Robert Irwin and Terri Irwin at the AFI Fest 2025 Premiere of Nuremberg at TCL Chinese TheatreJeffrey Mayer/MediaPunch/INSTARimages
By
Jeff Dodge
Published 14 minutes ago
Jeff Dodge (he/him), a published author and graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena. Fun Fact: he’s been to every single Idol Live! Tour.
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Fresh off his Dancing with the Stars victory, Robert Irwin revealed whether his mother, Terry Irwin, would ever compete on the reality show. Bindi Irwin won back in 2015 with Derek Hough. Her brother followed in her footsteps 10 years later and won Dancing with the Stars season 34 with Witney Carson after dancing the Quickstep, Cha-cha-cha and freestyle.
While speaking to THR after winning Dancing with the Stars, Robert was asked whether his mother would be interested in joining the cast in a future season. According to the 22-year-old wildlife conservationist, Terri has adamantly said she won't be on DWTS.
However, Robert is hopeful that he can "wear [her] down" because he would love to see another family member compete on the show.
Robert explained that he didn't know he could dance before DWTS, and Bindi felt the same way about herself. He's pretty sure they didn't get their "dancing genes" from the late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin. While their father was "very athletic," he didn't have any rhythm, so by process of elimination, "I guess [we got them from my] mom."
Robert believes it's "only fair" that Terri graces the DWTS dance floor next. In fact, he joked that he's already started a petition for his mother to join the show.
Listen, the petition to have my mom on Dancing With the Stars has begun, and I started it. I started this season, and she is firmly like, “Nope, I’m not doing it. That’s not for me.” And I’m like, “Well, I’m gonna wear you down,” so let’s wear her down and get her on there, because I think she would be great. I mean, I didn’t know I could dance, Bindi didn’t know that she could dance. We were able to dance and do this show, so that’s got to come from somewhere, right? Those dancing genes, I’m pretty darn sure they didn’t come from my dad. I mean, he was a very athletic human being, but [had] no rhythm. So, I mean, I guess [we got them from my] mom. It must be. I mean, it’s only fair, right? She’s got to do it.
Bindi was only 17 years old when she competed on DWTS. Robert took her place on the dance floor 10 years later and was a frontrunner from the very beginning of the season when he tied for first place during the premiere, based on the judges' scores. During week 2, he was in a four-way tie for first place.
While other celebrity competitors started surpassing him in the weeks that followed, he kept putting in the work and eventually received multiple perfect scores from the judges leading up to his win.
Bindi and Robert's father, Steve, became a household name in the '90s and early 2000s through his wildlife show The Crocodile Hunter. His entire family, including wife Terri, was involved every step of the way.
When Steve died in 2006 from a stingray injury, Terri and their two children carried on the Irwin patriarch's legacy, which was a big part of Robert's story while competing on DWTS.
Irwin Family Members
Steve Irwin (died in 2006)
Terri Irwin (Steve's widow)
Bindi Irwin (Steve & Terri's daughter)
Robert Irwin (Steve & Terri's son)
After Bindi and Robert won Dancing with the Stars, it seems only fitting that Terri completes the Irwin trifecta. Maybe it won't happen since Terri has said the show is not for her, whereas Robert has known since he was 11 (when Bindi competed) that joining the DWTS cast was inevitable.
Even if Terri never joins DWTS, at least she's been able to live vicariously through her two children and root them on to victory.
The Dancing with the Stars holiday special airs Tuesday, December 2 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
6.2/10
Dancing with the Stars
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Carrie Ann Inaba
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Bruno Tonioli
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Dancing with the Stars
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