On Tuesday, November 11, “Dancing With the Stars” will host a special episode: “The 20th Birthday Party.” On November 5, former longtime host Tom Bergeron confirmed that he would return as a guest judge for the episode. A since-deleted video by pro dancer Louis Van Amstel also claimed that “every single pro and every single celebrity from the last 33 seasons are invited to come to celebrate the 29th anniversary.” Sadly, former host Brooke Burke will not be returning for the celebration.
GettyBrooke Burke Opens Up About Declining Anniversary Invite
While appearing on Jennie Garth’s “I Choose Me” podcast, Burke explained why she declined the invitation to return on November 11. “A redo is hard for me. There are some things that are worth a repeat in your life,” Burke said. “But I feel like I wrung it out, and I did everything I needed to do on that show.”
Burke had two different roles on DWTS. She won the Mirrorball trophy with Derek Hough in Season 7, and then she hosted the show with Tom Bergeron from Season 10 through 17. She discussed with Garth all the emotions she felt when she learned she would no longer be hosting “Dancing With the Stars.”
“That was a big life moment,” she admitted. “Leaving that show, being fired from that show, being let go from that show, my contract not being renewed. However you want to feel better about it, I’m a realist, I’m like, ‘it is what it is.'”
GettyWhen Burke asked Garth if she was participating in the anniversary episode, she admitted she wasn’t.
“I got an email about that. I purposely did not read it — that’s terrible!” she said, laughing at herself. “They’re doing an anniversary, okay, that’s what the email said.”
Burke Explains Why Returning to Host DWTS Would be Difficult for Her
Elsewhere in the conversation, Burke talked about how amazing it was not only to win the mirrorball but to go through the intense training. “You realize that you could do anything, anything in the world you want to do,” she said.
However, she was much more hesitant when Garth asked her whether she would ever host the show again.
“I mean, I never say no, just never close doors professionally, but that was eight seasons,” Burke said slowly. “I did everything I needed to do in the ballroom. Amazing relationships. I mean, it was one of the most-watched shows on television. It would be hard to go back with the same level of excitement and appreciation.”
