(Spoiler alert: Please do not read on if you haven’t watched Tuesday’s finale of “Dancing With the Stars”)
After a season full of surprises, “Dancing With the Stars” offered one more shocking result as the latest winner of the Mirror Ball Trophy was revealed during Tuesday’s Season 24 finale.
Heading into the two-part season ender of ABC’s long-running dancing competition series, three celebrities were still in the running: Rashad Jennings, Normani Kordei and David Ross.
After a star-studded episode full of amazing performances, the winner was revealed: It’s Jennings for the win, with Ross taking second and Kordei in third.
The final three pairs each performed their 24-hour fusion-challenge dance. Kordei performed a fusion of a foxtrot and Argentine tango, landing a perfect 40 out of 40. Jennings’ hybrid of a cha-cha and tango earned him a 39, while Ross’ fusion was worthy of a 36.
On Monday’s final performance episode of the season, NFL running back Jennings scored two perfect scores after performing a Viennese waltz and freestyle number with partner Emma Slater. Fifth Harmony member Kordei and Val Chmerkovskiy earned a 38 out of 40 for their quickstep but nabbed a 40 for the freestyle dance.
Ross was in a bit of a hole after Monday, having earned just a 33 for his Viennese waltz with partner Lindsay Arnold. The pair came back in a big way with a perfect 40 for the freestyle.
Among the special guests on Tuesday’s finale were performers Hailee Steinfeld, OneRepublic and Lady Antebellum. Steinfeld performed her singles “Most Girls” and “Starving.”
This season definitely did not go the way some fans may have expected, as Kordei was widely expected to prevail in the finale. Another big upset came in week six, with “Glee” alum Heather Morris — a former backup dancer for Beyonce — getting the boot. On Tuesday, she and Maksim Chmerkovskiy danced to “Waterfalls” as TLC performed the seminal 1990s tune.
Similarly, fans were stunned when Olympic gymnast Simone Biles went home in week nine.