EXCLUSIVE: Ginger Zee Talks New 'Dancing With the Stars' Gig, Juggling Work and Motherhood: 'I've Got a Great

By
This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors.

If you are using ad-blocking software, please disable it and reload the page.

Ginger Zee is coming in hot!

ET caught up with the Good Morning America meteorologist -- who is partnered up with dance pro Val Chmerkovskiy for season 22 of Dancing With the Stars -- in New York City on Friday, where she revealed she's ready to take the competition by storm.


WATCH: Mischa Barton and Ginger Zee to Appear on 'Dancing With the Stars'

"[Joining the show] now makes just as much sense as any other time in my life, I think even more so because I'm going to come back to work," the 35-year-old explained.

Zee went on maternity leave after giving birth to her first child, a son, last December, and will be returning to her GMA job on March 14. She told ET that she's prepared for the challenges she'll face when it comes to balancing motherhood with a career and DWTS.

"Everybody always wonders, 'How do moms juggle?'" she said. "I think there are a ton of moms in America that do it great. I hope to do just as well as them -- I'm just adding a little dance on top of it!"


WATCH: How 'DWTS' Will Fill in the Gaps Left by Derek and Julianne Hough

"I always want to make sure that [my son] Adrian comes first -- my son is going to be No. 1, no matter what," Zee continued. "If something happened, I would of course be like, 'Sorry, Val! I can't do it. I've got a kid.' But I think he's healthy, he's happy and I just want him to be proud of his mom."

"I'm lucky [because] ABC, Val -- everyone's so supportive," she added. "My husband [Ben Aaron] -- I've got a great team around me and it takes a village to raise a child. It's just going to be a bigger village now."

Chmerkovskiy chimed in, telling ET that Zee's schedule will be difficult to work around, but he's confident that they'll have a good shot at winning the mirror ball trophy because Zee is "super capable and mentally ready for the challenge."


WATCH: Allison Holker Is 'Very Sad' Julianne Hough Is Leaving 'DWTS'

"The schedule's going to be a little tough, especially with having to travel back and forth between Los Angeles and New York," he explained. "She has to do a morning show every single day so that's going to be tough, but -- Ginger wants to do it, I want to help in any way possible and I think we're going to make it work!"

Zee also revealed that she hopes the dance competition show will help her get a toned post-baby body, as the long rehearsals can double up as workouts.

"It doesn't hurt that I get a little [help] -- it's going to suck [the baby weight] right back in!" she joked. "Of course, that wasn't the first reason -- because I just love the show, I'm a big fan of the show in general, so I've watched everything Val's done -- but yeah, of course it doesn't hurt and what new mom wouldn't want a little help?"

This isn't the first time Zee has partnered up with a DWTS pro, however. In 2014, the California native performed a dance routine with Derek Hough on Good Morning America.


WATCH: Derek Hough Not Returning for 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 22

As ET previously reported, Hough will not be seen on the DWTS stage when the show returns on March 21 at 8 p.m. on ABC. The 30-year-old dancer will be "taking a break" to star in a new Broadway production of Singin' in the Rain.

To hear more on Hough's departure, watch the video below.

Related Gallery