Professional dancers Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy faced an unexpected family crisis on Sunday, September 27, 2026. They spent their day in a hospital after their three-year-old son, Rome, suffered a sudden medical emergency that required an oxygen mask. The frightening incident unfolded concurrently with the intense competition of the ongoing 35th season of Dancing with the Stars.
The ordeal came to light when Jenna Johnson updated her followers via Instagram Stories to note that her young son had been feeling under the weather. The situation quickly escalated, prompting a follow-up post featuring a distressing photograph of little Rome wearing an oxygen mask while resting in a hospital bed.
Val Chmerkovskiy also used social media to share the stressful experience with fans. He posted a separate photograph of Johnson tenderly holding their son in the medical facility and added a candid caption reflecting on the chaotic turn of events.
“Sunday Funday as a parent,” wrote Val Chmerkovskiy, Professional Dancer.
Balancing Parenthood and the Ballroom
The medical emergency highlights the demanding realities that celebrity dancers navigate behind the scenes. While the professional couple has earned acclaim for their stellar performances and top scores on the popular ABC dancing competition, their primary focus quickly shifted to their toddler’s health.
Fans and fellow dance professionals flooded social media with supportive messages to wish young Rome a speedy recovery as the family managed the sudden health scare. Neither Johnson nor Chmerkovskiy immediately disclosed the precise medical diagnosis that led to the oxygen treatment, choosing to keep specific details private while focusing entirely on their son’s recovery.
FAQ About Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy
Who are Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy?
Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy are professional ballroom dancers and fan-favorite choreographers featured prominently on ABC’s hit television series Dancing with the Stars.
When did their son Rome get hospitalized?
Their three-year-old son, Rome, was hospitalized on Sunday, September 27, 2026, after experiencing an undisclosed medical emergency that required an oxygen mask.
How did the parents share the news?
Both dancers shared updates on their respective Instagram accounts. Johnson posted a picture of Rome in a hospital bed wearing an oxygen mask, and Chmerkovskiy shared a photo of Johnson holding their son.
Do Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy have other children?
Rome is the couple’s first and only child, born in January 2023.
