DWTS’ Derek Hough Tears Up Talking About Len Goodman During Semifinals

Derek Hough bought emotional whereas praising Dancing With the Stars contestant Xochitl Gomez throughout the semifinals on Tuesday, November 28.

“I was thinking how important this season is, what the gravity of this season means … because this is the first time that we have the Len Goodman trophy,” Hough, 38, instructed Gomez, 17, after her Waltz with companion Val Chmerkovskiy to “La Vie En Rose” by Lady Gaga.

“And I’ll tell you right now, Len would’ve loved that dance,” Hough continued, as he held again tears. “That was absolutely perfect. Perfect.”

Goodman died at age 78 in April, lower than one yr after he retired from DWTS following season 31. He served as a choose on the truth competitors sequence from 2005 to 2022. In September, DWTS’ grand prize, the Mirrorball Trophy, was renamed in Goodman’s honor.

Related: Len Goodman Through the Years: The ‘DWTS’ Judge’s Life in Photos

Remembering a dance legend. After attaining success as a ballroom dancer, Len Goodman discovered fame as a TV choose on Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing With the Stars. Goodman — who died in April 2023 at age 78, simply three days shy of his 79th birthday — started his profession on the dance ground at […]

“The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy will now be lifted on Dancing With the Stars like the Vince Lombardi trophy is lifted at the Super Bowl,” government producer Conrad Green instructed USA Today on the time. “We wanted to make Len a permanent part of this show, to always remind people the importance he’s had to Dancing With the Stars and how much he meant to all of us.”

The present additional celebrated Goodman’s legacy final month when former DWTS professionals together with Maks Chmerkovskiy, Mark Ballas and Karina Smirnoff returned for a tribute dance to the late choose set to Henry Mancini’s “Moon River.”

Ahead of the shifting efficiency, the performers shared recollections of Goodman by way of a pre-recorded video.

“One of the things I’m most thankful for [about] being able to judge alongside Len, is I was able to spend a little bit more extra time with him,” Hough stated, getting choked up.

Related: ‘DWTS’ Judges Through the Years

The judges have spoken! Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli have been staples on the Dancing With the Stars‘ judging table since day one — but they aren’t the one stars who’ve weighed in on the contestants’ performances. Since the present’s 2005 begin the trio of judges have been joined by a spread […]

After Hough invoked Goodman whereas praising Gomez on Tuesday, the opposite judges shared equally glowing suggestions.

“There is dancing and there is artistry,” Bruno Tonioli instructed the actress. “You have an amazing future in front of you.”

Carrie Ann Inaba additionally bought emotional after watching the efficiency. When cohost Alfonso Ribeiro reminded her to lock in her rating, she apologized, saying she was “taken aback.”

Inaba, 55, then instructed Gomez: “You really touched my heart. It transported me to another world. I just felt like I never wanted it to end and that’s so rare after 32 seasons of watching dances and dances. That was stunning.”

Gomez was the one contestant of the evening to obtain excellent scores for each of her dances. At the top of Tuesday’s episode, Ribeiro, 52, and his cohost, Julianne Hough, introduced which duos had made it to the finale till solely Gomez and Chmerkovskiy, 37, and Ariana Madix and Pasha Pashkov remained.

“The couple dancing in the finale will be … both of you!” Ribeiro revealed.

“That’s right, no one is going home tonight,” Julianne, 35, defined. “Everyone here has made it to the finale. For the first time ever, we will see five couples dancing for the trophy.”

The Dancing With the Stars season 32 finale airs on ABC Tuesday, December 5, at 8 p.m. ET.