Although the passing ofCheryl Burke‘s father was heartbreaking for the professional dancer, his death led to an unexpected blessing: a sister she had never known. Nearly four months after Burke announced that her father,Stephen Louis Burke, had passed away in March, theDancing with the Starsalum, 34, revealed in a heartfeltInstagram poston Monday that she recently found and met with her younger half-sister, Ina. But before meeting Ina in-person for the first time on July 3 in Los Angeles, Burke had some initial skepticism....

Cheryl Burke and her dog, Ysabella.Photo:Cheryl Burke/Instagram Cheryl Burke/Instagram Cheryl Burkeis grateful for her furry friend. TheDancing with the Starsalum, 39, recently launched the podcastSex, Lies, and Spray Tans. Whilediscussing the new project— which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the celebrity dance competition — with PEOPLE, Burke took time to gush about how her dog Ysabella has supported her since her divorce fromMatthew Lawrence. “Oh, my gosh, I just love her,” Burke tells PEOPLE exclusively about her beloved French bulldog....

Photo: Jon Kopaloff/WireImage Cheryl Burkeis finding the beauty in being alone. The 37-year-oldDancing with the Starspro opened up about being on her own following her split from husbandMatthew Lawrencein a candid Instagram post on Sunday evening. “I’ve realized that whenever I am at a point in my life where I have some big emotions to process, the best thing for me to do is to spend some time alone - other than being with [my dog] Ysa of course, but I truly feel like she is a part of me, so she doesn’t count,” Burke began her post....

Photo: the kelly clarkson show/ youtubeCheryl Burkeis living on her very own reptile island.On Thursday’s episode of theKelly Clarkson Show, Burke revealed that her husbandMatthew Lawrenceowns “40 to 50” reptiles. Explaining her husband’s “obsession,” Burke told hostKelly Clarksonthat the animals live “underneath” the couple’s home.While Burke said she has accepted her husband’s love for the crawling creatures, she revealed there was one animal not allowed to take up residency at their home....

Cheryl Burke 2023.Photo:Joey Andrew/Startraks Joey Andrew/Startraks Cheryl Burkehas learned to face her fears. “I think my decision to leave the show was scary,” says Burke, 39. “It had been 26 seasons. Either I was going to make the decision or when I was 50, they were.” Eric McCandless/ABC/Getty Burke says her podcast, which delves into juicy behind-the-scenes insights onDWTS, has helped her come to terms with not being on the show anymore....

Photo: Leon Bennett/Getty, Randy Shropshire/Getty Cheryl Burkeis on board withMatthew Lawrencetrying to start a family with girlfriendRozonda “Chilli” Thomas. TheDancing with the Starsalum, 38, expressed her thoughts on Lawrence and Chilli’s relationship while appearing on Thursday’s episode ofThe Most Dramatic Podcast Ever With Chris Harrison. “I really truly hope he can actually have a kid with Chilli. I think that’s amazing. I think he’s wanted that,” she shared. “He comes from a huge family and there were definitely conversations but I always had said, ‘As long as I had to shove my body in a dance costume, me thinking about being pregnant probably isn’t something I can talk about at the moment,’ " she recalled....

Cheryl Burke (left) and Len Goodman.Photo:Tommaso Boddi/Getty; Eric McCandless via Getty Tommaso Boddi/Getty; Eric McCandless via Getty Cheryl Burkewill not be participating inLen Goodman’s upcoming tribute episode onDancing with the Stars. Ina post shared to Threadson Thursday, Burke, 39, confirmed she would not be in attendance for Tuesday’s tribute. Reps forDancing with the Starshave not responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment. On this week’s episode of the competitive dance show, co-hostsAlfonso RibeiroandJulianne Houghrevealed their plans to honor the late head judge — whodied at age 78 in April— with a touching dance tribute during the Oct....

Cheryl Burkeis hoping to make amends withIan Ziering– her former partner onDancing with the Stars. “The one thing I truly regret and want to make amends with is Ian Ziering,” she told her co-hostAJ McLeanshared. “I was completely out of line a few years ago, and I did a podcast where they were asking me who my favorite partner was and who did I hate the most. And I answered Ian Ziering, and I said something along the lines of ‘I’d rather slit my wrists than dance with Ian Ziering again....

Photo: Jon Kopaloff/WireImage Cheryl Burkeis opening up about her thoughts on becoming a parent. “I always thought I was going to adopt,” she shared. “When I was a little girl, I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll just adopt.’ But I didn’t have body dysmorphia [at that time]. I didn’t know what it was that I had, but it wasn’t because the gaining of the weight. And I have a lot of friends that are adopted....

Photo: John Wolfsohn/Getty ImagesCheryl Burkeis fine flying solo for now.TheDancing with the Starspro, 38, told PEOPLE being newly single “couldn’t have happened at a better time” as she arrived at Saturday’s 10th annual Gold Meets Golden event in Beverly Hills, Calif.She explained thatfinalizing her divorcefrom ex-husbandMatthew Lawrencelast September has been therapeutic. “It’s been really healing, honestly,” she said.She further clarified that she is not yet completely active in the dating pool....

Cheryl Burkeis doing just fine as her ex-husband,Matthew Lawrence, moves forward in a new relationship. Sharing photos of herselfsmiling from ear to ear, theDancing with the Starsalum gave her followers an update after she was “getting a lot of questions about how [she’s] been doing lately and what’s been going on.” She continued, “Then there are moments when I feel peace and ease within my soul, which has led me to learn how to connect with my true essence and purpose in life — which will forever be something I continue to discover for as long as I live....

Cheryl Burke.Photo:Corine Solberg/Getty Corine Solberg/Getty Cheryl Burkeis taking her mental health journey one day at a time. ​​TheDancing with the Starsalum, 39, recently spoke to PEOPLE about her newly launched podcast,Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans, and gave insight on how she’s approaching her ongoing mental health battle. “I think what is overwhelming — and I can just say this from experience — there’s always light at the end of the tunnel, but there’s no end date,” she tells PEOPLE....

Cheryl Burke and Chris Harrison.Photo:Corine Solberg/Getty; VALERIE MACON/AFP via GettyCheryl BurkeandChris Harrisonare setting the record straight on why she never became the lead ofThe Bachelorette.On the latest episode ofThe Most Dramatic Podcast Ever with Chris Harrison, the formerDancing with the Starspro, 39, claimed that she was told that Harrison put the kibosh on her being cast on the ABC dating series.“I heard you blocked that,” she told the 52-year-old television host, whoexited the franchisein June 2021....