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Derek Hough is happy to be back home in the ballroom. Hough, 35, is opening up about his return to _Dancing with the Stars_ (this time as a judge!), telling PEOPLE, "I'm excited to

see what happens." "There are a lot of unknowns and uncertainties this season, but I'm excited to see the solutions and see how we're all going to do it," Hough

says, in reference to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Hough, who last appeared on the show as a pro during season 23, will be joining returning judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno

Tonioli. Longtime head judge Len Goodman is unable to judge this season live in the ballroom because he is hunkered down in England during the global health crisis. "I already have a

great relationship with them — I've known them for years," Hough says of working with Inaba, 52, and Tonioli, 64. "We've been chatting. We're supposed to be eight

feet apart from each other at the judges' desk, so that's going to be a long desk. Bruno and I are very similar in the way I move my body. It's probably good that we're

not next to each other, because it would have been a hazard. Poor Carrie Ann would've been dodging arms everywhere." As for how he'll be judging contestants, the six-time

Mirrorball trophy winner explains, "I want to be fair." "I want to be helpful. Sometimes being straight and being honest can be helpful," he says. "But also,

I've been in their shoes. I've been in that experience on the dance floor so I know what it takes. I think that will allow me to be straight and be like, 'Listen, you have to

do this. If you don't do this, this is not going to happen.' I think that because I've had that experience and I've been in that place perhaps it'll be received in a

way where [they're like] 'Maybe I should listen.'" Hough happens to hold the record for most _DWTS _wins. What's his secret? "For me, it's everything.

It's formula. It's combination. It's the routines, it's the music, it's the costumes, it's the story," he says. "I think that’s really important. It’s

connecting with America. By connecting to America, you have to be one, playful out, take advantage of this whole experience which is ridiculous and outrageous … but also to be completely

open and real in yourself and be vulnerable. I think that’s when the connection happens when people at home. When that happens they root for you, they vote for you." In addition to

changes due to COVID-19, this season of _DWTS_ will also see Tyra Banks take over as host. (ABC and BBC Studios announced the departures of longtime hosts Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews in

July.) "I love Tyra," Derek says. "I had the opportunity to talk with her for a couple hours a couple years ago and thought she was just fantastic and so smart and brilliant

and passionate and energetic." Hough shares he'll "definitely" be leaning on Banks, who has years of experience as a supermodel, when it comes to photoshoots.

"I'll definitely be pulling her aside and be like, 'Listen, I need some help.' When I started doing photoshoots and stuff, I was like, ‘I genuinely don’t know what I’m

doing.’" Hough jokes. RELATED: KAITLYN BRISTOWE 'CAN'T STOP PRACTICING' FOR _DWTS_ BUT SAYS 'LIVE TV SCARES THE CRAP' OUT OF HER As for whether his sister and

fellow dancer Julianne Hough will also stage a _DWTS_ return, Derek teases, "You never know." "No plans of it yet," Hough says of Julianne, 32, coming back as a guest

judge. "You never know. That's one thing I've learned about _DWTS,_ is that things change every single week." Hough joining the season 29 judges panel was announced

Tuesday on _Good Morning America_. “This show has been and will always be incredibly special to me," he said in a statement. "Coming back feels like coming home and I couldn’t be

more excited to be back in the ballroom.” Season 29 of _DWTS_ will premiere Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.