Dancing With the Stars’ greatest dancers also make pretty impressive dads.
For 20 years, viewers of ABC’s dancing competition show have seen relationships blossom far beyond the ballroom.
Some of those matches have led to Dancing With the Stars families, who are worth celebrating over Father’s Day weekend.
“Sometimes I’ll walk into the living room and Nikita, our daughter, is like, ‘Papa lift me,’” Daniella Karagach exclusively shared with Us Weekly at Nancy Davis’ Race to Erase MS Gala when praising husband Pasha Pashkov. “He does all different types of lifts with her in our living room and twirls her around like a professional dancer. She just thrives anytime he’s with her. It’s just papa’s day, all day. He’s the best.”
For Kym Johnson, who fell in love with her partner, Robert Herjavec, on season 20 of DWTS in 2015, starting a family and raising twins with the Shark Tank star is a gift that never ends.
“Robert loves traveling with the kids, and our trip to Croatia was especially meaningful — it’s where Robert was born,” she exclusively told Us ahead of Father’s Day. “Robert loved sharing his heritage with the kids, showing them where he grew up and introducing them to family traditions. The kids even learned a little bit of the traditional Croatian dance, the Kolo! It was a trip full of heart, culture and connection.”
In honor of Father’s Day, Us asked Dancing With the Stars cast members to celebrate their significant other’s role as a dad.
What came next were words of appreciation that deserve a perfect 10.
Jenna Johnson and Val Chmerkovskiy
“When Val and I were dating, we had talked about having kids, and I always knew that he was going to be very hands-on and so incredible, but seeing it in real time has far exceeded all my expectations,” Jenna shared with Us at Nancy Davis’ 32nd annual Race to Erase MS Gala. “Rome, our son, is absolutely obsessed with Val and to see their relationship is just more than I ever could have dreamed of, ever prayed, wished for. I’m incredibly lucky to have him as a partner and have him be the father of my son.”
Maks Chmerkovskiy and Peta Murgatroyd
“I wanted to marry and be with somebody who had strength, had confidence, knew how to raise children in a loving manner, but also had discipline in there,” Peta exclusively told Us. “Maks is kind. He is amazing with the children. When he plays with them, he’s amazing.”
Another plus in Peta’s eyes is the fact that her husband can “build some s***” and change a diaper well.
“He’s a little bit OCD with changing diapers,” she added with a laugh about the father of Shai, 8, Rio, 23 months, and Milan, 11 months. “But yes, he’s fantastic.”
Robert Herjavec and Kym Johnson-Herjavec
“Robert is the most enthusiastic person I know — and he brings that same joy and energy to our family,” Kym told Us about her former Dancing With the Stars partner turned husband. “His enthusiasm sparks a sense of curiosity and excitement in our kids, making every moment feel like an adventure. He makes them feel so loved every single day.”
“While we cherish our time together as a family, Robert is also incredibly intentional about spending one-on-one time with [twins Hudson and Haven, 7],” Kym added. “Whether it’s a quick trip to Home Depot or just running errands, he turns the simplest moments into something special. That time together is truly precious.”
Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov
“If you know Pasha, he is one of the most selfless, loving, beautiful humans on the planet who literally cares and puts everyone else first. He is just the most golden person,” Daniella gushed to Us about the father of their 2-year-old daughter, Nikita. “I’m just so grateful that he’s mine. I can’t even believe that he’s mine sometimes. If you don’t know him, sorry, I already took him.”
Sharna Burgess and Brian Austin Green
“One of the things that I fell in love with about Brian very early on was the way that he is a father to his children, and he is the kind of father that I honestly wish that I grew up with,” Sharna exclusively told Us about her former Dancing With the Stars partner. “He is the kind of man that I watch every day with our children, and the way that he parents, and the way that he is not just parenting, but living as an example of what a good man should be — in his conversations, in the way he loves me, in the way that he loves our children — he’s a phenomenal human being.”
As Brian — who shares Kassius, 21, with ex-fiancée Vanessa Marcil, Noah, 12, Bodhi, 11, and Journey, 8, with ex-wife Megan Fox, and Zane, 2, with Shana — thinks about expanding his family one more time, Sharna is certain about one thing.
“I think he’d be an amazing girl dad,” she told Us at the Race to Erase MS Gala.
Dancing With the Stars season 34 premieres on ABC this fall.
