Reality TV
Val Chmerkovskiy Pens Emotional Goodbye to ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Partner Laurie Hernandez as Tour Ends
Not only are Val Chmerkovskiy and Laurie Hernandez reigning Dancing With the Stars champions, they're best friends too!
The pro dancer took to Instagram on Thursday, Feb. 2 to pen an emotional goodbye to his Season 23 partner — the two won the Mirror Ball Trophy together in November 2016! — as their tour comes to an end. Truth be told, we seriously have tears in our eyes after reading his touching words to the 16-year-old Olympic gymnast!
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"Breakfast with this incredible young lady. Talking life, family, and what's really important to hold dear. As this tour is coming to an end, times spent with my lil nugget will be by far the times I'll miss the most," he wrote on the social media platform. "What an awesome ride this has been, playing older brother mentoring this wonderful talent and spirit. Excited to see how high she will continue to soar how bright her star will continue to shine. Very proud of the young leader she has become. #TeamValaur #Tour."
The two showed their chemistry in the ballroom throughout the entire last DWTS season, where they earned perfect scores time and time again. The teen even brought tears to Val's eyes during one of the show's episodes!
"My whole life is focused around making sure that she shines every Monday," Val said in a pre-performance video while starting to cry in October 2016. "Is my creativity good enough? Is my choreography good enough? Because her dancing is definitely good enough."
"I want to be good to you, for you, and make this a great, great experience for you. Because you deserve it," he told Laurie, to which she replied, "You have to stop, because then you're going to make me start crying and that's ugly!" Too cute!
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Val also recently reunited with his fellow Season 20 champion, Rumer Willis, in Chicago on Sunday, Jan. 29.
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"The one and only [Rumer] came to visit us on [the Dancing with the Stars: Live! — We Came to Dance tour] this evening??#MirrorBallChamp #DWTS #Alumni #Tour… Also thank you, Chicago, for two sold out shows today! Great audience ??," the 30-year-old star captioned the photo of the two.
Click through the gallery below to see the past DWTS winners then and now!
