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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Robert Irwin made an exuberant U.S. Dancing with the Stars debut on 16 September 2025, dancing a jive with Witney Carson to Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild.” Their 15-point premiere score tied for the night’s highest, and judge Derek Hough called it probably the best first dance he had seen on the show. Irwin’s dash to hug sister Bindi afterward made the family moment as memorable as the performance.
What happened in Robert Irwin’s Dancing with the Stars debut?
Irwin and professional partner Witney Carson performed on the Season 34 premiere of the U.S. series, broadcast on Tuesday, 16 September 2025. Their number was a jive set to Steppenwolf’s 1968 rock song “Born to Be Wild.” Good Morning America described Irwin jumping from a car prop and over Carson; PerthNow noted the pair’s coordinated, jungle-inspired costumes.
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His family was there to watch: Bindi, Terri, Grace and Chandler Irwin were in the audience. After the dance, Robert ran over to hug Bindi, who had won the U.S. show in 2015.
How did the judges respond?
The pair earned 15 points out of 20, tying with Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas for the highest score of premiere night, according to the Los Angeles Times. That figure is the score for this performance, not a season total.
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Judge Derek Hough praised the debut, saying, “That was probably the best first dance I’ve ever seen on this show.” Australian performer and former Australian Dancing with the Stars judge Paul Mercurio also praised Irwin’s confidence and movement in comments to Nine’s Today. He called the jive “incredibly difficult” and said Irwin moved “so beautifully” and had confidence in his body that “you can’t teach.”
Why the debut drew attention
The warm reaction reported after the premiere had concrete reasons: a top-tied judges’ score, Hough’s unusually strong compliment and the spontaneous hug with Bindi. Good Morning America quoted Irwin crediting Carson for his performance: “Every success on the dance floor is her fault.” Carson, in turn, said, “He did incredible, like I am so proud.”
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“America falls further in love” is a celebratory interpretation of those moments, not a measured finding about U.S. public opinion. The contemporary reports do not provide a poll or other quantified measure of changing affection for Irwin, nor do they give premiere-specific audience-vote totals.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened after the premiere?
In a later update, ABC News Australia reported that Irwin and Carson won Season 34 at the finale on 25 November 2025. The report says the result combined judges’ scores with audience votes. Irwin received 89 out of 90 judges’ points in the finale, while Alix Earle received 90; the winner was determined after votes were counted. These finale results are separate from the premiere-night score and do not reveal how viewers voted on premiere night.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →ABC News Australia, citing Nielsen, also reported that the series averaged about 6 million same-day viewers. That is a retrospective figure for the show, not a premiere-specific audience count or a measure of Irwin’s individual popularity.
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- Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC
- Language: English
- Region: Region 1 U.S. and Canada only
- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Video Run Time: 51 minutes
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