Former professional dancer and two-time Mirrorball champion Kym Johnson Herjavec is officially returning to the judges’ table for Dancing with the Stars Season 35. Johnson will serve as a guest judge for the highly anticipated “Dedication Night” episode, airing live on Tuesday, October 20, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
The Australian dancer competed on 15 seasons of the American hit competition series before stepping away in 2017. This marks her second consecutive appearance as a guest judge. Following positive fan and producer feedback from her guest spot during the 2025 season, Johnson expressed excitement about stepping back into the ballroom.
“This show has been such an important part of my life, and returning to the ballroom always feels like coming home,” Johnson shared with Us Weekly.
A Storied History with the Ballroom
During her lengthy tenure as a professional on Dancing with the Stars, Johnson established herself as a powerhouse competitor and instructor. She secured two Mirrorball trophies during her run, winning Season 9 with singer Donny Osmond and Season 12 with NFL star Hines Ward. In addition to her victories, she finished as a runner-up twice.
Beyond her competitive history, the ballroom holds a deeply personal significance for Johnson. During Season 20 in 2015, she was partnered with Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec. Their professional partnership quickly blossomed into romance, leading to their marriage in 2016 and the birth of their twins in 2018.
Johnson has maintained a close relationship with the franchise in recent years. Over the summer, she appeared on the spinoff special Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro to assist judges Mark Ballas and Shirley Ballas, and she participated in panel discussions at the show’s inaugural fan convention in Los Angeles.
What to Expect on Dedication Night
Tuesday night’s two-hour broadcast features the remaining 10 celebrity and pro couples performing routines dedicated to the influential people and places that shaped their lives. The emotional evening includes notable tributes, such as:
- Julia Stiles and Ezra Sosa: Contemporary routine dedicated to her late 10 Things I Hate About You co-star, Heath Ledger.
- Tatyana Ali and Jan Ravnik: Viennese Waltz dedicated to her late Fresh Prince of Bel-Air TV dad, James Avery, featuring a special guest appearance by Alfonso Ribeiro.
- Maura Higgins and Mark Ballas: Paso Doble dedicated to Ireland, joined by six-time world Irish dance champion Lochlan Howard.
- Jenna Dewan and Alan Bersten: Viennese Waltz dedicated to her mother, Nancy Jackson Olson. (Bersten is stepping in to partner Dewan for the week following a one-week suspension for regular partner Val Chmerkovskiy).
Fans can watch Dancing with the Stars live on ABC and Disney+, or stream episodes the next day on Hulu. Voting opens live during the broadcast at DWTSVote.abc.com and via text message.
