Cheryl Burke explains why leaving 'Dancing With the Stars' was harder than ending her marriage.
In 2022, Cheryl Burke endured two life-changing splits, but one hit her harder -- and it may not be the one you think.
In February 2022, the ballroom pro filed for divorce from Matthew Lawrence after less than three years of marriage. Nine months later, she announced she would be performing for the last time as a pro partner on Dancing With the Stars after 25 seasons.
"This has been one of the absolute hardest decisions of my life," she wrote in her announcement, "& I am also confident that it is the right one."
During her appearance on Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes' podcast, Amy & T.J., Burke was asked which "divorce" was harder.
"Dancing With the Stars," she responded. "...Hands down. You can't compare."
While she clarified that her answer did not mean her split from Lawrence was easy, Burke credited ABC's ballroom competition series with giving her a voice.
As Burke put it, "That was my identity." Burke -- who joined the show at 21 years old -- explained that she did not think back then that she could ever be an independent woman because, in ballroom, it's about a partnership with the men in control.
However, she gave credit to DWTS for coming into her own and being able to stand on her own feet. But will she ever be back on the show in any capacity? Burke simply does not know. "It's everything," she said, "but, like, I also don't want to get my hopes up, either."
As for her relationship with Lawrence, Burke said she was the breadwinner and supported them financially, which gave her a sense of control, but, according to her, ended up being to their detriment. "It made me feel good," she said, "but then it didn't necessarily make the relationship good."
While Burke acknowledged on the podcast that she is more of a realist than an optimist, she has not ruled out tying the knot again.
"I totally would get married again," she told ET in 2023. "I mean, I know we should probably go from like meeting somebody first, not like straight to the altar, but our time is limited on this planet."
What would that future groom be like? "Someone who, honestly, first of all, is OK and secure with themselves. That really is a person who knows that we are here to evolve as human beings and who wants to grow and continue to learn and stay curious," she said. "I think that that is very important and whether we're on the same path, it's irrelevant, I think it's just someone who knows that life continues to move forward."
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