Kelly Monaco’s Unexpected DWTS Hesitation Uncovered
I suppose you need me to spell this out, so here we go: Kelly Monaco nearly bowed out of Dancing with the Stars before the music even started. The General Hospital alum opened up about the behind-the-scenes doubts that almost derailed her ABC dance debut, and yes, I’ll walk you through every awkward detail you might otherwise miss.
Monaco revealed to People Magazine that her hesitation wasn’t born of stage fright alone. Believe it or not, scheduling chaos with other projects had her wondering if she could juggle soap-opera shooting schedules, promotional commitments, and daily dance rehearsals. According to her, producers were concerned about her long-term availability (Entertainment Tonight confirms she was filming a high-profile guest role on her daytime drama at the same time). They even suggested she sit this season out to avoid any conflicts.
If that sounds intense, wait—there’s more. Monaco also confessed to having nagging fears about a previous ankle injury. She told ET that doctors had advised caution after her year-long physical therapy stint last year. With live ballroom routines demanding quick pivots and lifts, she worried about “re-injuring” herself and letting teammates down. Sources close to the show say producers hammered home questions about her fitness, echoing warnings from her personal trainer and medical team. One insider told People Magazine that ABC executives held a mini “intervention” to ensure she was truly ready.
Amid the back-and-forth, fans were left speculating. Social media buzzed with rumors that Monaco might be replaced, but her fiancé Billy Miller publicly vouched for her commitment. In an interview with ET, he praised her tenacity and confidence in her pro partner, Gleb Savchenko. That pep talk reportedly reassured ABC brass enough to give Monaco the green light.
Once the official cast announcement dropped, celebrity bloggers and gossip pages lit up, but the real drama is in how close we came to never seeing that first samba. Monaco now credits her support squad—her trainer, co-stars, and partner Savchenko—for pulling her through the doubt. Dance floor or doctor’s orders? She chose the ballroom, and we’ll see if those pirouettes pay off.
Glad I could clear that up for you. Well, now you finally understand!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, New York Post Homepage
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
