Cheryl Burke Pays Tribute To All Her DWTS Celeb Partners Amid Show Exit

Amid her exit from Dancing With The Stars, Cheryl Burke is paying tribute to her numerous celeb partners over the years. After hinting at it for several months, the pro dancer announced that season 31 would be her last. She made her final bow in the season finale, which aired on Disney + on Monday, Nov. 21.

On Saturday, Nov. 26, Cheryl posted a reel to her Instagram page. Set to the Goo Goo Dolls song “Iris,” the reel included many photos of Cheryl and her 24 different celeb partners, including Jack Osborne, Ian Ziering, Rob Kardashian. She also highlighted her seasons 2 and 3 mirrorball trophy wins with Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith, respectively. Cheryl, who compared leaving DWTS to her divorce, captioned the post by writing, “To all of my dance partners who each has played a pivotal role in my life, THANK YOU.” The 38-year-old went on to thank her past dance partners for “the life lessons, for trusting me with your vulnerability, and for ALWAYS giving each dance your all.” She continued, “though there were times of blood, sweat, and tears, I can confidently say that regardless of it all, not a single one has ever let me down.” The Dance Moms star ended the caption by writing, “thank you again for trusting me, allowing me to mold you into dancers, and for the amazing ride that I’ll never forget. LOVE TO YOU ALL!”

Related: Why Mark Ballas Is Unsure About Returning For DWTS Season 32

Cheryl Burke Supported By DWTS Contestants & Fans

The post received support from celebs who appeared alongside Cheryl this season. Teresa Giudice commented, “Wow what an accomplishment,” and the post was liked by history-making DWTS contestant Shangela. Some of Cheryl’s former partners took note of the tribute and showed her love in return. Terrell Owens, who was paired with Cheryl in season 25, commented, “it was an absolute honor!!” She replied by saying, “will cherish the memories we made for a lifetime.” Longtime fans also left comments praising the ballroom star. Many called her their favorite pro, and claimed she should’ve won more than two mirrorball trophies. One fan even wrote that “so much of what makes DWTS iconic comes back to you, Cheryl!” Others reflected on their favorites of her partnerships over the years, with Emmitt, Juan Pablo Di Pace, and Cody Rigsby among the popular responses.

Meanwhile, Cody wants Cheryl to be a DWTS judge. There is a spot open now on the panel, since longtime judge Len Goodman has announced his retirement. This has lead to speculation over who will replace Len, who has been a judge since season 1. However, it’s unclear if Cheryl would be up for joining the judges, or if she wants to take a break from the competition series altogether. After all, she did refer to her finale routine with pros Pasha Pashkov and Louis van Amstel as her last-ever dance on the show.

The dancer’s choice to step down comes as she’s working through things in her personal life. Amid their divorce, Cheryl and ex-husband Matthew Lawrence are in a custody battle over their dog. The reality star has also been opening up about her past traumas, and recently marked four years of sobriety. Though her dancing has long been celebrated, Cheryl has recently received praise for being a mental health advocate. No matter which path she chooses, it’s clear she’ll have plenty of support from fans going forward.

More: DWTS Contestants Who Gained Massive Success After The ShowDancing With The Stars is available to stream on Disney +.

Source: Cheryl Burke/Instagram