Dancing With the Stars pro Val Chmerkovskiy recently reflected on his and wife Jenna Johnson’s loss at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmys. Despite not winning, Chmerkovskiy expressed his honor at being in the room and congratulated the winner, Karla Garcia, and all the nominees. He also shared his love for Johnson, calling her his trophy, joy, and peace. Chmerkovskiy shared some behind-the-scenes snaps from the evening on Instagram.
Johnson, in response, expressed her belief that art is endless and they should continue making it. She also shared her gratitude for being nominated and posted her own red carpet photos with Chmerkovskiy. Johnson shared her joy at attending her first Emmys and realizing her dream of being a professional dancer in LA. She felt inspired by being in a room filled with creative geniuses and expressed her forever gratefulness for the experience.
Chmerkovskiy and Johnson were nominated for the Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming award for their dance tribute to former DWTS judge Len Goodman during season 32. The tribute was a waltz performed alongside past and present pros such as Mark Ballas, Karina Smirnoff, and Kym Johnson-Herjavec to the tracks “Moon River” and “La Vie En Rose”. Goodman had passed away in April 2023 after battling prostate cancer.
Alongside the tribute dance, the Mirrorball Trophy was renamed in Goodman’s honor by the ABC series. Chmerkovskiy and his season 32 partner, Xochitl Gomez, were the first recipients of the renamed award. Gomez expressed her disbelief and joy at receiving the trophy, which took her some time to fully register. Chmerkovskiy emphasized the importance of focusing on having fun and joy during the competition, as there were many variables beyond their control.
Chmerkovskiy and Johnson’s experience at the Creative Arts Emmys was a mix of gratitude, reflection, and inspiration. Despite not winning, they were honored to be among such creative talents at the event. The tribute dance to Len Goodman was a special moment for them, and being the first recipients of the renamed Mirrorball Trophy was a significant achievement. Their love and support for each other shone through as they shared their experiences and emotions surrounding the event and their DWTS journey.
