Dancing with the Stars honors late judge Len Goodman with his wife Sue Barrett in attendance with emotional waltz routine led by Derek and Julianne Hough

The late Len Goodman was honored in an emotional, tear-inducing dance during Tuesday’s edition of Dancing with the Stars, with his wife Sue Barrett in attendance.

Goodman, a regular on the ABC series from 2005 to 2022, died in April at the age of 78 after a battle with bone cancer, about four months after retiring from his judging duties on the ballroom competition.

Co-host Julianne Hough and judge Derek Hough featured prominently in the segment with the tribute to the English dance professional, which aired in the middle of the program.

The segment featured some of the show’s alumni, including Mark Ballas, Maks Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani, Kym Johnson-Herjavec, Karina Smirnoff, Anna Trebunskaya, Edyta Śliwińska and Louis van Amstel.

The segment featured testimonials from the dancers as they talked about learning under Goodman’s tutelage.

“One of the things I’m most grateful for is that I get to judge with Len,” Derek Hough said, crying. ‘I was able to spend some more time with him and for that I am very grateful.’

Chmerkovskiy noted how Goodman set the bar high, making the good times all the more worthwhile.

“Being criticized by Len was never easy, but getting that A made it all worth it,” he said.

The professional dancers performed in a routine to Moon River by Henry Mancini, composed by Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy, and said it was a favorite of the late judges.

At the end of the routine, a spotlight was placed on the chair where Goodman previously sat, causing the audience to stand and applaud amidst the crying eyes.

The passionate exhibition ended with a voiceover from the beloved, late TV personality saying, “All good things must come to an end.”

Before the outing, Smirnoff, 45, opened up People that alumni of the series were “thrilled and grateful” to be able to commemorate their late colleague.

“To come back and read that love letter or dance that love letter for him and say thank you for his contribution to our world, I think it’s a no-brainer,” Smirnoff said. “We’re all excited and grateful that we have that opportunity and that the show can give us that.”

Maks Chmerkovskiy said he wouldn’t be who he was “without Len,” adding: “That’s the reality.”

“So whenever there’s an opportunity to pay respects, I think I’d like to be a part of that,” he told the outlet.

The show, in its 32nd season, announced last month that, as the show stated, the Mirrorball Trophy would be renamed The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy.

The show’s hosts, Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, opened the September 26 program talking about the late ballroom expert and how the show’s most coveted prize would be renamed in his honor.

“Len was on this panel for almost all of our 31 seasons and while he is certainly irreplaceable, we wanted to keep his spirit alive,” said Hough, 35. “Len will always be with us.”

Ribeiro, 52, said of the trophy: “In tribute to him, we have redesigned and renamed our ultimate prize.”

Goodman, who died in a hospice in Kent, England, with family around him, was “a much-loved husband, father and grandfather who will be deeply missed by family, friends and all who knew him,” his manager Jackie Gill said in a statement. BBC reported upon his death.

Goodman was also a head judge on the British version of the series Strictly Come Dancing between 2004 and 2016.

This was announced by the show’s executive producer Conrad Green USA today last month that producers wanted to “make Len a permanent part of this show, to always remind people how important he was to Dancing with the Stars and how much he meant to all of us.”

He said: ‘Len loves this show and will always be there looking down on us.’

Riberio said Goodman’s influence would be evident in the first season since his death, and that “there won’t be a dry eye in the house” when the dance tributes are performed.

“I can guarantee you that all these professionals will make sure the routines are still designed for Len,” Riberio said People.

He added, “I know I’ve talked to a few of them and they’re going to take specific steps that Len used to love, just to make sure the content is still there for Len… I mean, he was the best.’

Goodman, who was known for his excellent communication skills, quit the series in November 2022, saying: ‘It has been an enormous pleasure to be part of such a wonderful show.

‘But I have decided that I would like to spend more time with my grandchildren and family in Britain. I can’t thank you enough, my Dancing with the Stars family, it has been an amazing experience for me.”

The full list of participants in the new season of the series includes Ariana Madix, Jamie Lynn Spears, Mauricio Umansky, Matt Walsh, Jason Mraz, Alyson Hannigan, Mira Sorvino, Adrian Peterson, Barry Williams, Tyson Beckford, Xochitl Gomez, Harry Jowsey, Lele Pons and Charity Lawson.

Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC and streams on Disney+ and Hulu.