Val Chmerkovskiy and his partner Gabby Windey are the Dancing With The Stars season 31 runner-ups, and Val will likely have another chance at the mirrorball trophy next season. Val was partnered with Olivia Jade for DWTS season 30, and after their elimination, he didn't seem interested in returning to the show. Val admitted he was hurt when he and Olivia were eliminated and later said it was probably his last season. However, his wife, Jenna Johnson, revealed Val had a change of heart and wanted to return to DWTS again. When Val returned with Gabby, they topped the leaderboard weekly.
While Val may have wanted to leave DWTS in the past, that's no longer the case, and there's a good chance he'll be back in the ballroom for DWTS season 32. A key sign is that most dancers or judges announce their departure before their current season ends so that fans and their costars can say goodbye. This season, DWTS pro-Cheryl Burke and judge Len Goodman let everyone know they were leaving ahead of the finale, so they could both have their final moments before the season's end. Not every dancer returns for every season, but when they're leaving for good, they let everyone know ahead of time. Another sign was when Val was asked about potentially replacing Len as a judge. He liked the idea but admitted he isn't ready to stop dancing.
Val Chmerkovskiy Can Win His Third Mirrorball On DWTS Season 32
Val hasn't confirmed he's returning for DWTS season 32, but he told an interviewer that he has no plans not to return. After making it to the finale, he seems very proud of himself and his partner. However, no feeling is quite as exciting as winning. Val has won the mirrorball trophy two times, and after Mark Ballas won DWTS for the third time, Val might want his chance for a third trophy. Dancing with such a talented and driven partner likely inspired him to want to come back and try again, hopefully with another partner just as great as Gabby. After all, Jenna said her husband is the best dancer on DWTS, and he has a lot more to accomplish before his time is up.
However, Jenna is currently pregnant with the pair's first child. This hasn't stopped her from showing up to the live shows and supporting her husband or helping him and Gabby choreograph a few routines. When the baby does arrive, the two will be busy as first-time parents. This is likely why Val is not joining his fellow pros on the DWTS live tour in January. His plate is going to be full as a first-time dad, and it's possible he'll want to take a break from the show to fully enjoy the experience of having a newborn baby.
Luckily, Jenna and Val's son is due in January, and by the time DWTS kicks off again, he'll be around eight months old, and Val would have had months to spend with his son. Plenty of other pros also have children and have balanced the show with their parental duties. Val hasn't expressed this being a concern of his and seems excited to take on the roles of being a parent and a DWTS pro. There won't be a confirmation of which pros are returning to DWTS for a while, but as of now, Val seems to be leaning toward joining the cast again.