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. 24 episode.
The special will prompt the return of other formerDWTSpros likeMaks Chmerkovskiy,Kym Johnson-Herjavec,Tony Dovolani, Anna Trebunskaya, Edyta Śliwińska,Karina Smirnoff,Louis van AmstelandMark Ballas.
The show hasalready honored Goodman once beforeduring its season 32 premiere, in which Hough and Ribeiro spoke highly of the legendary judge. “Len will always be going forward with us,” Hough said at the time.
Cheryl Burke.Corine Solberg/Getty
Corine Solberg/Getty
On April 22, Goodmandied from bone cancerwhile in hospice care in Kent, England. Since his death, his former costars onDancing with the Starshave made sure to honor his legacy on the show, and evenrenamed the coveted Mirrorball trophyafter him.
“The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy will now be lifted onDancing with the Starslike the Vince Lombardi trophy is lifted at the Super Bowl,” executive producer Conrad Green toldUSA Todayin September.
Green continued, “We wanted to make Len a permanent part of this show, to always remind people the importance he’s had to Dancing with the Stars and how much he meant to all of us. Len loves this show and will always be there, looking down on us."
Len Goodman.Getty Images
While speaking to PEOPLE after theseason 32 casting announcement, Ribeiro also revealed how the show planned to honor theballroom judge’s legacyin the first season since his death.
“I can guarantee you thatevery one of those proswill be making sure that the routines are still designed for Len,” Riberio explained. “I know I’ve talked to a few of them and they will be putting in specific steps that Len used to love, just to make sure that the content is still there for Len.”
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airalum also assured fans that “there won’t be a dry eye in the house” when the tribute episode for Goodman came. “It’ll be amazing. I mean, he was the best,” he added.
As for Burke, the former pro announced her decision to walk away fromDancing with the Starsin November 2022 after 17 years and 26 seasons.
Cheryl Burke on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Christopher Willard via Getty
Christopher Willard via Getty
“I have been crying nonstop,” she told PEOPLE at the time. “It has been very emotional. There [are] a lot of emotions and there’s lots of excitement, but there’s also lots of fear. At the end of the day, this is actually maybe another divorce in a way that I’m going through in one year.”
Burke made a name for herself on the show when she won her first Mirrorball trophy, alongside singer Drew Lachey, in season 2. She then took home her second trophy in season 3 with former NFL player Emmitt Smith, who she danced with again during the show’s All-Star season 15. She danced with 25 different celebrity partners over her tenure on the show which began in 2006.
“I think the whole world knows at this point that I would definitely love to. But it’s not up to me,” she said. “What is up to me is my future, and I do know that it is time for me to evolve and see what else there is. Because there is life afterDancing with the Stars, so I’ve heard. I don’t know yet. I’ll let you know.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Dancing with the Starsairs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
source: people.com
