Erin Andrews: Michael Strahan Convinced Me To Take ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Job
Erin Andrews had a heatbreaking exit from Dancing with the Stars when she was on as a contestant four years ago, but now the sports reporter is having a much happier return — and she has an NFL legend to thank.
After the show fired former co-host Brooke Burke-Charvet, Andrews was tapped as the new co-host.
The Fox Sports correspondent said she is thrilled to be coming back to the popular franchise, but a little nervous to take over for Burke-Charvet, whose departure has upset many fans.
“I don’t blame the audience at all. How could you?” Andrews told People magazine. “I know that I have huge shoes to fill. I’m a fan of Brooke. She was very wonderful toward me in my season. She was so caring and so fantastic. I can only hope I can emulate somebody like that and use her for guidance.”
Andrews added that she was already comfortable with the show from her time as a competitor.
“It obviously helps that I was a contestant on the show,” she says. “Even though I made it to the finals, I wasn’t that great. It was so difficult. I broke my foot, I hurt my back. I fought with Maks every other day. I was trying to be sexy when all I wanted to do is be the tomboy. I know what they’re going through.”
The promotion to Dancing with the Stars co-host caps off a crazy few weeks for Erin Andrews. She was part of a strange moment after the NFC championship game when Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman went on an angry rant, then a few weeks later she was off to New Jersey to cover the Super Bowl.
When the call came to join DWTS, Andrews said she wasn’t sure it was the right move at first.
“When they approached me, I really didn’t even know if it was going to be possible because I’m fully committed to Fox Sports. That’s my love,” she said.
But Andrews consulted with a friend and fellow television personality — Michael Strahan — who helped convince her that its possible to juggle two jobs at once.
Erin Andrews also has Strahan to thank for another major part of her life. It was the former New York Giant and current Live! host who introduced Erin to her boyfriend, L.A. Kings forward Jarrett Stoll.
