DWTS Returns – But Where Was Julianne?

Source: NBC/Dancing With the Stars
Dancing With The Stars made its much anticipated return to television on Monday evening, but many viewers were left wondering “where’s Julianne?”

A #DWTS season without @juliannehough is literally breaking my heart I NEED her sweet & positive attitude on the judges panel!

— Rachel Steggemann (@rachelbevan90) September 19, 2017

Wait…where is @juliannehough ?? #DWTS isn't the same without her!!

— Jackie Rosner (@jac_mae) September 19, 2017

Judges Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba returned to fill their spots, but fourth judge, Julianne Hough, was nowhere to be seen.

Came back to 2 missed calls and this text only to find out that he was in distress over Julianne Hough no longer being a judge on dwts pic.twitter.com/NHcG81aSEs

— Sarah Stueve (@sastueve) September 14, 2017

Apparently Julianne, who just got married this summer, is sitting this season out.

#tbt to our incredible honeymoon! As amazing as it was (take me back), I feel so lucky that our "real life" is even better than "the honeymoon phase". I love that I get to wake up next to you every single day, and that we walk side by side in all we do. I love that my random thoughts throughout the day no longer revolve around the words me, or I, rather, we and us! I'm so grateful that you are the kind of man that starts a conversation about masculinity to show others the kind of love I'm so fortunate to experience every day. (If you haven't seen it yet, go to @brookslaich and read his last post). Brooks, I look up to you as a human, as a friend, and as my husband. You encourage me to be the best version of myself and I hope I do the same for you. I love you! ❤️❤️❤️

A post shared by Julianne Hough (@juleshough) on Aug 31, 2017 at 8:32am PDT

Although Julianne has given no explanation, her brother Derek Hough told Entertainment Tonight his sister has a lot of things on her plate:
“We were supposed to go back on tour, she’s just newly married, she is a very focused woman,” Derek revealed to Entertainment Tonight. “She has her sights set on other opportunities and other things.”