It was a night filled with nostalgia and emotion on “Dancing with the Stars.” During the show’s 20th Birthday Party celebration, Derek Hough was visibly holding back tears after Robert Irwin and partner Witney Carson delivered a deeply personal performance in honor of the Irwin family legacy.
Derek Gets Emotional
Ahead of the relay round, Robert and Witney earned the season’s first perfect individual score, performing a Foxtrot to “Footprints in the Sand” by Leona Lewis — the same song Robert’s sister, Bindi Irwin, danced to during her winning season as a tribute to their late father, Steve Irwin.
“It was a lot of weight,” Robert admitted before the dance. “I really want it to be our best dance yet, to be honest.”
As the performance ended with a photo of the Irwin parents projected on the ballroom floor, Robert broke down in tears, joined by Bindi for a heartfelt embrace.
Hough, who partnered with Bindi during her winning season, said he felt “honored” to be part of the Irwin family’s story once again.
“I feel honored to be tangled in the Irwin story,” Hough said. “Robert is this generation’s beacon of joy.”
The touching performance moved the entire ballroom.
GettyGuest judge Tom Bergeron admitted he was “annoyed” because he was trying not to get choked up, recalling that the last time he saw Robert, the young conservationist was just 11 years old, watching his sister dance.
A Surprise From Prince William
GettyBefore the show, Robert received a royal surprise. While rehearsing, he got a video call from Prince William, who joked that they missed him at the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Brazil.
Robert explained, “I was supposed to be in Brazil for the Earthshot Prize, but I told him I’m still here in the competition.” The royal affectionately called him “twinkle toes” and wished him luck before hanging up. “I can’t believe he just said my name,” Witney said, laughing, while Robert added, “Let’s not mess this up!”
Their dance clearly impressed everyone — even the judges. Bruno Tonioli called it “the royal seal of approval,” while Carrie Ann Inaba praised it as “so powerful and profound.”
The Perfect Score & DWTS 20th Birthday Celebration
Robert and Witney earned a perfect 40 out of 40 for their touching performance, marking one of the season’s biggest moments.
The night also doubled as “Dancing with the Stars’” 20th anniversary celebration, featuring former host Tom Bergeron and six original pros from season 1 in a special opening number choreographed by Derek Hough.
The evening also included a moving tribute from pros Ezra Sosa and Rylee Arnold, who performed to “Always Remember Us This Way” by Lady Gaga in honor of former DWTS family members who have passed away.
With just two weeks left in season 34, including next week’s Prince Night semifinals and the three-hour finale on Nov. 25, the competition is tighter than ever. Still, for many fans, Robert Irwin’s emotional dance will be remembered as one of the most powerful performances of the season.
