Witney Carson admits judging DWTS: The Next Pro was WAY more stressful than she expected — especially when someone’s entire dream was suddenly in her hands. 
The former Mirrorball champ is stepping into a completely different role as a judge, and she says deciding who gets eliminated was “heartbreaking” because she already knew many of the dancers personally. But that’s not the only reunion fans have been waiting for. Carson is also teaming up with Robert Irwin once again — and she’s choreographed one final dance for the pair that could bring back all the memories from their DWTS victory.Witney Carson Admits Judging ‘DWTS: The Next Pro’ Was “Stressful” — Then Teases One Last Dance With Robert Irwin
The former Mirrorball-winning pro is stepping into the judges’ seat before reuniting with Robert Irwin for an emotional finale performance.
Witney Carson is trading in her dancing shoes for the judges’ table — and she admits the experience was far more stressful than she expected.
The Dancing With the Stars pro begins a three-episode stint on Dancing With the Stars: The Next Pro on August 17, taking on several very different roles throughout the competition.
Carson will judge one episode, serve as a mentor in another and eventually reunite with her former partner Robert Irwin as co-host for the August 31 finale.
And that final appearance comes with a special surprise.
Carson revealed that she personally choreographed a brand-new routine for herself and Irwin, giving the pair one more chance to dance together after their unforgettable run on Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars.
“I couldn’t choreograph something and not have us dance together,” Carson explained.
For the pair, the reunion was especially meaningful.
Carson and Irwin became close during their DWTS partnership, eventually winning the Mirrorball Trophy together. Although Carson knew they would remain friends, she wasn’t expecting their next reunion to happen quite so quickly.
“When we won, I knew I was going to see Robert again because we are literally friends for life,” she said.
Returning to the dance floor with him ultimately felt like an extension of their Dancing With the Stars journey.
But while dancing alongside Irwin was familiar territory, judging aspiring professionals proved to be an entirely different challenge.
Carson admitted that many of the contestants were already familiar to her because the professional dance world is relatively small. That made the decisions even more difficult.
Knowing just how much the competition meant to the dancers made elimination particularly emotional.
“When we’re trying to figure out who’s getting eliminated, it’s heartbreaking,” she admitted.
For Carson, the biggest difference was that the decision wasn’t simply about evaluating a performance. The contestants were competing for a potentially life-changing opportunity to become professionals on Dancing With the Stars.
“I had a lot of weight in my hands, for sure,” she said.
The experience also gave Carson a completely new appreciation for the judges on the main series.
She acknowledged that judging comes with enormous pressure — particularly because not every viewer will agree with the decisions being made.
“And also the backlash that the judges get as well … not everyone’s going to agree with them,” she said.
That is one reason Carson admitted she’s nervous about viewers reacting to her own judging.
Still, she said the experience helped her understand the importance of constructive criticism and gave her greater respect for the people who regularly sit behind the DWTS judging table.
One of those judges is Shirley Ballas, whom Carson has known since she was just nine years old.
Carson described Ballas as her “dance mom” and praised her technical expertise, saying she has been coached by the dance legend since childhood.
The former professional also compared Ballas’ strict technical approach with the more instinctive perspective of Mark Ballas, who judges alongside her.
According to Carson, Ballas may even be tougher than the late Len Goodman.
“I would say she’s even tougher,” Carson joked.
But perhaps the biggest reason fans will be tuning into Carson’s stint on The Next Pro is what happens when she and Irwin reunite.
For the August 31 finale, Carson will co-host alongside Irwin and perform the new routine she choreographed specifically for the two of them.
After their Mirrorball-winning season, it promises to be a fitting final chapter to one of DWTS‘ most memorable partnerships.
And this time, Carson isn’t just dancing beside her former partner.
She’s helping decide who gets the chance to follow in their footsteps.
