DWTS’ Derek Hough talks about Len Goodman during the semi-finals

Derek Hough became emotional as he praised Dancing with the stars participant Xochitl Gomez during the semi-finals on Tuesday, November 28.

“I was thinking about how important this season is, what the seriousness of this season means … because this is the first time we have the Len Goodman Trophy,” Hough, 38, told Gomez, 17, after her waltz with partner Val Chmerkovskiy to “La Vie En Rose” by Lady Gaga.

“And I’ll tell you right now, Len would have loved that dance,” Hough continued, holding back tears. “That was absolutely perfect. Perfect.”

Goodman died in April at the age of 78, less than a year after he retired DWTS after season 31. He was a judge on the reality competition series from 2005 to 2022. In September, DWTS’ top prize, the Mirrorball Trophy, was renamed in Goodman’s honor.

“The Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy will now be disbanded Dancing with the stars like the Vince Lombardi trophy being raised at the Super Bowl,” said executive producer Conrad Green told USA today at the time. “We wanted to make Len a permanent part of this show, to always remind people how important he was Dancing with the stars and how much he meant to all of us.”

The show further celebrated Goodman’s legacy last month when he was still former DWTS plus points included Maks Chmerkovskiy, Mark Ballas And Karina Smirnoff returned for a tribute to the late judge on Henry Mancini’s ‘Moon River’.

Before the moving performance, the artists shared memories of Goodman via a pre-recorded video.

“One of the things I am most grateful for [about] Being able to judge with Len has allowed me to spend a little more time with him,” Hough said, getting choked up.

Related: ‘DWTS’ judges through the years

The judges have spoken! Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli have been fixtures on the Dancing With the Stars judges’ table since day one – but they’re not the only stars who have weighed in on the contestants’ performances. Since the show’s inception in 2005, the trio of judges has been joined by a variety of judges […]

After Hough invoked Goodman while praising Gomez on Tuesday, the other judges shared similar glowing feedback.

“There is dance and there is artistry,” Bruno Tonioli the actress said. “You have a great future ahead of you.”

Carrie Ann Inaba also became emotional after seeing the performance. When to cohost Alfonso Ribeiro reminded her to record her score, she apologized and said she was “surprised.”

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

Gomez was the only competitor of the evening to earn perfect scores for both of her dances. At the end of Tuesday’s episode, Ribeiro, 52, and his cohost, Julianne Houghannounced which duos had made it to the finals until only Gomez and Chmerkovskiy, 37, and Ariana Madix And Pasha Pashkov Remained.

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

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

The Dancing with the stars The season 32 finale airs on ABC Tuesday, December 5 at 8pm ET.