Overview

• On Oct. 14, Irwin performed a contemporary routine with pro partner Witney Carson to Phil Collins' "You'll Be in My Heart" for the show's Dedication Night, with Terri Irwin stepping in at the end of the dance.
• Irwin told People that his mother "exemplifies" strength, defining it as embracing vulnerability and learning to keep "putting one foot in front of the other."
• He said he hopes the tribute and their family's story resonate with others who have experienced loss and serve as a point of vulnerability, adding that he wanted the dance to honor all mothers who go unrecognized.
• The performance brought Irwin, judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli, and audience members to tears, and sister Bindi Irwin rushed to hug him afterward.
• Irwin chose to honor Terri rather than his late father, Steve Irwin, saying he wanted her to know how proud his dad would be of her; the 21-year-old is a wildlife conservationist and TV presenter.