Robert Irwin Breaks Down in Tears Dancing to Phil Collins ‘Tarzan’ Ballad on ‘DWTS’ Dedication Night Routine in Honor of Mom

Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin continued his red hot run on Dancing With the Stars on Tuesday night (Oct. 14) when he and dancing partner Witney Carson wowed the judges on Dedication night with a contemporary routine in honor of Irwin’s family.

Dancing to a cover of the 1990 Phil Collins ballad “You’ll Be in My Heart” from the Disney movie Tarzan, the 21-year-old began the routine seated on the floor in shadow, before looking up to the heavens as Carson approached him from behind. “Come stop your crying it will be alright/ Just take my hand, hold it tight/ I will protect you from all around you,” went the lyrics as the two joined hands and Irwin picked Carson up for a series of lifts as they spun and embraced across the floor emoting the song’s tear-jerking message through their moves.

And then, in a moment that drew gasps and whoops from the studio audience, the bright white staging and costuming dimmed as the camera swooped around Irwin to reveal a yellow palette and a new partner: Irwin’s mother, Terri. Holding hands, the mother-son duo did a twirl and ended with a long hug.

Irwin has been a season-long favorite on the show’s 34th season and on a night when there were no eliminations, his moving tribute definitely helped cement his front-runner status.

According to People, before the pair began their routine, Irwin discussed dedicating the dance to his mom in a confessional video. “I’ve never been able to capture the feeling of gratitude I feel for her. At every milestone, when I just wish, when I just wish that my dad was there, she was she was there, and that was enough,” he said, also tipping his honor hat to his late father, beloved TV personality Steve Irwin, who died at 44 in 2006 after being pierced by a stingray barb while filming his show.

“I struggle a lot with losing dad a lot,” Irwin added. “She always made sure my dad was present in our lives. I wanted to know how proud my dad would be of her.” Terri Irwin popped in for rehearsals and admitted that it was definitely an emotional week, joking, “I’m here to cry,” before adding, “After we lost Steve, it was difficult to smile again, for quite while. So for him to say, ‘You lifted me up,’ honestly, it was the opposite. Because of them, I could get up every morning, so every day I’m a proud mama.”

At the end of the routine, older sister Bindi, 27 — who won DWTS in season 21 — ran up to give her clearly emotional brother a hug before he got his scores from the judges. “[Your father is] looking at you, kid, and he’s smiling. You gave us all of your heart and soul. All I can say is this was the true expression of everlasting love,” teary judge Bruno Tonioli said. Fellow judge Carrie Ann Inaba was equally impacted, saying, “I’ve never had kids, but Terri, I have to say, if I could have had kids I would like him to be like Robert.”

Bindi’s former dance partner, judge Derek Hough, was also moved to ears, telling the Irwins, “The love I have for you family. I just have so much love you guys. I’m so proud of you. I really am. Just you become such amazing man and the world needs the Irwin family.”

In a rehearsal video posted over the weekend, Irwin said he and Carson were planning to “give this everything to make sure it’s a really special performance. Tuesday night is going to be a very meaningful moment.” That post was followed by a family pic from when the siblings were little, captioned, “My family. My everything.”

On Monday, Irwin posted a few more pics from rehearsal along with another series of throwback Irwin family photos, writing, “It has been an emotional week in rehearsals. I’ve been thinking a lot about my mum and her strength, I’ve been reminiscing on the times we’ve spent as a family and how she has kept my dad part of my life. This dance is for my mum, it’s for anyone who’s lost someone… and it’s for all the strong mothers of the world who deserve our recognition and appreciation.”

Clearly feeling all the feels this week, the conservationist dipped further into the family photo album on show day, sharing more pics from childhood through to today while dedicating that night’s dance to his mom. “Tonight I dance for my mum, the strongest person I know. My mum and dad created a legacy that I’m proud to continue,” he wrote. “I hope I can use this dance to share what she means to me, to our family, and to say thank you for always supporting me through life’s ups and downs. See you tonight.”

Mom Terri also weighed in before the big night, writing on Instagram earlier this week, “I’m incredibly honoured that Robert thought of me. Steve and I always talked about how much it meant to us to be parents. So much love. This will be a special night.”

The emotion-packed dance clearly made an impression on the judges, who gave the pair their highest scores so far this season with a 35 out of 40. Dancing With the Stars is back on Tuesday (Oct. 21) at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with new episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.

Watch Irwin’s emotional dance on DWTS below.