Carrie Ann Inaba Shares Health Challenge That Caused Her Absence From DWTS
Carrie Ann Inaba is opening up about her experiences with Sjögren’s disease during her time as a judge on Dancing With the Stars.
“Typically, I can push through, but last season was different. During week one, I faced a flare-up and was unable to attend the very first night of competition for the first time in 20 years,” Carrie Ann, 58, shared exclusively with Us while promoting her collaboration with Novartis. “It was the first show I missed since I joined all those years ago.”
Carrie Ann expressed her feelings of being “heartbroken” for not being able to join fellow judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli in the ballroom. Having been a mainstay on the show since her judging debut in June 2005, she admitted to feeling “afraid that perhaps this was the end.”
“Many people dealing with conditions like Sjögren’s disease and other chronic illnesses have moments of doubt, questioning whether they can continue their work,” she remarked. “That’s why having open conversations about these issues is so vital.”
For Carrie Ann, it took nearly a decade before receiving an official diagnosis in 2013. She reflected on feeling “very isolated” and “as if [she] was losing her mind” while coping with the condition, which causes the body to mistakenly attack its own tissues. According to the Mayo Clinic, Sjögren’s disease can impact the glands that produce moisture in the eyes and mouth, leading to symptoms like chronic fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, dry skin, dry eyes, mouth, rashes, brain fog, and headaches.
Carrie Ann hopes her collaboration with Novartis for the Sjöut for Sjögren’s campaign will help raise awareness for this “invisible disease.”
“Interestingly, Sjögren’s disease was previously referred to as Sjögren syndrome, but it has been reclassified as a disease in recent years,” she stated. “This change has been helpful because it prompts more serious discussions. It encourages doctors, insurance companies, and employers to take it seriously. When I spoke with ABC about my need to stay home, I was amazed by how they handled it—their understanding can positively influence countless others.”
She added, “People with Sjögren’s disease will feel empowered to voice their struggles. This support demonstrates how employers and individuals can show up for those facing a very real, serious, and challenging illness. I realized, ‘This is a significant moment.’ So, in an unexpected way, it became a gift.”
