Tom Bergeron now has his own mirrorball trophy — six years after his Dancing With the Stars exit.
“Five months ago, I had an incredible time returning for the 20th anniversary of @dancingwiththestars,” Bergeron, 70, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, April 2. “Today at lunch, the show’s production designer, my Emmy-award winning friend @j.r.yarnell, had a sweet, shiny surprise for me.”
Bergeron hosted DWTS from 2005 to 2020, returning to the ballroom nearly five years later to guest-judge the 20th anniversary episode in November 2025. He remained especially close with the show’s production designer, James Yarnell, afterward.
“I just got back from lunch with my buddy James Yarnell,” Bergeron explained in a Thursday video shared via Instagram. “He said, ‘I have something I want to give you.’ He shows up … with this box. He goes, ‘What do you think?’”
While Bergeron initially thought the DWTS-decorated box contained judge Bruno Tonioli’s “portable bronzer,” the TV host soon found out that Yarnell actually had commissioned a special mirrorball trophy. It was engraved with “Tom Bergeron: Host.”
“How ‘bout that? And I only had to dance once in 2006,” Bergeron quipped, holding up the golden trophy. “Thank you, buddy. Appreciate it. Very cool.”
Bergeron’s DWTS cameo was particularly emotional, which he noted in a November 2025 social media post got him “choked up.”
“Well, it’s the morning after the 20th Birthday Party show for Dancing With the Stars,” he said in an Instagram video at the time. “Remarkably, I’m not hung over [sic] from the afterparty but a little bit hoarse. I just wanted to take a second to thank all of you because [of] the social media reaction.”
During the live broadcast, Bergeron joined Tonioli, 70, Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough at the judging panel. He also helped new cohost Alfonso Ribeiro kick off the episode. (Ribeiro, 54, is joined by former pro Julianne Hough in the skybox.)
“I am thrilled to be here, it’s such a rush. So great to see you all, and we have a number of familiar faces in the audiences,” Bergeron began the broadcast, addressing the season 34 quarterfinalists. “You’re a week away from the semifinals, so I’m looking for the type of dance that induces goosebumps, but since I’m sitting next to Bruno, I’m also trying to avoid a concussion.”
At the end of the episode, Bergeron also delivered a parting message to the production team.
“In my last comments as a judge, I want to talk directly to the network,” he added at the time. “This show is setting ratings records again, so next season, bring back the results show. Let the whole country vote. Let everybody vote.”
