Robert Irwin Reveals the Touching Tribute to His Late Dad Before Every 'DWTS' Performance – Fans in Tears

The wildlife warrior turned ballroom sensation has done more than dance — he's shattered hearts, honored a legacy, and brought a nation to tears.

Robert Irwin isn't just dancing on "Dancing With the Stars" — he's dancing with the weight of a legacy. The 21-year-old conservationist has revealed the two deeply sentimental good luck charms he brings to every show day of "DWTS" season 34, sparking a buzz.

A Tattered Shirt, a Golden Ring, and a Legacy Too Heavy to Bear

On Sunday, November 16, Robert took to TikTok to share how he keeps his late father, Steve Irwin, close with a personal ritual that has stunned fans.

"Every show day on 'Dancing With the Stars,' I have two good luck charms that I bring with me," he said in the video. "These things keep me close to home and to what's most important to me."

The first item? His late father's shirt. A green, button-up relic from his father's closet — worn, torn, and missing buttons. Robert gently held it up for viewers, pride and grief flickering in his smile.

"This is my dad's shirt," he mentioned. "I was going through his stuff, and I found this shirt. It's absolutely tattered and has holes and is missing buttons."

Turning to show its worn condition, Robert revealed he had the shirt patched and mended — but not too much. "I like that it still looks and feels like him. Each one of the tears and the holes and the missing buttons tells another story. This shirt definitely saw a lot. I guess it's kind of a good example of how dad lived his life."

Before every performance, Robert wears it during his first rehearsal with partner Witney Carson — a ritual soaked in love and loss.

"It just keeps me close to home, and it keeps me close to him. It just feels like a big hug every time I put it on," he added. "Every time I step out into the ballroom, I represent my message, my dad's legacy, my home, my family. It is such an honor to get to do that."

A Ring Forged from Memories

But the shirt is only one half of the story. On Monday, November 17, Robert revealed his second charm: a custom-made gold ring, engraved with history and heartache. "Again, it's sort of a connection back to my childhood and my dad and my family and my home," he explained.

Robert discovered a set of old keys while cleaning out his father's office. They belonged to the family's original home. He had them melted down and forged into a ring, etched with the number "1638"— the address of the Australia Zoo on Steve Irwin Way.

"It's the most beautiful experience, and in some way, I want him [to be a] part of it," Robert expressed. "This experience has truly changed my life. I know I wouldn't be here without him and his legacy that I get to continue."

'He's Just a Boy Who Misses His Dad': TikTok Fans Break Down in Tears

The TikTok comments section? A flood of raw emotion. One person wrote, "He's just a boy that misses his dad 😭." Another added, "Imagine being a little boy and finally being able to fit into your dads [sic] clothes and wanting to keep his memory alive 🥰."

A heart-wrenching reply followed, "he can kinda see how maybe he'd be the same height, what it be like to share shirts [sic]." Another chimed in, "I was doing good at not crying until I read this comment. thanks [sic]." One more person simply commented, "this 🥺💗[sic]."

Someone else quipped, "'This is my dads shirt' *starts crying* [sic]." Another person shared, "why [sic] do you always make me sob 😭." One fan penned, "The number of clips of your dad in this shirt that just played in my head is absolutely unreal 😭."

One admirer captured it best, writing, "'Looks and feels like him' I'm in TEARS 😭😭😭." Another fan concluded, "I wasn't planning on Robert Irwin making me cry today, but here we are 😭."

Bindi Returns for an Emotional Dance That Left Robert on His Knees

A few days before Robert's heartwarming revelation came a performance that stopped time. On the November 11 episode of "Dancing With the Stars," he dedicated his foxtrot routine to his father.

As Leona Lewis' "Footprints in the Sand" filled the ballroom — the same song Robert's sister, Bindi Irwin, had danced to in her season 21 finale — fans were stunned to see Bindi herself step onto the stage.

As Robert and Witney neared the end of their routine, Bindi took his hand and joined the dance. A moment steeped in family, grief, and honor.

While the final notes played, Robert collapsed to the floor, overwhelmed with emotion. Witney and Bindi knelt beside him in a powerful image of unity and loss. A video montage of Robert and Bindi in their father's arms played across the screen. Their mother, Terri Irwin, watched in silence.

Robert shared his reflections shortly after on Instagram. "This dance was emotional, beautiful and so deeply meaningful," he wrote. "I carry Dad's legacy with me in everything I do, and it was a privilege to dedicate our foxtrot to him."

He praised Bindi for her past inspiration and thanked Witney for helping him reveal what he had never shown before.

"Thank you @bindisueirwin for inspiring us with your freestyle to this song, and thank you @witneycarson for once again choreographing such a beautiful story through dance and for creating a space for me to convey raw emotions that I've never gotten to share before," he added. "I'm a proud Wildlife Warrior, and I'll always carry on my dad's mission."

Grace's Butterfly Dress, Bindi's Gown, and a Family Moment That Shined

The performance was a family affair both on and off screen. Robert's four-year-old niece, Grace, daughter of Bindi and Chandler Powell, also showed support for her uncle. She looked like a little princess in a forest green, butterfly-embroidered gown. Grace smiled gleefully outside the trailer while her parents stood proudly behind her.

Bindi dazzled in a sparkling black dress that perfectly captured the emotion of the night, while Chandler wore a matching black suit to complement his wife. "Can't wait for @dancingwiththestars! VOTE for @robertirwinphotography and @witneycarson," Bindi penned alongside backstage photos.

A Royal Cameo Sends the Ballroom Reeling

But just when emotions couldn't be higher, a royal message stopped the show cold. In a surprise video message, Prince William appeared on screen, sending love and laughs to Robert from across the globe.

"We're missing you, Robert," the Prince of Wales said. "Whilst your twinkle toes are going off elsewhere, I need you down here." Then, turning to Witney, he added, "You need to get him in as much glitter as you can." Witney gasped, laughing, "I can't believe he just said my name!"

Robert, visibly touched, declared before the performance, "We are doing this dance for Bindi, and we are doing this dance for Prince William, so let's not mess this up!"

The pressure before the performance was crushing. "This is a lot of weight, because I really want it to be our best dance yet, to be honest," Robert confessed during rehearsals. A decade after Bindi's tribute, Robert now carried the same torch, in the same song, on the same stage.

From Wildlife Warrior to Ballroom Favorite

Though he was originally expected to attend the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Brazil, Robert chose to stay in the U.S. for "DWTS." He joked, "I told him, 'I'm still here,'" hoping Prince William wouldn't mind the absence.

But Robert's work as a conservationist and global ambassador for Earthshot continues beyond the glittering lights. Through the Australia Zoo and Wildlife Warriors, he fights for the planet just like his father did.

And now, through every choreographed step and every emotional beat, Robert Irwin is proving that legacy isn't just about the past — it's something he's dancing into the future.