We’re just hours away from tonight’s Dancing with the Stars20th birthday celebration. And while there are tons of surprises in store, one of the biggest was revealed last Wednesday, when former host Tom Bergeron told Good Morning America that he’d be returning to the ballroom for the first time since his shocking 2020 departure.
Prior to his exit, Bergeron had hosted all 28 DWTS seasons. But he was shockingly fired alongside cohost Erin Andrews in June 2020, prompting cries of outrage from longtime fans of the show.
In an exclusive chat with Parade, Bergeron revealed the details inside his ballroom return, and stunned us with one admission.
“The truth of the matter is, I wouldn’t have been the host now anyway, even if they hadn’t fired me,” he shared.
That’s right: Bergeron only had two more seasons left on his DWTS contract. And, had he made it all the way to Season 30, he was already planning to leave the show. “I left America’s Funniest Home Videos at a predetermined time of my own choosing, and I was going to do that on Dancing,” he explained.
And while Bergeron’s firing left longtime fans in an uproar, the timing actually ended up working in his favor.
Related: Tom Bergeron Reveals the 1 Celebrity He’d Love to See on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ (Exclusive)
“I’m a glass-half-full kind of guy,” he said. “Those last two seasons were [during] COVID, so everything I love about the show — the camaraderie, throwing mid-season parties for the whole gang — I couldn’t have done that.”
Tonight, however, promises to be a party of epic proportions as Bergeron returns to the ballroom for his guest judge debut. From heartfelt reunions to highly anticipated performances, it’s the perfect occasion for his long-awaited homecoming. “To be honest, had I gone the whole 30 seasons, this is probably the way I’d go back anyway.”
You can watch the Dancing with the Stars 20th birthday party night LIVE at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on both ABC and Disney+. Episodes will be available to stream the next day via Hulu.
Related:Who Will Be at the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ 20th Birthday Party?
This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
