Robert Irwin’s Heartfelt Tribute to His Father Steve Before Every ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Performance

Robert Irwin, the 21-year-old son of the late conservationist Steve Irwin, has shared the deeply personal rituals he uses to honor his father’s memory during his time on “Dancing With the Stars.” He revealed that he brings two specific good luck charms with him on every show day.

The first is one of his father’s old, tattered green shirts, which he wears during his first rehearsal. Robert explained that he had the shirt mended but left its holes and missing buttons intact because they tell a story of his father’s adventurous life, and wearing it feels “like a big hug.” The second charm is a custom gold ring, which he had made by melting down a set of old keys he found from his family’s original home. The ring is engraved with “1638,” the address of the Australia Zoo.

These items, he stated, help him feel connected to his home and his father’s legacy, which he feels a profound honor to represent on the ballroom floor. His tributes have deeply moved fans on social media, with many expressing how emotional his displays of love and loss have made them. This sentiment was further amplified during a recent episode where he performed a foxtrot dedicated to his father, a performance that featured a surprise appearance and dance from his sister, Bindi Irwin, leaving Robert visibly overwhelmed with emotion.