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Bobby Bones<\/a> is reflecting on his decision to return his Dancing with the Stars<\/em> Mirrorball Trophy \u2014 and opening up about just how much the backlash stung.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a minor meltdown,\u201d Bones shared on the recent episode of his Bobbycast<\/em><\/a> podcast, referring to his unexpected back-and-forth with former DWTS<\/em> host Tom Bergeron.<\/p>\n Though he still says he loves and respects Bergeron, the flippant remark about his win caught him completely off guard \u2014 especially given their bond during the show.<\/p>\n The moment that set everything in motion? A recent Parade<\/em><\/a> interview where Bergeron named Bones as one of the most surprising winners in DWTS<\/em> history \u2014 even though he wasn\u2019t directly asked about him.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Bobby Bones + Wife Caitlin Parker Expecting First Baby \u2014 Country Stars Celebrate<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI have total awareness of my entire situation,\u201d Bones said. \u201cIt hurt my feelings so much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have a job where I give opinions all the time… when I create controversy, which I do at times, I\u2019m good because I signed up for this,” he continued. “But this is the only thing where I was the underdog who won \u2014 and that\u2019s held against me.\u201d<\/p>\n More than the comment itself<\/a>, it was who said it that left a mark.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was somebody who was so helpful to me during the show, \u2018cause he knew I was struggling,\u201d Bones recalled. \u201cI still love Tom. But that hurt my feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n Feeling dismissed and deflated, Bones announced he would return his Season 27 Mirrorball Trophy to ABC \u2014 a decision he now admits he may be rethinking.<\/p>\n \u201cI was made to feel I was really bad at dancing, which I was, [but] then I got to be OK,\u201d he said. \u201cSomeone has reached out to me from the network and said they would give it back. It\u2019s whatever I want.\u201d<\/p>\n For Bones, the issue runs deeper than just an offhand remark.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just about Tom. It\u2019s the association sometimes. I look at [the trophy] and that\u2019s the only thing I\u2019ve ever done where I purposefully just tried hard, worked hard, tried to make people better around me,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Robert Irwin Breaks Down Talking About Late Father Steve Irwin on \u2018Dancing With the Stars\u2019 [Watch]<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI did everything I could to help, and then for people to go, \u2018We think you\u2019re less than\u2019 \u2014 that was my association with the trophy,” the radio host explained.<\/p>\n Bones also revealed he hadn\u2019t planned on doing Dancing with the Stars<\/a><\/em> in the first place \u2014 the opportunity came about as a way to promote his role on American Idol. But once he signed on, he went all in.<\/p>\n \u201cI was so committed,\u201d he said. \u201cI was proud of myself. [And] I wasn\u2019t as bad as I was made to believe I was. I\u2019m not good, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n He says he hasn\u2019t poured that level of effort into anything else \u2014 except for marrying his wife, Caitlin Parker, in 2021.<\/p>\n Bobby Bones has listed his extraordinary Nashville estate for sale, and pictures show a luxury property that’s worth every penny of his ambitious asking price.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u2018Hurt My Feelings\u2019<\/h3>\n
Why He Returned the Trophy \u2014 and Might Take It Back<\/h3>\n
A Surprise Gig That Meant More Than Expected<\/h3>\n
PICTURES: See Inside Bobby Bones Stunning $8.7 Million Nashville Estate<\/h2>\n