Tom Bergeron has finally received his own mirrorball trophy, six years after leaving Dancing With the Stars.
“Five months ago, I had an incredible time returning for the 20th anniversary of @dancingwiththestars,” Bergeron, 70, shared 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, who hosted DWTS from 2005 to 2020, made a return to the ballroom nearly five years later as a guest judge for the 20th anniversary episode in November 2025. He has maintained a close relationship with the show’s production designer, James Yarnell, since then.
“I just got back from lunch with my buddy James Yarnell,” Bergeron explained in a Thursday video shared on Instagram. “He said, ‘I have something I want to give you.’ He shows up … with this box. He goes, ‘What do you think?’”
Bergeron initially suspected that the DWTS-decorated box contained judge Bruno Tonioli’s “portable bronzer,” but he soon discovered that Yarnell had commissioned a special mirrorball trophy. The trophy was inscribed with “Tom Bergeron: Host.”
“How ‘bout that? And I only had to dance once in 2006,” Bergeron joked, holding the golden trophy. “Thank you, buddy. Appreciate it. Very cool.”
Bergeron’s appearance on DWTS was particularly moving for him, as he shared in a November 2025 social media post that it left 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 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 assisted new cohost Alfonso Ribeiro in kicking 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 said as he 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.”
Though Tom Bergeron may not miss hosting Dancing With the Stars, he humorously admitted in a recent E! News interview that he does miss “the paycheck.” He added, “There are some people I miss, but I’m really happy not hosting.”
At the conclusion of the episode, Bergeron shared a final message with the production team.
“In my last comments as a judge, I want to talk directly to the network,” he said. “This show is setting ratings records again, so next season, bring back the results show. Let the whole country vote. Let everybody vote.”
