Val Chmerkovskiy hospitalized during “Dancing With the Stars” tour: 'Couldn't get myself together'
Val Chmerkovskiy hospitalized during “Dancing With the Stars” tour: 'Couldn't get myself together'
Ryan ColemanMon, March 2, 2026 at 5:10 AM UTC
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'Dancing With the Stars' pro Val Chmerkovskiy with celebrity contestant Sherri Shepherd in 2012Credit: Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Val Chmerkovskiy is currently down for the count, but promises he'll be back on the ballroom floor soon.
The veteran Dancing With the Stars pro shared a video from his hospital bed with his 1.5 million Instagram followers on Sunday. He was set to take the stage at the Prairie Home Alliance Theater in Peoria, Ill., that night, but wound up seeking care for a pressing medical issue.
"What's up friends. So yeah, my bad. I ended up out here in Peoria, but the doc was cool — shout out to Claire our [physical therapist] on tour, and everyone on our tour for rallying," he said. "I've just been having vertigo for the past couple of days and had it yesterday."
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Chmerkovskiy explained that he "was able to get through [yesterday's] show, and then we ran some tests, and again we're on the bus. I guess that kind of, once that little crystal in your equilibrium — again I'm learning a lot — once it goes out, it's really hard to get it back in."
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Also called Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, vertigo is defined by The Mayo Clinic as an onset of "brief periods of mild to intense dizziness" caused by disturbances to a small organ inside the ear called the vestibular labyrinth." The "crystals" Chmerkovskiy referred to are called otolith organs, which help detect head movement to maintain balance, but can cause dizziness and mobility issues when thrown off.
"I'm just spinning everywhere," Chmerkovskiy continued. "So when I'm on the bus, and it's moving... I just woke up and couldn't get myself together. Hopefully tomorrow's a day off, and I'll be back on Tuesday." In the caption of the post, Chmerkovskiy wrote, "Sorry my friends… small hiccup."
Dancing With the Stars regularly sends its core cast of professional ballroom dancers on the road after the conclusion of a new season. Top competitors and fan-favorite celebrity contestants from those seasons often join as special guest co-hosts, like season 34's Danielle Fishel, who kicked off this recent tour cycle in January.
In addition to Chmerkovskiy, the cast of pros includes official cohost Emma Slater, Danielle Karagach, Hailey Bills, Brandon Armstrong, Britt Stewart, Alan Bersten, Ezra Sosa, Jenna Johnson, and Pasha Pashkov.
Season 34 winner Witney Carson and her celebrity partner Robert Irwin will join the tour from April 21-30. Season 34 contestants Andy Richter, Elaine Hendrix, Dylan Efron, Alix Earle, and Jordan Chiles are also participating in the tour.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
