As Dancing With the Stars approaches its 20th anniversary, former host Tom Bergeron reminisces about how he initially became part of the beloved show.

“It took quite a bit of persuasion,” Bergeron, now 70, confessed during his appearance on Good Morning America on Wednesday, November 5. “A celebrity ballroom show seemed a bit out there to me at first.”

Despite his initial skepticism, Bergeron’s apprehension quickly faded. “I decided to give it a chance by checking out Strictly Come Dancing — the British version that started it all. They sent me a DVD, and I made it clear I wouldn’t commit until I’d seen it,” he recalled. “After just 10 or 15 minutes of watching, I was sold.”

What convinced Bergeron was the show’s nostalgic nod to “the variety shows I loved as a kid,” seamlessly combined with “a modern reality show twist.” This unique blend won him over. “The show had a delightful self-awareness about its own kitsch,” he noted, adding with a chuckle that he no longer makes fun of the mirrorball trophy since it was renamed in honor of the late Len Goodman.

The show’s history with hosts has seen its share of shake-ups, most notably when Bergeron and Erin Andrews were replaced by Tyra Banks in July 2020. However, Bergeron’s legacy remains significant, having been a steady presence from the show’s inception in 2005 through its 28th season.

News broke on Wednesday that Bergeron is returning to the DWTS ballroom as a guest judge for the upcoming 20th Birthday Party episode. He previously served as the show’s host for more than a decade before announcing in 2020 that he and cohost Erin Andrews were let go ahead of season 29.

Five years after his exit, Bergeron noted that going back to DWTS feels like coming home. “I know a bit of what they’re planning,” he teased of the 20-year anniversary bash. “It’s gonna be quite a night.”

Bergeron was part of the original DWTS team alongside judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Goodman, who died in 2023. Former pro Derek Hough has since joined the judging panel. His sister Julianne Hough now cohosts the series with Alfonso Ribeiro.

In an exclusive Us Weekly cover story celebrating two decades of DWTS, the Houghs — both of whom took home mirrorball trophies throughout their many seasons as pros — got emotional while looking back at their journeys on the show.

“I feel humbled that I’ve been able to be a part of a show that raised me,” Julianne, 37, told Us. “It’s always been my safe place to call home.”

Not only does she get to share the experience with her real-life brother, but Julianne also found a chosen family in the DWTS ballroom. “We all take care of each other,” she continued. “[We’re in a] new generation [with] social media and [that] noise and commentary; a lot of it is super-positive, and a lot of it is super-negative. But we [don’t] pit ourselves against each other, and we have each other’s backs. Our bubble is so bright and so pure. So everybody out there, keep it coming, because you can’t pop our bubble.”

See pictures of every Dancing With the Stars winner through the years, from Kelly Monaco in season one to Meryl Davis in season 18

Derek, 40, added, “I think about that 22-year-old kid who didn’t know what he was doing. I’ve had heartbreaks and the best moments of my life in that ballroom. I’ve battled with self-doubt and had fights in that room. So much has happened in this one space. I’ve literally grown up on this show. To do that on TV in front of millions of people, it’s extraordinary. And here we are 20 years later, and it’s bigger than ever.”

While looking forward to his big return to the show, Bergeron expressed just how rare its success is. “I think 20 years of any primetime show is amazing,” he said on GMA Wednesday. “For a show 20 years old to also be having a ratings resurgence as they are, you’re more likely to see a zebra playing the piano. And I really think it’s a credit to the team kind of getting it back to its essence.”

Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET, with new episodes streaming the next day on Hulu.

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