\u201cDerek, what was that song? I was talking about one of my favorite moments, with you and Amy Purdy!\u201d judge Carrie Ann Inaba<\/a> calls out to her colleague, pro dancer Derek Hough<\/a>, while we chat during her June 2025 photo shoot.<\/p>\n Without missing a beat (naturally), Hough responds, \u201c\u2018Only Human\u2019 by Christina Perri.\u201d He danced with the Paralympian athlete in Season 18.<\/p>\n \u201cYes!\u201d Inaba says. \u201cThere are moments that touch your soul that you can never erase from your heart. They change your perspective \u2014 like seeing everything Amy\u2019s overcome and watching her take flight.\u201d On cue, a few white feathers from the trim on Inaba\u2019s angelic gown float free and swirl around the studio.<\/p>\n Time flies too. \u201cI remember walking onto the set the very first day and meeting Bruno [Tonioli]<\/a> and Len [Goodman]<\/a>, not knowing that this was going to be such an amazing journey,\u201d says Inaba, who was part of the original judging panel in 2005 after gaining fame in the 1990s for being one of the first Fly Girls on In Living Color<\/a><\/i>. She also was a featured solo dancer on Madonna\u2019s Girlie Show World Tour in 1993. Now, she says, \u201cWe\u2019ve watched dancers come and go and have families \u2014 it\u2019s time for grandkids!\u201d<\/p>\n Disney \/ Eric McCandless<\/p>\n One dream celeb Inaba would love to see on the show is Scottish comic and former late show host Craig Ferguson<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s tall and he\u2019s got a great sense of humor, which means he\u2019s got rhythm.\u201d It turns out comedic timing translates to the dance floor.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to see more Asian Pacific Islanders,\u201d adds Inaba, who grew up in Honolulu. \u201cI love diversity. Lots of color, different backgrounds, physical situations. Dance is the universal language of empowerment. That\u2019s what\u2019s so great about our show. People love to be inspired and watch somebody that they can relate to. It\u2019s people trying and failing and getting up again. Just getting out on our dance floor is winning.\u201d<\/p>\n For a more extended celebration of two decade of Dancing With the Stars<\/a>, from exclusive interviews to retrospectives and must-see photos, pick up a copy of<\/i><\/b> TV Guide Magazine\u2019s\u00a0<\/a><\/b>Dancing With the Stars 20th Anniversary<\/b>\u00a0special issue, available for purchase online at\u00a0<\/i><\/b>DWTS.TVGM2025.com<\/a><\/i><\/b> and on newsstands August 29.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n