Cheryl Burke Recalls Hugging Len Goodman After Their Retirement From 'DWTS' In Sweet Tribute

The death of Len Goodman hurt Cheryl Burke more than she could express in a recent social media post. 

The dancer publicly mourned the loss with a lengthy statement that included one of her most memorable moments with him during their run on "Dancing with the Stars." News of Goodman's passing rocked the dancing world — and beyond — following his agent's confirmation on Monday, April 24.

With a long-running professional dancing career that began as a teen, Goodman was a beloved face to see on the hit competition series "Strictly Come Dancing" from 2004 until 2016. However, beyond being a great dancer, the late 78-year-old influenced multiple celebs, including Burke.

The duo appeared together on "Dancing With the Stars," with the dance teacher joining as a judge when the United States competition premiered in 2005. Their time on the series evoked an unforgettable experience for the model, who spoke on Goodman's death in an Instagram post that featured five throwback images. The 38-year-old celebrity's tone reflected her somber mood as she wrote:

"There are not enough words to describe how much Mr. Len Goodman made such an impact in my life. From when I was a teenager when he used to judge me in all of the European dance competitions I took part in all the way up until the day we hugged each other when we both retired on @dancingwiththestars this past season."

After reaffirming that he was his favorite "DWTS" judge, Burke continued writing, "A huge reason why Dancing with the Stars was a hit show that was about teaching celebrities how to Ballroom Dance was because of you, your tough love, your no BS approach (which I appreciated), and your beliefs within the technique of Ballroom but more importantly, because of how much you truly cared about the sport and how it was represented."

She reiterated that the show gained momentum because of Goodman's "influence, passion, and love for the Ballroom genre" before concluding, "Thank you for changing my life and bringing joy to millions of people who have been watching us throughout the years."

The post, which has earned 35,000 likes so far, received an overwhelming response in the comments. While several people dropped heart emojis, one penned, "Rest In Peace, Len. You will forever be a 10 in my book."

A second person commented effusively, "I agree. He was my favorite judge too! Hugs to you & to all who love Len," and a third stated, "Beautifully written Cheryl...May "Len The Ten" RIP."

Burke was not the first to send her tribute to the "Holiday of My Lifetime" alum, as Craig Revel Horwood shared his own just a few hours after his death became public. In a statement posted to Twitter, the longest-serving judge for "Strictly Come Dancing" stated:

"I've just woken up to the sad news that my gorgeous colleague and dear friend Len Goodman has passed away. My heart and love go out to his lovely Sue and family. Len Goody Goodman is what I always called him, and "It's a ten from Len & Seveeeeern" will live with me forever. RIP, Len."

"Strictly" co-host Claudia Winkleman joined the list of sympathizers when she informed BBC News, "There was nobody like him because he was so humble. He was adorable — on camera, off camera, and to everybody who took part."

Goodman is said to have passed away on Saturday, April 22 — three days before he turned 79 — following a battle with bone cancer. 

When she exited "DWTS" last year, Burke ensured she dedicated a heartfelt message to the many celebrity partners she shared a dance with. The model posted an Instagram reel set to the tune of the Goo Goo Dolls' hit, "Iris," and it featured numerous still frames of the 2005 San Francisco Latin Champion and her 24 celebrity dance partners, including Rob Kardashian, Jack Osborne, Ian Ziering, and Terrell Owens.

The clip also highlighted the television personality's seasons two and three mirrorball trophy wins, which she shared with her dance partners — Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith, respectively. Per The Blast, she wrote beneath the video: 

"To all of my dance partners who each have played a pivotal role in my life, THANK YOU. Thank you for the life lessons, for trusting me with your vulnerability, and for ALWAYS giving each dance your all."

The post has received over 14k likes and hundreds of comments since it was uploaded on November 26, 2022.