The world of ballroom dance means quite a bit to “Dancing With the Stars” pro Jenna Johnson. However, becoming a mother has been the biggest joy of her life so far.
She and her husband, fellow pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, welcomed their son, Rome, in Jan. 2023. Fans have loved watching the little boy grow up on social media as his parents share milestones and updates.
However, raising a toddler comes with challenges as well. In a recent Instagram update, a tearful Jenna gave fans an inside glimpse of the hard parts.
“Dancing With the Stars” Pro Jenna Johnson Describes a Painful Moment
Professional dancers Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy are on the road quite often. They take Rome with them whenever possible. However, the little boy can’t attend every engagement.
Thankfully, the family has a strong support network to help them. But that doesn’t mean Jenna and Val have an easy time leaving their son behind. On social media, Jenna admitted she really struggles while saying goodbye to Rome.
“Does leaving your baby ever get easier??” the dancer shared on Instagram, attaching a video of herself hugging her son goodbye. Rome blows kisses to his mother before the camera shifts to Jenna, revealing her tear-stained face.
“How do you explain this feeling?” she wrote on the video while wiping tears from her eyes.
Other reality stars rallied around the dancer, assuring her that her feelings are quite common. “DWTS” season 30 competitor Amanda Kloots admitted that it never gets much easier. Other Instagram users wrote encouraging words in an attempt to comfort Jenna.
“But he’s going to have fun and make lots of memories with his grandparents, ones he will cherish forever,” one fan wrote.
The Utah Dancer Has Quite a Bit on Her Plate Right Now
Jenna Johnson will certainly miss her son, but she also has no shortage of projects at the moment. She’s been part of the 2026 “Dancing With the Stars” live tour and also collaborated on a hilarious dance battle video.
It’s also been confirmed that Rylee Arnold will fill in for Jenna for select dates so she can work on an undisclosed project. Details of the upcoming project have been under wraps. However, “DWTS” fans can’t wait to see what Jenna Johnson works on next.
Fans currently expect “Dancing With the Stars” season 35 to air on ABC sometime this fall. They hope Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy will return to compete for the Mirrorball trophy.
