Derek Hough shares touching Len Goodman tribute performed in his stage show on tour
Last week, current and former Dancing with the Stars professionals joined together on the live show to present a moving tribute to the late Len Goodman, the program’s longtime head judge. The performance left many in the studio visibly moved, and fans responded with heartfelt appreciation.
Now, judge and former professional dancer Derek Hough has revealed how he created a piece honoring Len Goodman for his touring production, Derek Hough: Symphony of Dance. Derek explains that the tribute was a deliberate and personal choice from the earliest stages of planning the tour.
“From the moment I began creating the show, I knew I wanted to include a moment to honor Len,” Derek wrote on Instagram. “It became the first piece I developed for the tour.”
Derek described the process of selecting the music: Len had often mentioned how much he loved the song “Moon River,” so Derek chose an instrumental arrangement to leave room for each performer’s memories and emotions to surface naturally. The melody immediately suggested a clean, classic waltz — a style Derek felt Len would have adored.
Derek brought the idea to Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson
Derek brought the concept to Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson, who helped expand it into a full ensemble routine. Together they crafted a restrained, elegant waltz to the instrumental classic. The performance featured an array of alumni and current professionals who have shaped the show over the years.
Participants included Derek Hough and his wife Hayley Erbert Hough, Julianne Hough, Mark Ballas, Karina Smirnoff, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Edyta Sliwinska, Tony Dovolani, Kym Herjavec, Louis Van Amstel, Anna Trebunskaya, and the current cast of professionals. The choreography emphasized simplicity, grace and a sense of shared history.
Reflecting on the collaborative nature of the tribute, Derek noted that working with Jenna and Val brought a thoughtful, careful elegance to the choreography that lifted the moment to new emotional heights. Having past professionals on stage amplified the sense of nostalgia and underscored Len Goodman’s lasting influence on the show and on each of the dancers personally.
“I love this show,” Derek wrote. “I love these people, and we will always love you, Len.” He accompanied that message with footage of the routine as performed in his Symphony of Dance tour, sharing the tribute with audiences beyond the television episode.
Jenna and Val thank Derek for his collaboration
Val and Jenna also posted a message of thanks to everyone involved in bringing the dance to life. They described the piece as “our love letter to Len Goodman” and expressed gratitude for the many supportive messages they received after the broadcast.
In their post, they singled out Derek for initiating the creative idea and selecting the music. “A special and resounding thank you to Derek Hough for bringing the creative to the show and picking this beautiful piece of music that was so thoughtfully perfect for this moment,” they wrote, noting how personal the tribute was to him.
The relationship between Derek, his sister Julianne, and Len stretches back to their early ballroom years. Derek and Julianne met Len while studying ballroom dance in the United Kingdom with the mother of fellow pro Mark Ballas. Derek was only twelve at the time, and Len served as a competition judge during those formative years.
The tribute on Dancing with the Stars and the stage piece in Symphony of Dance both served as poignant reminders of Len Goodman’s impact — not only as a respected adjudicator, but as a warm, guiding presence for generations of dancers. The choice of a classical waltz and the gathering of so many familiar faces made the moment resonate deeply with fans and performers alike.
For viewers who missed the live airing, the full routine from the show’s “Most Memorable Year” episode remains available through official program archives and many social platforms where the episode highlights are shared. The collaboration stands as a meaningful celebration of Len Goodman’s legacy and a testament to how the Dancing with the Stars community continues to honor those who helped shape it.