Carrie Ann Inaba gave ‘DWTS’ guest judge Mark Ballas an emotional note

The love is strong in the Dancing With the Stars family.

Former pro dancer and three-time Mirrorball champion Mark Ballas returned to the ballroom on Tuesday night for the show’s Dedication Night. And judge Carrie Ann Inaba had her own sweet sentiment to share with Ballas outside of all those emotional dedications.

“Mark Ballas was a phenomenal guest judge,” Inaba tells Entertainment Weekly. “I hope he comes back again and again! I loved his demonstration of technique, and I scribbled him a little note during the show that read, ‘Len would be very proud of you.'”

Inaba is, of course, referring to the late head judge, Len Goodman, who appeared on Dancing With the Stars since its inception, only absent from season 21 and season 29 prior to his retirement at the end of season 31. He died at the age of 78 on April 24, 2023.

Ballas knew Goodman long before the show, working with him as a junior professional dancer along with then-dance partner Julianne Hough, now DWTS cohost. Ballas was also one of several pros who returned to the show last season to participate in a tribute dance to Goodman, a Viennese waltz to “Moon River.’

“I think Mark was touched,” Inaba adds of her message. “He asked to keep the note which in turned touched me. Now, I wish I had written it with better penmanship.”

Ballas “was really fantastic” as a judge, she emphasizes.

Finally, Inaba reflected on the beauty of the ever-growing DWTS family and Ballas’ place within it. “I also had the opportunity to meet his baby and it made me think how very special it is to be a part of this DWTS family,” she says. “It’s always been a multigenerational show, with our fans watching it with their parents and grandparents. And now, our dancers have families of their own and the DWTS family continues to grow in beautiful ways.”

Ballas certainly seemed to enjoy his time at the judges’ table. In addition to drawing praise from fans online for his considered critiques and focus on technique, he shared his own gratitude on social media.

“It was an honor to be at the judges table last night,” he wrote on Instagram. “After 20 seasons as a competitor I feel like I’ve done it all, but some how this little ballroom dancing show we all love still had a new experience up its sleeve for me. I thoroughly enjoyed watching all the dancing & I truly hope I gave the couples some tips to take with them as they move into the next phase of the competition.”

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“I want to thank Conrad Green, @deena_katz + everyone @dancingwiththestars for giving me this opportunity & trusting me with the responsibility,” he continued. “Thank you @derekhough @carrieanninaba + @brunotonioliofficial for making me feel welcome, it was a pleasure to sit behind the judges table with you all. & lastly THANK YOU to the fans for the kind words, love + support. It truly means so much & I’ll never take it for granted. I appreciate you all. Till next time.”

We have a feeling this won’t be the last time we see Ballas with that scoring paddle.

Dancing With the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and Disney+.