“Dancing With the Stars” pro Val Chmerkovskiy faced a sleepless night before Disney Night rehearsals. His wife, Jenna Johnson, revealed that their 2-year-old son, Rome, was hospitalized briefly but is now recovering at home. Johnson, 31, shared an emotional video from the hospital on her Instagram Stories on October 7, showing herself holding Rome in a hospital bed while Val sat beside them. The toddler wore an oxygen mask as the concerned parents comforted him.
(Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney/Pixar)“Wanna preface this by saying everything’s fine now and thank goodness Rome is home sleeping,” Johnson wrote. “But this was our night last night ❤️🩹.”
She later praised her husband, calling him “our absolute rock through it all” for staying calm and focused despite exhaustion and an upcoming live show.
Returning to ‘DWTS’ With Alix Earle
Despite the difficult night, Chmerkovskiy returned to the dance floor with his celebrity partner, social media star Alix Earle, for the October 7 Disney Night episode. The pair has become one of the standout duos of Season 34, impressing judges and fans alike with their charm and consistency.
The Disney-themed show features performances inspired by “Aladdin,” “Star Wars: A New Hope,” and “Maleficent,” with 11 couples competing for the mirrorball trophy. Despite personal challenges, Val remained focused, ready to guide Earle through another high-energy routine.
A Look Back at Alix & Val’s ‘DWTS’ Journey So Far
Earle and Chmerkovskiy’s partnership has steadily gained momentum this season.
Week 1: The duo debuted with a lively jive to “Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of …)” by Lou Bega, earning 21 out of 30 from the judges.
Week 2: They performed a quickstep to “Pop Muzik” by M, improving their score to 23 out of 30, their highest yet.
Overall: After two weeks, their combined score of 34 out of 50 placed them comfortably in the middle of the leaderboard, signaling growing confidence and crowd appeal.
Their TikTok Night performance quickly became a fan favorite online, with Earle promising, “The internet will freak out,”—and it did.
Family, Strength & Showtime
Even after a long night in the hospital, Chmerkovskiy’s dedication to both his family and the show shone through. Fans flooded social media with support for the couple, praising Val and Jenna’s strength as parents.
“Val and Jenna are such an inspiration,” one viewer wrote on X. “They show what real teamwork looks like on and off the floor.”
GettyAs Disney Night kicks off, all eyes are on Val and Alix to see if their bond and momentum can turn a tough week into another standout performance.
