Robert Irwin and Witney Carson are heading into “Dancing With the Stars” Wicked Night with serious momentum, and one clear opportunity to seize the top spot. The wildlife conservationist, 21, and his pro partner have impressed the judges and fans alike since Week 1, earning consistent praise for their energy, charm, and chemistry.
On Tuesday night, they’ll perform a jazz routine to “Dancing Through Life” from Wicked, a number Irwin has been teasing for days on Instagram.
In an October 20 post, he lip-synched to Jonathan Bailey’s lines from the movie musical, joking, “The responsibility to corrupt my fellow students falls to me,” before sharing a playful caption: “Gonna bring the rizz to Shiz. You ready to dance through life tomorrow?”
Fans immediately flooded the comments. One wrote, “Please dress exactly like Prince Fiyero!” Another added, “This is gonna be epic!!!”
His Chemistry With Witney Carson Is Key
What could give Irwin the edge tonight? His undeniable partnership with Carson. Their connection has been one of the strongest in the competition — and it shows. Irwin told The Viall Files podcast that he always had a feeling he’d be paired with her, remembering how his sister Bindi Irwin worked with Carson during her DWTS win in 2015.
“As a family we’d always talk about, ‘I bet I’d end up getting partnered with Witney,’” he said. “It was this weird feeling I had.” When the pairing finally happened, Irwin said it felt like “a full-circle moment.”
Carson, 32, has called him “the most respectful, hardworking partner,” and even joked to E! News that anyone wanting to date him must first “go through a screening process” involving her and Bindi.
A Trust-Filled Partnership on & off the Dance Floor
Their bond has quickly become one of the show’s most heartwarming storylines.
“All of my confidence comes from Witney,” Irwin said. “It comes from trusting your body, trusting your partner, and giving everything you have. This whole thing is the ultimate trust fall.”
That trust was especially visible during Dedication Night, when Irwin danced in honor of his mother, Terri Irwin, after opening up about losing his father, Steve Irwin, in 2006. Carson supported him through the emotional performance, earning him some of his most touching praise yet.
“It’s been such a hard week,” Irwin told E! News. “I wouldn’t have been able to express that without Witney — without her incredible choreography and her support. Above all, she’s a boss mom.”
Can He Turn Fan Love Into a Mirrorball Win?
The duo scored 35 out of 40 last week, tying for second place on the leaderboard. With no eliminations during the previous round, their impressive score and devoted fan base could give them a strong advantage heading into Wicked Night.
If social media buzz counted toward scores, Irwin and Carson might already be in the lead. Their dances regularly rack up hundreds of thousands of YouTube views, and his viral charisma has made him one of the show’s biggest fan favorites.
But history shows that going viral doesn’t always equal victory. To secure the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, Irwin will need to translate online excitement into real-time votes tonight.
And with his Wicked-inspired jazz number set to channel all of his charm, heart, and showmanship, there’s a good chance he just might pull it off!
