Robert Irwin didn’t leave one dry eye on Dancing with the Stars.
The wildlife conservationist paid a special tribute to his mom Terri Irwin and late dad Steve Irwin during “Dedication Night” Oct. 14, as he and partner Witney Carson delivered a contemporary routine to Phil Collins‘ “You’ll Be in My Heart”—which also included a cameo from mom Terri.
“She’s an absolute hero to me, because I was 2 when I lost dad,” Robert shared about his mother during his intro. “As I got older, [I] started to realize just how hard it would have been for her to be there for us, and all the while continue dad’s legacy that her and dad built together.”
The 21-year-old struggled to speak through his tears, adding that he’s “never been able to capture the feeling of gratitude I feel for it.”
“At every milestone when I just wished that my dad was there, she was there,” he said. “And that was enough.”ư
Robert explained that he struggled a lot with losing his father—who died from a stingray injury in 2006—but that his mother’s “strength is so inspiring” that it helped him cope.
But as Terri, 61, told her son during their rehearsal, it was Robert and his sister Bindi Irwin, 27, who actually helped her heal.
“After we lost Steve, it was difficult to smile again. For quite a while,” Terri recalled. “So for him to say, ‘You lifted me up,’ honestly, it was the opposite. Because of them, I could get up every morning. Every day I’m a proud mama.”
Robert added, “This is a moment with my mum that I will cherish forever, and I know my dad would be so proud.”
And Robert and Witney’s dance left everyone in tears, with judge Bruno Tonioli gushing that Steve is “looking at you kid and he’s smiling.”
He continued, “All I can say this was the true expression of everlasting love.”
Judge Derek Hough—who was Bindi’s partner in 2015 when she won DWTS—struggled to share his own thoughts through his tears.
“The love I have for your family. Thank you. I just have so much love for you guys,” Derek said. “Man, I’m so proud of you. I really am. You’ve become such an amazing man and the world needs the Irwin family.”
While the dance was incredibly emotional for Robert and Witney, it was also one of their best, as they received scores of nine from Bruno, Derek and guest judge Kym Johnson, and eight from Carrie Ann Inaba.
And Robert had one more dedication to make, saying, “This dance is for my mum. It’s for all of the mums out there who don’t get the recognition they deserve.”
“This is for the single parents who work so hard every day to put one foot in front of the other,” he continued. “It’s for anyone who’s lost, someone who feels lost—keep going. And if you can, go call your mum and tell her that you love her.”