How Richard Simmons Boosted Derek Hough’s Confidence on ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Derek Hough is paying tribute to the late Richard Simmons.

The late health guru died on Saturday, July 13 — sooner or later after his 76th birthday — his longtime publicist, Tom Estey, confirmed to PEOPLE. Since his loss of life, a number of followers and pals have expressed their grief, together with the Dancing with the Stars choose. 

Hough, 39, posted a heartfelt tribute to Simmons on Monday, July 15, that includes behind-the-scenes footage of Simmons visiting Hough and his dancing associate Jennie Garth, 52. Despite the fact that Simmons was visiting the pair to carry Garth’s confidence, he spontaneously serenaded Hough with a foolish improvised music about his hair. 

“In 2007 My very 1st season on @dancingwiththestars I had the pleasure of assembly this wild ball of vitality,” Hough wrote on Instagram. 

He continued, “Mr. Simmons was there to assist @jenniegarth along with her confidence however ended up boosting mine as a substitute with a music about my ‘excellent’ hair. Relaxation In Peace.”

Within the video, Simmons is filmed joking with Garth about Hough’s “excellent hair” earlier than he breaks out into an improvised music. “Derek’s obtained excellent hair,” Simmons sang, earlier than concluding, “And I don’t need you to mess it up!”

Simmons spoke completely with PEOPLE in a uncommon interview two days earlier than his loss of life, revealing how he deliberate to have fun his 76th birthday. He wished to maintain issues easy, earlier than stating how “grateful” he was to be “alive for an additional day,” Simmons mentioned.

Normal Hospital star Lynn Herring additionally spoke with PEOPLE about her time with the late star when he appeared on the daytime cleaning soap in 2013. “Richard Simmons meant lots to so many of us together with me,” Herring, who performs Lucy Coe within the cleaning soap opera, mentioned.

“When Richard walked on our Normal Hospital stage it will sizzle along with his life power, his depraved humorousness, his pleasure of entertaining and his love for us all,” the actress recalled. “The final day I labored with him I admired his shirt that had a fantastic jeweled chicken on it. Once I completed my scenes and got here again to my dressing room it was sitting on my sofa with a easy Love, Richard.” 

“Thanks Richard for all you gave of your self to so many!” she concluded.  

Diane Sawyer revealed to PEOPLE the final messages she and Simmons exchanged earlier than his loss of life. Shawyer and Simmons beforehand had “fantastic conversations” and he agreed to an interview along with her, Sawyer mentioned.

“I used to be actually moved by Richard’s advanced perception into life and other people, together with himself — how we rise and the way we fall,” Sawyer, 78, informed PEOPLE. “I’ll at all times consider the room filled with flowers he despatched me and the way every bouquet having the identical word: I belief you.”

“Richard’s final textual content to me was straight from the [Carole King] music ‘You’ve Obtained a Good friend.’ Everytime you need to discuss, simply name out my identify, and I will be there,” the ABC Information journalist mentioned.

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“The Simmons household is overwhelmed and past grateful for the outpouring of affection proven to our beloved Dicky,” Estsey shared in a press release with PEOPLE on behalf of Simmons’ household on Tuesday, July 16. “He’s up above smiling down in any respect of you.”