Entertainment TV Cheryl Burke Is Saying Goodbye to 'DWTS' After 26 Seasons: 'I Have Been Crying Nonstop' "It has been very emotional," the two-time mirror ball champion tells PEOPLE exclusively of her decision to leave the show By Lanae Brody Lanae Brody Lanae Brody is a former senior reporter of emerging content at PEOPLE. She left PEOPLE in 2023. People Editorial Guidelines Published on November 20, 2022 11:15AM EST Cheryl Burke is hanging up her dancing shoes. After 17 years and 26 seasons, the professional dancer has made the difficult decision to walk away from Dancing with the Stars, and she's still processing her decision. "I have been crying nonstop," the 38-year-old tells PEOPLE exclusively. "It has been very emotional. There [are] a lot of emotions and there's lots of excitement, but there's also lots of fear. At the end of the day, this is actually maybe another divorce in a way that I'm going through in one year." Burke made a name for herself on the show when she won her first Mirrorball trophy, alongside singer Drew Lachey, in season 2. She then took home her second trophy in season 3 with former NFL player Emmitt Smith, who she danced with again during the show's All-Star season 15. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday. Adam Larkey/ABC/AP After finalizing her divorce from ex-husband Matthew Lawrence, whom she met on the show, Burke made this decision with her health in mind. Although she's taken breaks over the years to work on other projects, she's always found her way back to the show. But Burke says this time, things are different. Dancing with the Stars Head Judge Len Goodman Announces His Retirement: 'Hasta La Vista Baby!' "Lately I've talked a lot about how my body — it just hurts," Burke shares. For me as a dancer, as a woman, unfortunately, this is what happens as an athlete as well. There comes a time where —I'm almost 40 years old. I'm 38, and I have certain expectations I set for myself. Sometimes, if I don't see what I want to see or think that I am producing, that has a lot to do with it. But then also, it has a lot to do with growth in general." For more on Dancing with the Stars, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day. The show has taken a toll not only physically on Burke, but mentally too, and she's looking forward to going easier on herself. Eric McCandless/ABC/Getty "At the end of the day, it's my sobriety as well," the Burke in the Game podcast host says. "I feel like I really have evolved and have just done a lot of work within myself and to continue to be judged, to continue to worry about my body, to continue to worry about if I look good or not look good in a costume is not where I am at today." Charli D'Amelio and Mom Heidi Join Dancing with the Stars as the Show's First Mother-Daughter Duo Over Burke's tenure on the show, she's danced with 25 different celebrity partners. While it's hard to choose a favorite, she holds a special place in her heart for a few. Sam Champion and Cheryl Burke. disney+ "Jack Osbourne was amazing," Burke says. "Rob Kardashian, Emmitt Smith, and I love Sam Champion. He's a dear friend. For me, it was never about the Mirrorball. It was always about my experience. I thank every single one of my partners for teaching me a life lesson because everyone did. Whether you were my favorite or not is irrelevant. I think at the end of the day, the universe puts whoever they want in front of us for a reason." One moment in particular sticks out for Burke, when she was paired with the 36-year-old Kardashian, who just wanted to stay on the show longer than his famous sister, Kim. Adam Taylor/Disney/Getty "I always loved getting the dark horse," Burke says, laughing. "For example, I'll never forget Rob Kardashian and I walked out for the first dance. He got booed because of his package. He just was the typical, what people thought about him — this spoiled brat. The goal was just to beat Kim Kardashian, which was just week two. He came in second place. I loved that. I haven't talked to him in a while, but those are those moments that I feel like I've made an impact on someone's life." If Burke has it her way, she'll return to the show one day in a different capacity, as she sets her sights on the future. "I just would like to try and challenge myself into doing something different," Burke explains. "I'm definitely wanting to be more in the mental health space. I have a dance program that I've been wanting to come out with for the last decade that I'm hoping to launch next year called Body Language. "I definitely know as a dancer, I have done what I can do, and that was 26 seasons of Dancing with the Stars. That's a great run." Dancing with the Stars will crown its season 31 champion live on Monday at 8 p.m. ET on Disney+.