Jenna Dewan has addressed why she stepped away from The Rookie Season 7 , revealing that her maternity leave was the primary reason. Sharing a sweet photo of herself with her 7-month-old daughter, Rhiannon, on Instagram, Dewan humorously noted that she had been "busy welcoming someone into the world." She reassured fans that her character, Bailey Nune , will be back soon with plenty of action-packed storylines.
Since the show's debut in 2018, Dewan’s Bailey has been a central figure. However, in Season 7, her character has been absent, with the storyline explaining Bailey’s deployment overseas with the National Guard. According to showrunner Alexi Hawley, fans can expect Bailey’s return at the end of Episode 3.
Dewan’s return is set to shake things up, especially with major storylines involving her character. One focuses on Bailey and her on-screen partner, John Nolan (played by Nathan Fillion ), as they navigate the challenges of adoption. Meanwhile, Bailey’s ex-husband, Jason, re-enters the picture, creating tension both romantically and professionally. Jason is portrayed by Dewan’s real-life fiancé, Steve Kazee . Hawley hinted that Jason’s arrival will bring immediate complications, promising drama for viewers.
Off-screen, Dewan has been juggling motherhood and her career. She shares daughter Rhiannon with Kazee and has a son, Callum, born in 2020. She is also co-parenting her 11-year-old daughter, Everly, with her ex-husband, Channing Tatum. In past interviews, Dewan has spoken about the challenges of balancing family life, emphasizing that keeping her children’s well-being as the top priority helps her manage everything.
Although Dewan and Kazee have been engaged for some time, they have yet to finalize wedding plans due to their busy schedules.
Fans of The Rookie can catch Dewan’s return to the series soon, with new episodes airing Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET.