‘DWTS’ honors Suzanne Somers with touching tribute

“Dancing With The Stars” paid tribute to the late Suzanne Somers Tuesday after the “Step by Step” star died just one day before her 77th birthday.

The hit ABC show honored Somers, who danced her way to 9th place during its 20th season, by playing a loop of photos of the “Three’s Company” star’s time on “DWTS” at both the beginning of the show and right before the final commercial break of the night.

“Suzanne competed on season 20, and she made a big impression on everyone here both in the ballroom and behind the scenes,” host Alfonso Ribeiro, 52, told viewers. “Our thoughts go out to her friends and family.”

Somers’ former pro partner, Tony Dovolani, also honored his late co-star.

“It really hit me like a ton of bricks,” Dovolani, 50, told Entertainment Tonight the day after her passing at age 76. “I had it in my calendar to wish her a happy birthday because she was turning 77 in a couple days. When I found out, it just cut my legs from under me because she was such a beacon of light.”

“I remember Suzanne Somers with a smile on her face, and it just saddens me to the core because I knew she really fought this cancer for such a long time,” he continued. “She was dealing with it, even back then, and trying every natural way of dealing with this. The fact that she was able to survive it for as long as she did is really a true testament to her dedication to being healthy.”

“As a partner, it’s interesting because ‘Dancing With the Stars’ is such a machine and you could be successful in everything else, but you show up in the ballroom, all kinds of things happen,” Dovolani concluded. “But she always walked in with a pep in her step. She really wanted to learn. She was always respectful, she wanted to be pushed hard. She had her frustrating moments but never without a smile.”

News of the Thighmaster spokesperson’s death broke Sunday.

“Suzanne Somers passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of October 15th. She survived an aggressive form of breast cancer for over 23 years,” R. Couri Hay said. “Suzanne was surrounded by her loving husband Alan, her son Bruce, and her immediate family.”

A source close to the family told Page Six that Somers “died in her new ‘all green home’ in Palm Springs, in her sleep with her loving husband by her side.”

The source added that Somers’ longtime husband, Alan Hamel, 87, had recently gifted her a handwritten poem wrapped in pink peonies, which had been her favorite flower.

Somers’ family later posted a video on Instagram of them singing “Happy Birthday” to the late star with a visibly upset Hamel telling his late wife “we love you.”

“Thank you for the out-pouring of love and affection for Suzanne,” the family captioned the sweet video. “So many of you have asked what you can do to support our family. The most comforting gesture for us is to hear how Suzanne affected all of your lives.”

“We have set up a Tribute Book at SuzanneSomers.com,” the post continued. “And we would greatly appreciate it if you would add your comments. It helps for us to hear how her legacy of love lives on in all of you.”