Cheryl Burke left Dancing with the Stars in 2022 after season 31, framing it as a difficult but intentional decision to move on to a new chapter in her career and personal life, and later returned in 2025 as a guest judge for season 34’s Halloween Night episode. Since leaving as a pro, she has spoken openly about feeling emotionally torn about the “breakup” with the show, distancing from some cast members, and focusing more on projects like podcasting and mental‑health advocacy rather than weekly competition in the ballroom.

Quick Scoop

  • Cheryl first joined DWTS in 2006, became a two‑time Mirrorball champion, and ultimately exited after season 31 in 2022, saying it was “one of the most difficult decisions” of her life but the right time to evolve beyond the show.
  • She described the exit as feeling like an “amicable divorce” and has admitted she felt somewhat “abandoned” or disconnected from many fellow pros and judges afterward, keeping in touch with only a few.
  • In October 2025, she returned to DWTS not as a competitor but as a guest judge for season 34’s Halloween Night, calling the experience “surreal,” emotional, and like coming home after three years away.
  • Outside the show, she has leaned into speaking about body image, sobriety, and mental health, and has pushed back on speculation around her appearance or use of weight‑loss drugs, emphasizing long‑term health and inner work instead.

Why She Left The Show

Cheryl Burke’s departure in 2022 wasn’t due to a single scandal or injury; it was a deliberate career and life choice after growing up on the show for more than a decade and a half. She said publicly that the ballroom had been her “second home” since she was 21 but that it was time to “embark on the next chapter” and face new challenges beyond competing every week.

Key reasons she has described:

  • Needing a new chapter
    She talked about wanting to evolve creatively, try new TV and media projects, and step more fully into roles like podcasting and commentary rather than just competing as a pro dancer.
  • Emotional toll of staying vs. leaving
    She compared leaving the show to a breakup or “amicable divorce,” acknowledging that it was heartbreaking but necessary for her growth, and even hinted it was emotionally harder than some of her personal relationship splits.
  • Focus on mental health and sobriety
    Burke has been open about sobriety, anxiety, and body dysmorphia, and said she wanted more space to focus on mental‑health advocacy and healthier routines than the intense, public pressure of weekly live competition.

Life After Leaving DWTS

After stepping away, Cheryl didn’t disappear; she shifted into a mix of media, advocacy, and personal healing.

Some post‑DWTS directions:

  • Podcasts and media work
    She hosted and guested on podcasts, used interviews to talk about body image, sobriety, and relationships, and left the door open to other reality‑TV or unscripted projects that feel challenging but healthier for her.
  • Body image and appearance rumors
    As her appearance changed, online commenters speculated about surgery or weight‑loss drugs, which she addressed directly—denying those rumors and connecting the conversation to her long history with body dysmorphia and the pressure of costume fittings and weigh‑ins during her DWTS years.
  • Distance from some colleagues
    She has said she rarely speaks with most pros and judges now, which left her feeling somewhat excluded and “abandoned” after giving so much of her life to the show, though she still refers to the DWTS community as a kind of family with ups and downs.

Her “Return” To Dancing with the Stars

In 2025, Cheryl Burke returned to the ballroom—but in a new role.

What changed:

  • Guest judge, not pro dancer
    For season 34’s Halloween Night episode, she came back as a guest judge after about three years away, describing the invitation as a mutual decision and saying producers knew she was open to judging rather than dancing.
  • Emotional homecoming
    She called the night “surreal,” predicted “waterworks,” and said that despite the complicated feelings of her exit, stepping back into the ballroom felt like coming home to a place where she had spent a huge part of her life.
  • Perspective on the show now
    Burke has framed the past drama and distance as something everyone has largely “moved on” from, emphasizing respect for the pros, wanting to empower current couples, and recognizing that relationships with colleagues naturally have highs and lows over time.

Forum & Trending Discussion Angle

Online conversations around “what happened to Cheryl Burke on Dancing with the Stars ” tend to mix curiosity about behind‑the‑scenes drama with interest in her personal evolution. Many fans discuss:

  • Whether her departure reflected deeper issues with show culture (pressure on body image, competition stress, cast dynamics) versus simply normal career growth after 26 seasons.
  • Reactions to her candid comments on podcasts about feeling unsupported, contrasted with her decision to still return for a milestone season, which some see as healing and others read as strictly professional.
  • Support for her openness about mental health and frustration with appearance‑based criticism, particularly as she continues to advocate for body positivity and sobriety in the public eye.

At bottom, nothing “happened” in the sense of a single explosive incident; Cheryl Burke chose to step away from being a pro on DWTS , worked through complicated feelings about that break, and then circled back in a different role that better fits where she is now in her life and career.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.