Photo: John RussoShe’s juggled a full-time job on television, (now two of them!) but behind the scenes,Carrie Ann Inabahas dealt with years of private pain.“I’ve been through a lot of trauma in my life,” theDancing with the Starsjudge and new co-host ofThe Talktells PEOPLE in this week’s issue, on stands Friday. “But tragedies are usually the biggest gifts.”It was in 2007, while judging her fourth season ofDancing, when Inaba, a former dancer, was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that can cause pain and numbness....

Carrie Ann Inaba.Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS After three seasons on the CBS daytime talk show, the host announced her exit on Friday in a “big announcement” shared to Instagram. “I want to announce that today,The Talk, CBS and I have mutually agreed to part ways,” she began hervideo message. “And I just want to say that I’m filled with gratitude for the experience and for this chapter of my life that has beenThe Talk....

Carrie Ann Inabahas put a new meaning to the phrase,rolling on the floor laughing. The 51-year-oldDancing with the Starsjudge took a tumble during Monday night’s episode, but good-naturedly laughed the whole time. The fall took place just afterThe OfficestarKate Flanneryand her partner Pasha Pashkovperformed a jazz routineto theMarry Poppinsclassic “A Spoonful of Sugar.” Inaba gushed over the routine, telling the dancers that it was “so well-rehearsed” and that their movements were “so in sync,” and they ended up with a score of 24/30 for their efforts....

Carrie Ann Inabacandidly reveals she feels “so much shame” while battling autoimmune disease. “I have all these autoimmune conditions, and I’m in a really bad flare,” Inaba, 51, explained, fighting back tears on Tuesday’s episode ofThe Talk. “It sounds so silly, but people who have these like invisible illnesses — whether it’s rheumatoid arthritis, or a gastrointestinal thing… I feel so much shame when I go through these things, because I want to be what people see....

After a fierce four-week cycle, theall-athletes editionof the reality dance competition crowned Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and his professional dance partner Jenna Johnson its season 26 winners on Monday. To prep for the big night, Carrie Ann’s glam squad knew they needed her look to match the drama of the high-intensity finale. “We thought this show stopping, voluminous silhouette would be a perfect end to the season,” explained her trusty stylists,Michael FuscoandRhonda Spies....

Photo: GettyCarrie Ann Inabais giving thanks for her health after suffering an unexpected trip to the hospital last week.“I had an emergency appendectomy last week,” theDancing with the Starsjudge, 55, revealed on Instagram Thursday, showing off a video of her hospital digs over a soundtrack of Meghan Trainor’s “Me Too.““While it’s been quite a painful experience, I also know it’s a gift to even feel this pain. I realize after speaking with my doctor that it could have been much worse....

Photo: Tommaso Boddi/WireImageCarrie Ann Inabais continuing to focus on her health and wellbeing.One day after theThe Talkco-host announced that she would betaking a leave of absenceto work on improving her health, a source tells PEOPLE she is staying positive.“Carrie Ann is very in tune with her body and really taking this time to focus on her health,” the source says of Inaba, 53. “She has experienced some recent flare ups and taking this time to remove stress and focus on her body and its healing is important....

Photo: Kelsey McNeal/ABC via GettyCarrie Ann Inabarevealed she once suffered a hallucination she was stabbing herself after taking antidepressants.The 50-year-oldDancing with the Starsjudge was inspired to speak about her experience on Tuesday’s episode ofThe Talkafter discussingKanye West’sdecision togo off his medicine.“There was a time, a few years ago when my father died, four days beforeDancing with the Starsstarted, and I went through a whole bunch of problems,” Inaba tearfully explained.“I moved and my fiancé and I broke up, and I had to go on antidepressants,” Inaba continued....

Photo: Paul Archuleta/GettyCarrie Ann Inabais hilariously speaking out about a tattoo mishap that led to her getting a very saucy phrase written on her ankle.On Friday’s episode ofThe Talk, Inaba, 51, explained while touring withMadonnaas a dancer in 1993, she made a “rash” decision to get a tattoo in Japanese.“I thought it said ‘courageous love’ and I was like that’s so cool,” Inaba said.It wasn’t until years later that Inaba realized the kanji she had put on herself permanently had a very different meaning....

Carrie Ann Inabais opening up about her stance ongun control. TheDancing with the Starsjudge, 50, sat down on CBS’The TalkTuesday, when she admitted that she’s “not for guns” — an opinion she formed after her late father Rodney Inaba was shot when she was a child. “I’m not for guns because I had something happen with my father. When we were young, my dad was shot in a bar because he had an altercation with a man,” Inaba explained....

Photo: John Russo Only a few weeks into the new year,Carrie Ann Inabaalready has a new job — asco-host ofThe Talk— and now, the choreographer andDancing with the Starsjudge is thinking about expanding her family. “I would love to be a mom,” Inaba, 51, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I do still consideradopting. I have considered fostering to adopt.” But the potential mom-to-be admits she’s “nervous” about the prospect ofbecoming a single parent....

Carrie Ann InabasaysMadonnais a very punctual woman.TheDancing with the Starsjudge, 55,appearedonThe Jennifer Hudson Showearlier this week and spoke about a time early in her career when she toured with Madonna, 65.“Back in the day, she was very strict,” Inaba told hostJennifer Hudson. “She gave us this one rule, which I’m so grateful she did. It was, for every minute you’re late, you have to pay her $100 out of your paycheck....

Any apprehensionCarrie Ann Inabamay have feltabout replacingJulie Chen onThe Talkdisappeared when she heard from Chen herself. “Julie has been nothing but supportive,” Inaba tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s issue, on stands Friday. “When she learned that I got the job, she sent me the most beautiful floral arrangement. She’s like, ‘I’m always in your corner.’ Woman to woman, that’s amazing.” It was announcedon Jan. 2 that theDancing with the Starsjudge, 51, would be replacing Chen, 49, who had been a co-host since the CBS show’s 2010 debut....