Cheryl Burke returns to the ballroom: why she left DWTS, what changed, and what’s next after her Halloween guest-judge turn

Cheryl Burke—two-time Mirrorball champion and the longest-tenured pro in Dancing With the Stars history—stepped back into the spotlight this week as a guest judge on the Halloween episode, three years after retiring as a competing pro. The appearance rekindled fan questions of “what happened to Cheryl Burke,” and Burke used the moment to address the climate around the show, pushing back on online bullying and urging a little more empathy for everyone on the floor and behind the desk.

What happened to Cheryl Burke—why she left

Burke exited after Season 31, closing out a run that spanned 26 seasons across nearly two decades. At the time, she framed the decision as a career evolution: moving from the physical grind of weekly competition to roles that leveraged her expertise—hosting, podcasting, mentoring, and on-camera analysis—while protecting her long-term health. She has also spoken candidly over the years about mental well-being, boundaries, and sobriety, themes that informed a deliberate step back from the relentless pace of live television.

Why she’s back now—at least for a night

Burke describes her Halloween-night return as “surreal,” the right blend of nostalgia and new challenge. Sitting at the judges’ table lets her apply years of choreography and coaching through a different lens: musicality, storytelling, and technique without the physical toll of training celebrities 6–7 days a week. It’s a one-night assignment—but a high-impact one, landing midseason when routines get harder, props multiply, and nerves peak.

Addressing the noise around the show

In the lead-up, Burke called out toxic fan behavior—dogpiling pros and contestants, and second-guessing judges with personal attacks. She also offered a public show of support for Carrie Ann Inaba, noting that certain judging calls are uniquely tough and that criticism can ignore the intent behind technical notes. The message: debate is part of the fun; harassment isn’t.

Timeline: Cheryl Burke at a glance

• 2006–2022: Breakout as a DWTS pro; two Mirrorballs, a record number of seasons as a competing pro.

• Late 2022: Retirement as a pro after Season 31; pivots to media and mentorship projects.

• 2023–2024: Commentary, guest appearances, and a popular dance-world podcast keep her close to the show.

• October 2025: Guest judge for Halloween Night, with renewed attention on her perspective—and her evolving on-camera look.

What she’s saying to the current cast

Burke’s preseason notes to this year’s couples emphasize time discipline (banking reps early in the week), risk with purpose (adding difficulty only when technique supports it), and managing social media pressure by keeping critiques in context. Her rubric favors clarity over clutter: clean footwork, frame, and storytelling choices that read from the balcony—especially crucial on prop-heavy theme nights.

Fan talk: appearance and public perception

Burke’s return came with chatter about her new look—short bob, sharper styling, and a leaner silhouette. She has long encouraged fans to focus on craft, not bodies, and to grant performers the same permission to evolve that audiences give the show itself. On a series where transformation is the selling point, Burke’s message doubles as a reminder: people change on and off the dance floor.

Could Cheryl Burke join the judging panel full-time?

There’s no commitment beyond the guest slot, and Burke hasn’t signaled a permanent switch. But her trial run shows the upside: she brings insider specificity (what’s realistically achievable in six days), a coach’s ear for music phrasing, and an educator’s knack for actionable notes. If producers rotate guest judges later this season—or plan future theme nights—expect Burke to be on the shortlist.

What to watch in the weeks ahead

• Tone of the discourse: Whether Burke’s anti-bullying plea cools the temperature in fan spaces.

• Judge–pro dynamics: If her on-air alignment with the panel narrows the gap between artistic showmanship and technical scoring.

• Contestant growth: Couples that took her Halloween feedback—posture, timing, and narrative clarity—often see a week-over-week jump.

Cheryl Burke didn’t “disappear”—she repositioned. The Halloween guest-judge turn caps a thoughtful recalibration: less grind, more guidance. For a franchise built on reinvention, Burke’s latest step is on-brand—proof that you can honor the past, set boundaries, and still shape the ballroom’s future.