Val Chmerkovskiy’s wife is Jenna Johnson, a professional dancer and fellow Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) star. The couple married on April 13, 2019, and welcomed their son, Rome Valentin Chmerkovskiy, on January 10, 2023. In October 2026, the couple has also attracted attention for a public disagreement involving Johnson’s judging on Dancing With the Stars, bringing renewed interest in their relationship and family life.
Introduction
Val Chmerkovskiy’s wife is Jenna Johnson, an accomplished American professional dancer best known for her work on the hit television competition Dancing With the Stars. Their relationship has attracted attention because they share more than a marriage: both have built careers in competitive dance and have worked together in the same entertainment world for years.
The couple married on April 13, 2019, and became parents when their son, Rome Valentin Chmerkovskiy, was born on January 10, 2023. They continue to balance family life with demanding schedules that include television appearances, rehearsals, live performances and tours.
Their relationship has also returned to the headlines in October 2026. After a disagreement between Johnson and Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba during a live episode, Val publicly defended his wife. The episode sparked discussion among viewers about the show’s judging rules and the relationship between its professional dancers and judges.
Here is what is known about Jenna Johnson, how she and Val Chmerkovskiy became a couple, their marriage, their son and their latest public appearances.
Who Is Val Chmerkovskiy’s Wife?
eonline.com
Jenna Johnson is an American professional ballroom dancer and television personality. She is widely recognized for competing as a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars, where she has partnered with celebrities from different backgrounds.
Johnson developed her dancing skills from a young age and trained in ballroom and Latin dance. Her experience in competitive dance helped establish the technical foundation for her television career, where choreography, performance quality and the ability to work with celebrity partners are all important.
She first appeared on Dancing With the Stars as a member of the show’s troupe before becoming a professional partner. Over the years, she has worked with a variety of celebrities and become a familiar face to the show’s audience.
Johnson is also known for her relationship with Val Chmerkovskiy, another leading professional dancer on the program. Their shared profession has allowed them to understand the pressures of rehearsals, live television and competition.
Although their careers are closely connected, they have also spoken publicly about the importance of making time for their relationship and their son.
How Did Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson Meet?
Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson met through the Dancing With the Stars environment. Both were involved in the program as professional dancers, giving them opportunities to work around one another and build a friendship.
Their relationship developed over time rather than becoming an immediate public romance. They dated, experienced a period apart and later reconciled. Their story reflects how a professional connection can gradually become a personal relationship.
The couple’s engagement became public in June 2018. Chmerkovskiy proposed to Johnson during a trip to Venice, Italy, and she accepted.
Their engagement attracted attention from fans who had followed their careers on the show. Because the two dancers already shared a professional background, their relationship was familiar to viewers who watched them perform and interact on television.
Their decision to marry marked a new chapter in a relationship that had grown alongside their work in the dance industry.
When Did Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson Get Married?
radaronline.com
Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson married on April 13, 2019, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
Their wedding brought together family members, friends and people from the Dancing With the Stars community. Several colleagues from the show attended, reflecting the close professional relationships the dancers had developed over the years.
The ceremony was a significant milestone for the couple, who had moved from working in the same dance environment to building a life together outside the ballroom.
Their marriage has continued alongside their television careers. Because both are professional dancers, their schedules can involve long rehearsals, filming commitments and touring. In a March 2026 interview with Swooon, published by TV Insider, Johnson discussed how she and her husband make time for their relationship even while working on tour.
She explained that they try to find moments to reconnect as a married couple rather than allowing their shared work to define every part of their relationship.
That balance is especially relevant when both partners have demanding careers in live entertainment.
Do Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson Have Children?
parade.com
Yes. Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson have one child together, a son named Rome Valentin Chmerkovskiy.
Rome was born on January 10, 2023. The couple announced his name and shared a first look at him with fans in February 2023. United Press International reported the announcement, including Johnson’s social media post introducing their son.
Becoming parents was an important moment for the couple. In interviews with Good Morning America in 2023, they discussed their experience with pregnancy loss before Rome’s birth. Johnson had experienced a miscarriage in 2021 and later described the emotional difficulty of that experience.
The couple referred to Rome as their “rainbow baby,” a term commonly used for a child born after a pregnancy loss. Johnson also spoke about Chmerkovskiy’s support during her pregnancy and the early days of parenthood.
Their comments offered a personal perspective on the challenges that can accompany family planning. They also helped bring attention to conversations about pregnancy loss that many families experience privately.
What Is Rome Valentin Chmerkovskiy Like?
Rome is growing up around music, dance and live performance because both of his parents work in entertainment.
In March 2026, Johnson told Swooon that Rome had joined his parents on the Dancing With the Stars tour. She described the experience as rewarding, explaining that he was becoming familiar with the cast and enjoying the activity behind the scenes.
Johnson also said that taking him on the road initially made her nervous because she wanted to preserve his routine. Over time, however, she found it meaningful to share part of their professional world with him.
In October 2026, E! News reported that Chmerkovskiy had spoken about teaching his young son a strong work ethic. He said he wanted Rome to see his parents work hard and approach dance seriously.
The couple has not announced that Rome will follow a professional career in dance. Any future career choice will be his own, and his parents’ work should not be taken as evidence that he is destined to become an entertainer.
Have Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson Discussed Having More Children?
Yes. Johnson discussed the possibility of expanding their family in an interview published by Swooon on March 22, 2026.
She said she eventually wanted to have another child, while also explaining that she hoped to continue working on Dancing With the Stars for as long as possible. Her comments indicate that having another baby is something she has considered, but they do not establish a pregnancy or a confirmed timeline.
As of October 16, 2026, there is no verified announcement in the sources reviewed confirming that the couple is expecting another child.
It is important to distinguish between a public statement about future family plans and an actual pregnancy announcement. Readers should rely on direct statements from the couple or reputable reporting rather than online speculation.
What Does Jenna Johnson Do for a Living?
Jenna Johnson works as a professional dancer, choreographer and television performer.
Her best-known role is on Dancing With the Stars, the American competition series in which celebrities train with professional dancers and perform routines before a panel of judges. The professionals help develop choreography, teach technique and prepare their partners for weekly live performances.
The work requires more than dancing ability. Professional partners must also understand musicality, storytelling, staging, timing and how to adapt choreography to a celebrity’s skill level.
Johnson’s career has developed within this demanding environment. Her experience in ballroom and Latin dance gives her a foundation for choreographing routines, while her television work requires flexibility as styles and weekly themes change.
Her marriage to Chmerkovskiy also means that both partners understand the pressures of performing in front of judges and a national audience. At the same time, their professional experience does not mean they always have to agree about every performance or judging decision.
Val Chmerkovskiy’s Career and His Connection to Dancing With the Stars
parade.com
Val Chmerkovskiy, whose full first name is Valentin, is a Ukrainian-born American professional dancer and television personality. He became widely known through Dancing With the Stars and is one of the show’s prominent professional competitors.
He is also the younger brother of fellow dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy. The brothers have built careers in dance and entertainment, with Val establishing his own profile through competitive ballroom performances and television appearances.
Val’s experience on Dancing With the Stars is central to his public identity. He has competed with numerous celebrity partners and won the show’s Mirrorball Trophy multiple times.
His marriage to Johnson links two people who understand the technical and emotional demands of the same profession. They can share the excitement of successful performances while also recognizing the stress that comes with weekly competition and public criticism.
That background helps explain why the show’s latest judging dispute became a personal issue for Val as well as a television talking point.
Latest News: Val Defends His Wife After a Dancing With the Stars Judging Dispute
One of the most recent developments involving Val Chmerkovskiy and his wife took place during Dancing With the Stars Season 35 in October 2026.
On the October 13 episode, Johnson performed a samba with her celebrity partner, actor Harry Shum Jr. During the judges’ feedback, Carrie Ann Inaba criticized the routine for including a lift that she said violated the rules for the dance style.
The disagreement centered on a moment when members of the show’s dance troupe helped lift Shum during the choreography. Johnson appeared surprised by the criticism, as she understood the situation differently from the judge.
In an article dated October 14, Entertainment Weekly reported that Val responded to a social media clip of the exchange, defending his wife and saying that she deserved respect. His comments prompted mixed reactions from viewers, some of whom supported his defense of Johnson while others argued that the judges should be able to critique performances.
Johnson subsequently acknowledged the feedback and said that Inaba was doing her job as a judge. She explained that she had not understood the lift to be a violation because other dancers, rather than Johnson herself, were involved in lifting Shum.
The discussion also highlighted a broader issue with Dancing With the Stars: its mix of traditional ballroom and Latin dances with styles such as jazz and freestyle. Different dance styles can allow different movements, which may lead to questions about how rules are applied from one performance to another.
The disagreement was a public television moment, not evidence that the couple’s marriage was in trouble. Val’s response focused on defending his wife, and no verified announcement has indicated a separation or marital problem.
Did Val Chmerkovskiy’s Reaction Cause Controversy?
Yes. His comments became part of the online conversation about the judging exchange.
A separate report from Page Six on October 14 described backlash over a social media post that appeared to reference the infamous 2022 Oscars slap involving Will Smith. The report said the post was later deleted.
Because online reactions can be interpretive, it is important not to treat every audience interpretation as a confirmed intention. The documented point is that Val publicly defended Johnson after the critique and that some viewers questioned the tone of his response.
The incident also demonstrates how moments from live reality television can quickly extend into social media discussions, where the original performance, the judge’s explanation and a contestant’s reaction may all become separate topics of debate.
What Have Val and Jenna Said About Balancing Work and Family?
In a March 2026 interview with Swooon, Johnson discussed the practical challenge of being both a married couple and working performers while touring with Dancing With the Stars.
She explained that they try to make space for ordinary moments together, including date nights and time to communicate away from their work responsibilities. Her comments suggest that they recognize the need to maintain their relationship separately from their professional partnership.
Parenthood adds another layer to that balance. A tour can mean travel, rehearsals and performances, while a young child needs routine and attention. Johnson said bringing Rome on tour had been a positive experience, even though she initially worried about disrupting his schedule.
Chmerkovskiy’s October 2026 comments about teaching Rome a strong work ethic similarly show how the couple thinks about parenting while pursuing their careers. The emphasis in his reported remarks was on setting an example through effort and dedication, rather than expecting their son to enter the same profession.
These comments provide a glimpse of the family’s public approach to work and parenthood, although they do not reveal every detail of their private life.
Why Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson’s Relationship Interests Fans
Their relationship is notable for several reasons.
- A shared career: Both are professional dancers who have worked on the same television show.
- A long-running relationship: Their romance developed over time before their engagement in 2018 and marriage in 2019.
- Parenthood: Their son Rome became part of their lives in 2023, adding new responsibilities alongside their careers.
- Open discussions about family challenges: Their comments about miscarriage and pregnancy loss have helped make a difficult subject more visible.
- Public moments on television: Their involvement in Dancing With the Stars means that professional disagreements can attract attention beyond the ballroom.
The couple’s story is not simply about two television personalities who married. It also illustrates how partners in the same demanding profession can navigate career goals, family life and public attention.
What Happens Next for Val Chmerkovskiy and His Wife?
As of October 16, 2026, Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson remain publicly identified as a married couple. They are continuing their work in the Dancing With the Stars world while raising their son.
The next developments most likely to draw public attention are their upcoming performances, interviews and any direct updates they choose to share about family plans. Johnson has expressed a desire to have another child in the future, but no confirmed pregnancy announcement is established by the sources reviewed.
The judging controversy may also remain a subject of discussion among viewers as the season continues. However, the exact outcome of any debate about the lift rule should not be assumed unless the show or its representatives clarify the matter.
For now, the verified details are straightforward: Johnson is Val’s wife, they have one son, and both continue to pursue careers in professional dance and television.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Val Chmerkovskiy’s wife?
Val Chmerkovskiy’s wife is Jenna Johnson, an American professional dancer and television personality known for Dancing With the Stars.
2. When did Val Chmerkovskiy marry Jenna Johnson?
They married on April 13, 2019, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
3. How did Val Chmerkovskiy meet his wife?
They met through Dancing With the Stars, where both worked as professional dancers. Their relationship developed over time, and they announced their engagement in June 2018.
4. Does Val Chmerkovskiy have children?
Yes. He and Jenna Johnson have one son, Rome Valentin Chmerkovskiy, who was born on January 10, 2023.
5. Is Jenna Johnson also a professional dancer?
Yes. Johnson is a professional dancer and choreographer best known for competing on Dancing With the Stars.
6. Are Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson expecting another baby?
Johnson said in a March 2026 interview that she would like to have another child eventually. However, the sources reviewed do not confirm that she is currently pregnant.
7. Why did Val Chmerkovskiy defend his wife in October 2026?
He defended Johnson after judge Carrie Ann Inaba criticized a samba routine performed by Johnson and her celebrity partner, Harry Shum Jr. The disagreement involved a lift that Inaba said violated the rules for the dance style.
8. Are Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson still married?
As of October 16, 2026, they are publicly identified as married. No verified announcement in the sources reviewed indicates that they have separated or divorced.
9. What is Val Chmerkovskiy known for?
He is best known as a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars, where he has competed with celebrity partners and won the show’s Mirrorball Trophy multiple times.
