Former Dancing With the Stars pro Lindsay Arnold is opening up about her future with the show. Could she return to the ballroom? The answer is not a simple yes or no.
Arnold won Season 25 in 2017 with actor Jordan Fisher. However, she stepped away after Season 30 in 2021 to focus on her family. Now, she is embracing motherhood, exploring new opportunities and supporting her younger sister, Rylee Arnold.
Still, Arnold has not completely ruled out a comeback. Although she misses the competition, she also understands the challenges of balancing a demanding television schedule with family life.
Could Lindsay Arnold Return to Dancing With the Stars?
Arnold spent years competing on Dancing With the Stars. She joined the professional lineup in 2013 and quickly became a fan favorite.
Her victory with Jordan Fisher in 2017 remains a major highlight of her career. Together, they delivered memorable performances and ultimately took home the Mirrorball Trophy.
However, her priorities changed as her family grew. After Season 30, Arnold decided to step away from the competition and spend more time with her children.
In August 2026, she told Us Weekly that she would never completely rule out returning. She still loves the show, but she recognizes that the schedule would be difficult to manage.
For now, there is no confirmed comeback announcement. Instead, Arnold is keeping her options open while focusing on her current priorities.
A Full-Circle Moment for the Former Pro
Arnold recently reflected on how her relationship with the show has changed. What began as a childhood dream eventually became a decade-long professional career.
As a young fan, she watched the performances from home. Later, she stepped onto the same ballroom floor as a professional dancer.
Now, she gets to enjoy the competition from a different perspective. Rather than worrying about choreography, rehearsals and judges’ scores, she can simply appreciate the performances.
Moreover, she has another reason to stay connected to the show. Her younger sister, Rylee Arnold, is now building her own career in the ballroom.
This change has allowed Lindsay to celebrate the competition without the pressure of performing every week. Consequently, she can support her sister while enjoying more flexibility in her personal life.
Rylee Arnold Keeps the Family Legacy Alive
Rylee Arnold joined the professional cast of Dancing With the Stars in 2023. Since then, she has continued to develop her skills and establish herself as a rising talent.
In Season 35, Rylee is competing alongside comedian Connor Wood. Meanwhile, Lindsay remains one of her biggest supporters.
Having an experienced professional dancer in the family can be a valuable advantage. Lindsay understands the demands of the competition, from learning choreography to handling criticism from the judges.
Therefore, she can offer advice when Rylee needs encouragement. She can also help her younger sister navigate the emotional ups and downs of performing on live television.
Their relationship adds a personal dimension to the show’s latest season. Although Lindsay is no longer competing, she remains closely connected to the ballroom through Rylee.
Lindsay Returns to the Dance Floor With Rylee
Although Arnold has stepped away from the regular professional lineup, she has not abandoned dancing altogether.
In August 2026, she joined Rylee and fellow professional Brandon Armstrong for a special performance at the Dancing With the Stars convention in Palm Springs.
The appearance was particularly notable because Lindsay had given birth to her third child, Hayes, just seven weeks earlier.
The performance offered a glimpse of her continued passion for dance. It also showed that she can participate in special events without committing to an entire competition season.
Furthermore, sharing the stage with Rylee made the experience even more meaningful. The sisters could celebrate their shared love of dance while connecting with fans.
However, a special appearance does not necessarily signal a permanent return. For now, Lindsay seems comfortable choosing opportunities that fit her family life.
Life Beyond the Ballroom
While fans speculate about a possible comeback, Arnold is exploring opportunities outside television.
One of her recent ventures involves a partnership with wellness brand Ka’Chava. The collaboration reflects her long-standing interest in fitness, nutrition and maintaining an active lifestyle.
As a professional dancer, Arnold spent years training to meet the physical demands of competition. Now, her approach to fitness has evolved.
Instead of focusing exclusively on performance goals, she is working to maintain healthy routines that fit around motherhood. After all, raising three children leaves less room for the demanding rehearsal schedules she once followed.
At the same time, her experience gives her a platform to connect with audiences interested in wellness. She can share aspects of her lifestyle beyond dance and television.
This transition also highlights the opportunities available to former reality television stars. Brand partnerships, social media and special appearances can help them build careers beyond their original platforms.
Motherhood Has Changed Her Priorities
For Arnold, family life is a major reason she stepped away from the competition.
She shares three children with her husband, Samuel Cusick. Raising a young family requires time, flexibility and attention, especially when professional commitments involve long rehearsals and live broadcasts.
Consequently, returning to Dancing With the Stars would require careful planning. She would need to balance the show’s demanding schedule with her children’s needs.
However, that does not mean she has given up her professional ambitions. Instead, she is exploring ways to remain active in entertainment while protecting time with her family.
This balance is familiar to many working parents. Career opportunities can be exciting, but they must also fit into everyday responsibilities.
Arnold’s current approach allows her to pursue projects without immediately returning to the pressures of weekly competition.
What Would a DWTS Comeback Look Like?
If Arnold eventually returns, she may need to consider more than just her love of dancing.
A full season would involve rehearsals, choreography, live performances and frequent travel. In addition, she would need to coordinate her schedule around her family.
A special performance, however, could offer a more manageable alternative. She could reconnect with fans and fellow dancers without taking on the full commitment of a competition season.
Meanwhile, her continued involvement through Rylee gives her another way to stay close to the show.
For now, fans should treat a possible Lindsay Arnold DWTS return as an open question rather than a confirmed development. She has expressed affection for the show, but she has not announced plans to rejoin the professional cast.
Nevertheless, her recent performance shows that her passion for dance remains strong.
Lindsay Arnold’s life after Dancing With the Stars is entering a new chapter. She is raising her children, supporting Rylee’s career and exploring wellness opportunities through her partnership with Ka’Chava.
At the same time, she has not completely closed the door on returning to the ballroom. She still loves the show, even though her priorities have changed.
For now, Arnold appears happy to enjoy the competition as a fan and mentor. If the right opportunity comes along, a comeback may still be possible.
Would you like to see Lindsay Arnold return to Dancing With the Stars? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow our blog for the latest celebrity news and DWTS updates.
About the author
Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.
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