Robert Irwin Reveals His Secret Talents (Exclusive)

Robert Irwin is skilled at many things — wrangling crocs, rescuing wildlife, mountain biking, surfing, skateboarding, rock climbing, underwear modeling, and now, dancing.

The 21-year-old son of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, now a wildlife conservationist himself, is currently getting into the groove as a contestant on this season of Dancing with the Stars (airing Tuesdays on ABC.)

But he has some other hidden talents up his sleeve: the man can play guitar!

“My idea of just the absolute perfect night, get the family together, few mates, build a nice big fire, get a couple of guitars, roast some marshmallows and just chat and sing and have some fun and just forget what time it is enjoy life,” he shares in his PEOPLE cover story. “Not a screen in sight. That is to me, that’s my happy place.”

So he plays guitar — and sings?

“I do! I do. Actually, no one really knows that about me, but I don’t know, I would not consider myself a good guitar player or a great singer by any means, but I do really enjoy it,” he admits. “I love it. I love the guitar. I especially love it if it’s the right crowd that I can kind of just let loose with a little bit, and bust out a few songs.”

He even has a favorite singer: “I’m a Johnny Cash fan,” he says. “That’s my sweet spot, yeah. I can get that low voice going.”

Another hidden talent that Robert hasn’t revealed before? Cooking.

“I love cooking,” he says. “And I love cooking for people. That’s one of my favorite things. I’m no incredible fancy chef, but I will go to great lengths to either grow my own produce or find the best freshest produce and just cook something super nutritious, super fresh.”

If you’ve seen Robert’s underwear ad for Bonds Australia, it’s obvious he’s into fitness too.

“I am. I’m really into my health and wellness and nutrition and all of that,” he says. “And cooking for people is one of the great joys in my life. It’s so much fun. So yeah, if you are wondering where I am, I’m either catching a crocodile, I’m in the surf catching a wave, or I’m trying to go and find the best tomatoes.”

While he says he’s still in shape, he says he’s using new muscles for DWTS.

“I’m in a different shape now than I was then,” he says of his underwear modeling. “There were too many sit-ups for that! But I really wanted to be in the best shape mentally and physically then, because I was representing Australia, and I wanted to feel super confident.”

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He adds, “But I do feel like this whole body-image conversation has become an important thing in my repertoire to discuss. Once you’re in the fitness world, people fall into a trap of how you have to look, but my message to young people is work on just being the best version of yourself. If you wake up in the morning and have fresh air and feel happy in your mind, boom, you’re on a win.”

Dancing with the Stars season 34 premieres Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and simulcast on Disney+. The show streams the next day on Hulu.