News | Entertainment
25 Feb 2026 1:14
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Cheryl Burke suffered a painful head injury during rehearsals for 'Dancing with the Stars' on Sunday (25.10.20)

    The 36-year-old dancer - who is partnered with Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean on the show - lost her footing during a rehearsal and smacked her head against the ballroom floor


    AJ explained: "Cheryl and I were practising during stage rehearsal and it did not go well. It happened so fast, I just heard her head hit the floor."

    In a video clip of the incident, Cheryl could be seen falling backwards and slamming her head against the ground.

    AJ, 42, immediately recognised the potential seriousness of the situation and asked his dance partner if she's okay.

    A medic was called to the scene but Cheryl was ultimately given the go-ahead to perform on Monday night's (26.10.20) show.

    Tyra Banks, the host of 'Dancing with the Stars', provided an update on Cheryl's health during the broadcast.

    She said: "Cheryl is okay and she is cleared to perform."

    Despite the drama, Cheryl and AJ went on to perform admirably, scoring 26 out of 30 for their tango routine.

    Speaking afterwards about Cheryl's fall, AJ said: "I was there with her every second, like, 'Oh my god! Are you okay? Are you okay?' She's family now. I've got to protect her like she does for me."

    Elsewhere, Nev Schulman and Jenna Johnson scored the first perfect score of the season with their paso doble.

    Johnny Weir and Britt Stewart also impressed the judging panel, earning a score of 27 out of 30, while Chrishell Stause and Gleb Savchenko were given 26 points for their paso doble on a Halloween-themed night.

    However, cheerleading coach Monica Aldama and her partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy were eliminated from the show after scoring just 22 points and then being sent home by the judges, who opted to save Jeannie Mai instead.

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     24 Feb: Hailee Steinfeld feels "more prepared for a newborn" as time goes on
     24 Feb: Leigh-Anne Pinnock wants her twin daughters to "choose if they want to be famous or not"
     24 Feb: Judy Garland once tried to boot her daughter Liza Minnelli off stage during a joint performance
     24 Feb: Kelly Osbourne says grief is a "quiet weight you learn to carry"
     24 Feb: Eric Dane's girlfriend Janell Shirtcliff has paid an emotional tribute to the late actor
     24 Feb: Kurt Russell is happy to still be alive ahead of his milestone birthday
     24 Feb: Sterling K. Brown's teenage son will never admit his dad is cool - despite secretly thinking it
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Crusaders captain David Havili insists his side can dig a way out of their early Super Rugby hole More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Mercury's achieved a strong return to profit More...



     Today's News

    Motoring:
    A car driver's died after a crash between a truck and a car about 11am on Waikato's State Highway 2 - near Mangatawhiri 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Hailee Steinfeld feels "more prepared for a newborn" as time goes on 21:51

    Entertainment:
    Leigh-Anne Pinnock wants her twin daughters to "choose if they want to be famous or not" 21:21

    Business:
    Mercury's achieved a strong return to profit 21:17

    Law and Order:
    France is considering a social media ban as devastated families launch legal action against TikTok 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Judy Garland once tried to boot her daughter Liza Minnelli off stage during a joint performance 20:51

    Entertainment:
    Kelly Osbourne says grief is a "quiet weight you learn to carry" 20:21

    Entertainment:
    Eric Dane's girlfriend Janell Shirtcliff has paid an emotional tribute to the late actor 19:51

    Entertainment:
    Kurt Russell is happy to still be alive ahead of his milestone birthday 19:21

    Business:
    Auckland's been crowned the region with the worst savers, according to Westpac data 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd