You remember that 2017 season with Jordan Fisher? That was the peak. Lindsay Arnold was everywhere. She was the "it" girl of the ballroom, the pro who could turn a Disney star into a Latin dance machine. People still talk about that Hamilton-inspired Samba like it happened yesterday. But then, the glitter just... stopped.
Honestly, the internet is a weird place. If you aren't on a Tuesday night broadcast under a spotlight, folks assume you've retired to a quiet life of knitting. But Lindsay from Dancing with the Stars didn't just disappear; she pulled a massive pivot that most Hollywood pros are too scared to try. She traded the grueling 24/7 rehearsal schedule of Los Angeles for the mountains of Utah.
Why she actually walked away
It wasn't a "firing." It wasn't drama. It was just life getting very real, very fast.
Lindsay spent ten years on that show. Ten. Think about that for a second. That is a decade of spray tans, 4:00 AM call times, and the kind of physical toll that makes your knees feel like they're filled with gravel. When she had her first daughter, Sage, in 2020, she actually tried the "comeback" thing. She did Season 30 with Matt James.
But it felt different.
She's been super open about this on podcasts like The Squeeze with Taylor Lautner. She realized she couldn't give 100% to the show and 100% to her kid. The math didn't work. Most people think she’s just "waiting to be asked back," but she’s actually confirmed that she hasn't even been in those producer talks lately. And she’s okay with it. In a late 2025 TikTok, she basically told fans that the reasons she left are more relevant now than ever.
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The Utah "Mom-Fluencer" Rise
If you follow the "Mormon Wives" or the whole Utah influencer scene, you've probably seen Lindsay popping up in the background. She’s part of that specific Salt Lake City ecosystem where being a mom is the brand.
But she isn’t just posting beige aesthetics.
She built The Movement Club. It’s her workout platform, and it’s honestly how she’s kept her dance roots alive without needing a ballroom partner. She’s lean, she’s fit, and she’s teaching thousands of women how to move in a way that doesn't feel like a chore. It’s a business. A real one. She isn't just a "former dancer"; she’s a CEO who happens to have a Mirrorball trophy on her shelf.
2026: The Year of the Third Baby
Here is the big news that’s been swirling. As we hit the start of 2026, Lindsay is currently navigating her third pregnancy. It hasn't been all sunshine and cute bump photos, though.
Late in 2025, she shared a pretty terrifying story about a health scare while she was at Disneyland with her family. Heavy bleeding. The kind of thing that makes your heart stop. It turned out to be a subchorionic hematoma—the same thing she dealt with during her pregnancies with Sage and June.
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- Sage: Born November 2020.
- June: Born May 2023.
- Baby #3: Due in 2026.
She’s a pro at this now, but she’s been incredibly candid about the anxiety of it all. It’s that vulnerability that keeps her engagement so high. People don't just want the "Perfect Lindsay" from TV; they want the "Scared Mom in a Disney Hotel Room" Lindsay. That’s why she’s still relevant.
The Rylee Factor
We have to talk about her sister, Rylee.
Watching Rylee Arnold take over the DWTS stage with Stephen Nedoroscik (the pommel horse guy!) was like a torch-passing ceremony. Lindsay isn't just a spectator; she’s the mentor. She’s the one behind the scenes giving advice on how to handle the pressure and the "shipping" rumors that the internet loves to invent.
It’s a weird dynamic. Some fans are desperate for Lindsay to return for a "sister showdown" season. But honestly? Lindsay seems more than happy to let Rylee have the spotlight while she watches from her couch in Utah. She’s lived that life. She’s done the tours. She’s had the ankle injuries.
Speaking of tours—Rylee actually had to sit out the 2026 DWTS Live Tour to manage her Type 1 diabetes and recover from an injury. It’s a reminder that the "Arnold Sisters" are human, not just dancing robots.
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What’s next for the Arnold brand?
Lindsay is basically the blueprint for how to exit a reality show with your dignity and bank account intact. She didn't cling to the fame until it faded; she left at the top.
If you're looking for her in 2026, don't look at the ABC casting announcements. Look at her jewelry line (L.A.C.), look at her fitness app, and look at the "Arnold Sisters" YouTube channel. She’s building a multi-media empire that doesn't require her to live in a suitcase for three months out of the year.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators:
- Follow the Pivot: If you're a fan of her dance style, The Movement Club is the only place you're getting "Lindsay-style" choreography these days. It’s built for real bodies, not just pros.
- Watch the YouTube Channel: The Arnold Sisters' channel is where the unedited reality lives. If you want to see the behind-the-scenes of her 2026 pregnancy and family life, that’s the source.
- Appreciate the Boundaries: Understand that her "no" to the show isn't a "no" to the fans. It’s a "yes" to her kids. In a world of 24/7 hustle, that’s actually a pretty cool lesson to take away.
She’s 32 now. She’s a veteran. She’s a mogul. And yeah, she’s still the same girl from Provo who just happened to win a dance competition on national TV.