Brooke Burke recently opened up about her experience during her victorious 2008 partnership with Derek Hough on “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS), sharing insights into their evolving relationship, emotional challenges, and how they ultimately triumphed. Burke, now 52, joined Cheryl Burke’s podcast “Sex, Lies and Spray Tans” to delve into the details of her DWTS journey with Hough, who was 38 at the time. Their partnership started off rocky but transformed into something she described as “magical.”
At the beginning of the season, Brooke admitted that she initially underestimated Derek, perceiving him as “young and green and safe.” However, as they progressed in the competition and underwent couples therapy arranged by producers to mend their strained partnership, Brooke found herself “crushing on Derek.” Although she was married to actor David Charvet at the time (they eventually split in 2018), she confessed that, “had I not been married… I would have actually hoped we would have had a love affair.”
Brooke explained that the intense connection she experienced with Derek during their DWTS journey was unlike anything she had felt before. She emphasized that dancing together created a unique bond: “There is no way that I have ever been so connected — besides with a lover or a husband — than I was with Derek. And it’s every single day. So for three months, you are in someone’s arms. Why do you think people fall in love? You smell them, you feel them, you’re breathing with them. It can be more intimate than making love in a bedroom — you’re making love on a dance floor, you feel more connected.”
Despite facing various challenges, including emotional struggles, injury, and exhaustion, Brooke’s husband David encouraged her to connect more with Derek, recognizing their disconnection. A turning point for their partnership was a life coach therapy session arranged by the show’s producers. During the session, they learned the importance of meeting each other with honesty and expressing their feelings and concerns openly. This newfound honesty and commitment to facing challenges together ignited a transformation in their partnership.
Brooke recalled that initially, they weren’t focused on winning the competition. They believed it wasn’t attainable and considered it an opportunity for personal growth and experience. However, after the therapy session, they decided to “get in it to win it.” This shift in mindset, along with their newfound honesty and mutual trust, resulted in their victory in season 7 of DWTS.
Reflecting on her DWTS experience with Derek, Brooke shared that it was one of the most amazing moments of her life. She emphasized that the show’s behind-the-scenes challenges and emotional hurdles can be grueling, but pushing through them leads to growth and self-discovery. Winning the Mirrorball Trophy was a testament to her dedication, hard work, and ability to face her fears.
Brooke’s partnership with Derek Hough not only led to their DWTS victory but also paved the way for her to co-host the show alongside Tom Bergeron from 2010 to 2013. Derek Hough went on to win the competition six times and became a judge on the show in 2020. Currently, his sister Julianne co-hosts season 32 of DWTS.
Brooke’s journey on DWTS taught her to overcome challenges, communicate effectively, and have faith in her abilities. She left the competition with a profound sense of accomplishment and the belief that she could conquer anything.
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