Fans Laud Cheryl Burke As 'Irreplaceable' After 'DWTS' Final Dance Announcement

Cheryl Burke's era on "Dancing With The Stars" is finally coming to an end!

The Northern California native announced she was leaving the dance competition series as a professional dancer after the season 31 finale. The news threw her fans into an emotional state, prompting them to acknowledge and praise her hard work and dedication to giving viewers a good time. The dancer has been a permanent fixture on 26 seasons of the show, following her season two debut on January 5, 2006.

Burke's announcement came in an Instagram post that included a photo of her in a gorgeous red ball gown. She appeared to be dancing, with one hand raised above her head and the other turned to show the elbow. The catchy image was accompanied by a lengthy caption that began:

"I am sitting here full of so many conflicting emotions about the words I am about to write… Tomorrow night will officially be my final dance as a pro dancer on @dancingwiththestars. This has been one of the absolute hardest decisions of my life & I am also confident that it is the right one."

Admitting that the show has been her second family since she was 21, the 38-year-old wrote, "The cast, crew & fans have seen me through my highest highs & some of my lowest lows, & I honestly don't know who I would be today without them." Burke expressed her confidence that this was the perfect time to start the "next phase" of her career, even though dance would "always be a part" of her.

It was here that the two-time "DWTS" winner disclosed that she has dedicated her final dance in the competition "to all of YOU that have supported me, loved me even if you didn't know me, & who have been such a huge part of my life, my growth, & my story."

Fans swarmed her comment section within hours of uploading the content with compliments and accolades. One person called her a "class act and a true professional with a heart of gold!!" who was "irreplaceable!!" Another ecstatic fan commented, "You are such a shining star, Cheryl xoxo," and a third proclaimed, "A legend [fire emoji]."

Highlighting the "Suite Life of Zack & Cody" star's desire to replace Len Goodman as the head judge following the latter's exit at the end of season 31, a fan gushed, "Once a queen, always a queen. Fingers crossed they decide they need to replace Len and put you in."

A fourth supporter thanked the "I Can Do That" runner-up for "helping shape DWTS in to the amazing show that it is," and a fifth exclaimed, "You are a legend!!! What a pleasure it's been to see you dance your heart out all these years. You have a heart of gold. Miss your face!"

Even her 'DWTS' co-stars could not hold back their well-wishes and thoughts on Burke's departure. Derek Hough commented, "It's been a wild ride. So proud of all you have achieved and overcome. Forever left your mark on Dwts. It's been a pleasure."

Peta Murgatroyd claimed she was "already tearing up," while Jordin Sparks admitted, "It's been a pleasure getting you know you and watching you set that floor on fire. Happy for you as you take on this new adventure in your life! I'm cheering you on, girl!!"

The Blast shared that Burke was ready to take on new challenges after she and her dance partner, Sam Champion, got booted off 'DWTS' in October. She opened up about her possible departure from the competition on an episode of her "Burke in the Game" podcast.

After recalling people's curiosity on whether this would be her last season on the show, the "Dance Moms" star said, "The answer to that question is likely yes; this is my last season, as a dancer, that is. To have been a part of a show for 26 seasons, it is hard for me [to leave]."

The "Hell's Kitchen" VIP guest diner disclosed that her continuous return to the ballroom might have something to do with the difficulty of saying "goodbye to a show and a family" that she has known for so long. She explained that even though she would quit dancing on the show, she was open to landing a gig as a host or judge.