Carrie Ann Inaba’s moving tribute to the late Len Goodman

“DWTS” judge Carrie Ann Inaba is dealing with a heavy heart over the death of her good friend and fellow judge Len Goodman.

Over the years, Inaba and the late Goodman have appeared as judges on the ABC reality show. The couple formed and maintained a friendship outside of the show.

Sadly, Goodman left the world on April 24, leaving many heartbroken.

Carrie Ann Inaba pays tribute to the late Len Goodman

The 55-year-old choreographer, who was tormented by the grief of the death of his beloved friend, Instagram to pay tribute to him. He uploaded an emotional clip of the memories he shared with the late dancer.

The clip began with an image of the two professional dancers smiling and waltzing. The video features both judges playfully dancing, a shot of them holding signs with “ten” written on them, and a shot of them laughing.

In the caption of the post, the reality star wrote a moving tribute to the late dancer. He began to describe who Goodman was. According to Inaba, “He was a dancer. Teacher. A sophisticated gentleman. A wonderful storyteller. A special soul. A mentor. A family man. And… a treasured friend.”

He continued to express his grief: “Saying goodbye at the end of last season broke my heart. But today’s news shattered it all again. I can’t believe you’re gone.”

“Until we meet again…✨Rest in peace Len,” Inaba finished. Inaba, who also hosts The Talk, continued to express her grief on her Instagram stories. In one of the story updates, the sad news shocked the professional dancer.

He wrote: “Just after 2:15am I got word that our Len Goodman had passed away. I am deeply saddened and in shock. Like many of you, I am heartbroken.💔”

However, Inaba pointed out that the deceased judge did not want the fans to grieve for long. “He doesn’t want us to be sad,” he declared. “So I humbly ask this with tears in my eyes.”

In the following stories, the reality star detailed the request: “Think of your favorite Len-ism and remember it fondly. Then turn on your favorite tune, grab the person next to you and dance. I think he would like that.”

Inaba continued by sharing her favorite Len-ism. “And that’s a ten from Len.” Then he stated, “And Len, you were ten years old.” Inaba wasn’t the only devastated DWTS co-judge to deal with the sad news. Derek Hough recalled his memories of Goodman over the years.

Alongside the recording, Hough wrote a tearful message. The message read in part: “Gloomy morning here in Los Angeles, which seems appropriate after this heartbreaking news. But when I look back on the memories I shared with Len, his sense of humor, his smile and his charm, everything seems so much brighter and sunnier.”

The professional dance judge apparently predicted his death

The 78-year-old English professional dance judge died on Saturday, April 22, after battling terminal bone cancer. The dancing icon is said to have been hospitalized in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, following a brief illness after six months of retirement.

A spokesperson for the former “Come Dancing” judge confirmed the reality personality’s death in a statement: “I can confirm that he passed away peacefully over the weekend, surrounded by his family,” adding that he was “a much-loved husband, father and grandfather who will be greatly missed by to family, friends and all who knew him.”

Months before her death, Goodman announced that she was quitting Dancing With The Stars to spend more time with her family. Speaking to the Daily Mail about her retirement from reality TV, the ballroom dancer seemingly predicted that she would die in 2023 aged 79, just like her late father.

The late dancer previously said: “My father had a good idea. He enjoyed gardening and suffered a stroke while out in the garden. He was 79, so if I follow my father’s path, it will be next year.”

During the interview, Goodman suggested that the interviewee keep his obituary short. He said: “Just write that he was a dancing teacher from Dartford who got lucky because that’s about the truth.”

This possible prediction has left some fans wondering if he already knows his fate due to his health issues. However, the TV personality was clear on his point. At the time, he stated

“I don’t make a fuss about things like that. It’s like when you have a car – you maintain it, but you still have some problem with the carburetor and you have to fix it, and eventually it all breaks down and that’s it. It’s more about the journey, and mine was really nice.”