DWTS Pro Cheryl Burke Says This Is Her Last Season: ‘It’s Really Hard To Say Goodbye’
By Movieguide® Contributor
DANCING WITH THE STARS pro Cheryl Burke has confirmed that this season will be her last on the show.
“A lot of people have asked me if this is my last season,” she explained. “The answer to that question is likely yes, this is my last season — as a dancer that is.”
Burke shared that she would love to continue appearing on the show as a judge or host.
“I do believe, though, that I have proven myself enough to where I could either be a correspondent or host. Not saying I’m trying to take anybody’s job, you guys. Please don’t write about that,” she said. “I’m just saying you can always add another host. You can always add another judge. It’s a two-hour show with no commercial breaks.”
Burke has been on DANCING WITH THE STARS for 26 seasons.
“To have been a part of a show for 26 seasons, it is hard for me [to leave] … I always come back, because, I guess, it’s really hard to say goodbye to a show and to a family, that I’ve only known here in Los Angeles,” she said. “I moved here when I was 21. I’m 38 now. My body is also telling me to stop, and it has been.”
The dancer called her exit from the show “bittersweet,” but she’s ready to make space for another talented dancer on the show.
“I know there’s a lot of dancers out there that want my job, and I think it would be very unfair for me to stay knowing that,” she explained. “I think it’s now time.”
Burke is not the only dance pro who is saying goodbye to DWTS.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Long time DANCING WITH THE STARS pro dancer Lindsay Arnold has decided to step away from the show, and for a very good reason — her family.
Arnold posted a photo of herself, husband Samuel Lightner Cusick, and their daughter Sage, who was born in 2020.
Her caption read:
I wanted to let you all know that I have decided not to be a part of Dancing With the Stars this season. This has been one of the hardest decisions to make but ultimately I have chosen what I feel is best for myself and my family. DWTS has been a part of my life for over 10 years now and when I say I love the show with all of my heart I mean it!! This show has changed my life forever and will always mean the world to me.
You all know that family is the most important thing to me and doing what is best for my daughter is always going to be at the top of my list! As many of you know my family and I live in UT and in order to do DWTS I have to move myself and my daughter Sage out to LA and leave behind my husband Sam who works full time here in Utah. Logistically there is SO much involved with making this happen and there is a lot of sacrifice that has to be made that unfortunately just did not feel right for us this time around.
We exhausted every option we could think of to make it work but at the end of the day none of the options felt good in my heart or felt like the right thing for our lives right now. We are also trying to grow our family and that in itself is a complicated logistical thing as I’m sure many of you understand.
Arnold made it clear to fans that her decision was solely due to her commitment to her family, and not because of any onset difficulties.
“I can’t wait to watch this next season of DWTS and see all of my friends dance, I’m going to be the biggest fan girl!” she concluded.