Former “DWTS” winner and cohost Brooke Burke reveals why she won't return to the show
- - Former “DWTS” winner and cohost Brooke Burke reveals why she won't return to the show
Ryan ColemanNovember 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
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Brooke Burke and Tom Bergeron on 'Dancing With the Stars'
Brooke Burke is an indelible part of Dancing With the Stars history. But she's happy to leave that relationship in the past.
The winner of season 7 and cohost of seasons 10-17 joined Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Jennie Garth on Tuesday's new episode of her I Choose Me podcast. When the conversation turned to their experiences on DWTS (Garth placed fourth on season 5), Burke praised her years in the ballroom as "so much fun" and "a great show to work on," despite being "one of the hardest things I've ever done in my entire life."
But was it so nice she'd do it twice?
"I never say no, never closed doors professionally, but I mean, it was eight seasons, and I did everything I needed to do in the ballroom," Burke said.
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Brooke Burke and Derek Hough win the Mirrorball trophy on 'Dancing With the Stars' in 2008
The Penn & Teller: Fool Us host sung the praises of the "amazing relationships" forged during her time on DWTS, but demurred when it came to the prospect of returning. She explained, "It was one of the most watched shows on television. It would be hard to go back there with the same level of excitement and appreciation."
Dancing With the Stars is currently enjoying its 20th year on the air, an occasion the series will celebrate with an upcoming televised "20th Birthday Party." Garth joked that she "got an email about that" which she "purposely did not read." Burke concurred, "I'm not going either," elaborating that "a redo is hard for me. I guess there's some things that are worth a repeat in your life, but I feel like I wrung it out and I did everything I needed to do on that show."
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to a representative for Burke for comment.
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Both Burke and Garth fared well on their respective seasons of the long-running reality competition series. Garth nearly made it to the finals with her partner Derek Hough, who was in his first season as a pro. Season 5's Mirrorball trophy eventually went to Indy 500 champion Hélio Castroneves and pro Julianne Hough. Flash forward nearly 20 seasons, and Derek now sits on the judging panel, while Julianne cohosts alongside Alfonso Ribeiro.
Burke, meanwhile, swept to victory on season 7, also with Derek by her side. She returned three seasons later to replace Samantha Harris as Tom Bergeron's cohost, a post she kept for eight seasons.
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Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough on 'Dancing With the Stars' season 34
Last year, Burke opened up about the reasons for her exit as cohost, vaguely referencing "a number of reasons on both sides" for the change. Though she admitted she was "ready to do other things," she still reflected, "I think it was really disappointing. I wasn't expecting it."
Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+, and streams the next day on Hulu. The 20th anniversary special airs on Nov. 11.
on Entertainment Weekly
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