Reigning Dancing With the Stars pro winner Witney Carson will return for season 35 with a new celebrity partner.
Carson, 32, will set her sights on chasing down another mirrorball trophy with Jimmy Kimmel Live! sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez when the competition returns for a two-night premiere on Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16.
“Dude, I was so stoked,” Carson said on the Monday, August 17, episode of Good Morning America. “I think he is so sweet. He’s so fun. That’s exactly what I need in this season of life that I’m in, just someone who’s fun, personable.”
The pairing comes after Carson and her previous partner, Robert Irwin, took out top honors in season 34 of DWTS.
Rodriguez, 55, who rose to fame on the late-night show as a parking lot security guard for Jimmy Kimmel, 58, was announced as a season 35 cast member in June. Kimmel announced his costar’s appointment at the time, sharing with fans during his show, “This September, Guillermo will become the first-ever parking lot security guard to dance with the stars. Don’t lose a single adorable pound!”
Carson will no doubt whip her new partner into shape after she wraps cohosting duties on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro following its season finale on Monday, August 31. (Irwin, 22, cohosts the spinoff reality series with Carson.)
A full list of season 35 cast members, including celebrities and pro dancers, is set to be unveiled on the Wednesday, September 2, episode of ABC’s Good Morning America.
Celebrity contestants who have been announced alongside Rodriguez include Savannah Bananas’ Jackson Olson, Summer House star Ciara Miller and Love Island USA’s Maura Higgins.
On the back of Kimmel’s announcement regarding Rodriguez’s place in the mix, an Instagram clip of the moment was shared, attracting comments from DWTS personalities. Cohost Julianne Hough wrote at the time, “Beyond excited to be in the ballroom together – when in doubt, shake it out Guillermo,” while judge Carrie Anne Inaba wrote, “Brilliant! Can’t wait to see you in the ballroom!”
As for Carson’s anticipation, the pro said on the “Viall Files” podcast in December 2025 that she doesn’t believe producers will be giving her “a winner, per se, next season.”
She pointed out that fellow pro Jenna Johnson took home the Mirrorball Trophy in season 33 with partner Joey Graziadei before being paired with Corey Feldman for season 34. (Feldman, 55, and Johnson, 32, were eliminated first in the series alongside Baron Davis and pro Britt Stewart.)
Carson continued, “I think the producers and Deena [Katz], the cast director — they are very smart in who they pair people with and they are very good at it. But they try to make it as fair as possible. They are all about fairness, I’ve come to learn over the years. Even with all of the votes and the judging, they try to make everything very fair. Even though it might not seem that way, but behind the scenes, they really try … not to play favoritism, especially with the pros.”
