mondays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, through the finale.
Final Thought: Witney’s story isn’t just about glitter and trophies — it’s about grit, secrecy, and showing up when it hurts most. Now, she’s paying it forward by mentoring the next generation of pros.