Why DWTS’ Brooke Burke Isn’t Returning With Tom Bergeron

Brooke Burke does not like to dwell on the past.

Former Dancing With the Stars contestant and co-host recently explained why she won’t be joining original host Tom Bergeron and other familiar faces for the show’s 20th-anniversary celebration on November 11th. She first competed on the ABC series in 2008 and later returned to co-host in the early 2010s.

Brooke explained on the I Choose Me podcast with Jennie Garth that she left Dancing with the Stars after eight seasons because she felt she’d accomplished everything she wanted on the show and wanted to keep her options open. She valued the relationships she made and acknowledged the show was hugely popular at the time, but felt it would be difficult to recapture that same enthusiasm if she returned.

At 54, she explained she doesn’t believe a reboot would work, saying she feels she’d already given the show everything she had.

Brooke, who has five children – Neriah, 25, and Sierra, 23, with her former partner Garth Fisher, and Rain, 18, and Shaya, 17, with ex-husband David Charvet – won’t be returning to dance on the show, but she remembers her four years as a wonderful experience.

Brooke, winner of season seven with Derek Hough, described the reality competition as surprisingly impactful. ‘It wasn’t just a silly show,’ she explained. ‘It really pushed me to confront my fears and step outside of what I was used to.’ She also enjoyed the intense physical and mental training, comparing it to becoming an athlete.

Brooke admitted being a contestant was incredibly difficult, calling it “one of the hardest things” she’d ever experienced and describing it as “terrifying.”

Not only did this opportunity lead to a major success, but it also prepared her to co-host the show alongside Tom, who had been with the series from 2005 to 2019, when she took on the hosting role from season 10 to 17.

Hosting helped Brooke connect with guests on a deeper level because she understood how frustrating it could be when communication was difficult or someone was highly emotional. She knew what it felt like to be ignored or unheard, or to be dealing with strong feelings.

Having a public platform actually made being a mother even more fulfilling for her.

Having experience on both sides of the production really helped me be a more engaging and skilled host. It was a truly enjoyable show to work on, and I feel very fortunate to have been a part of it.

Want to find out who’s competing on season 34 of Dancing With the Stars? Keep reading to see the cast!