Carrie Ann Inaba

Carrie Ann Inaba is a television personality, dancer, and judge best known for her long-standing role on the reality competition series Dancing With the Stars. She has served as a judge on the ballroom panel since the show first debuted in 2005.

Prior to becoming a television judge, Inaba worked as a professional stage performer. She has spoken openly about the difficulty of shifting from receiving audience adoration as a dancer to giving strict critiques on television, noting that early fan backlash initially made her feel like a villain.

Inaba was diagnosed in 2013 with Sjogren’s disease, an autoimmune condition causing persistent fatigue, joint discomfort, and chronic dryness. She initially kept her health battle secret over concerns it could affect her career on Dancing With the Stars. Inaba continues her long-standing role on the judging panel for Season 35 alongside fellow judges Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough, while actively addressing ongoing ballroom debates regarding scoring and contestant backgrounds.