Cheryl Burke has thoughts on who Dancing With the Stars should put in the ballroom next: more unexpected names, fewer lightning rods. Val Chmerkovskiy is basically on the same wavelength. And if you were hoping to see Burke at DWTS Con 2026, I have an update on that too.
Who Cheryl wants on the floor
At an event on Friday, May 1 — Calamigos Ranch Resort & Spa's Leading Hotels of the World accreditation celebration — Burke, 42, told Us Weekly she wants the show to broaden its idea of celebrity. Think creators, not just the usual reality stars and athletes. She even pitched a very specific name from the self-help world.
"I would love to see more creators join the show... I think having people like mental health gurus come on. I would love to see Jay Shetty get jiggy with it. "
She also gave the current producers some credit, saying the formula is working, but it never hurts to mix it up. For context, Burke left the show in November 2022 after 26 seasons, so she knows how the sausage gets made.
Who she would rather not see
Burke would prefer the show skip booking politicians for a while. Her logic: the series is supposed to be a feel-good escape, and the political climate is, to put it mildly, a minefield.
"I think maybe it's probably best not to involve politics. This is a show that's a feel good show, and right now I think it's just very touchy."
That lands a little differently coming from her, since she was once paired with former congressman Tom DeLay — he represented Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1985 to 2006 and served as House majority leader from 2003 to 2005.
DWTS has never been shy about dipping into the political pool. Among the contestants over the years:
- Sean Spicer, former White House press secretary who served during President Donald Trump's term
- Rick Perry, former Texas governor
- Tucker Carlson, ex-Fox News host turned podcaster
Personally, I get what she's saying: keep the vibe fun, skip the cable-news baggage.
Val Chmerkovskiy cosigns: fewer politicians, more unity
On April 25 at Jennie Garth and iHeartPodcast's "I Choose Me" live summit at the iHeartRadio Theatre in Burbank, California, Val told Us he hopes the show books "less politicians" going forward. He praised DWTS for being one of the rare places where people can actually enjoy something together without checking party lines.
"In a world quite literally designed to split us all apart... we're a show that creates union and brings people together. Yes, it's just a dance show, but it's way more than just a dance show... two hours a week of just good family fun."
DWTS Con 2026: Cheryl's status
Burke has been focused on herself since stepping away from the show, and fans were hoping to see her at DWTS Con 2026 — the fan convention and live show running July 31 to August 2. Not happening this year.
"Not this year," she said, explaining they just couldn't make the schedules line up. She sounded optimistic about future editions, though, noting the fan energy is there in a big way.