During the three-hour live finale of “Dancing with the Stars” season 34, a record-breaking 72 million people voted during the night, receiving over half a billion total votes across the season. America finally has its new Len Goodman mirrorball champion in Robert Irwin.
For the first time in show history, the remaining five couples competed in three separate dance challenges throughout the night: the judges' choice round, the freestyle dance and the instant dance challenge.
For the judges' choice round, each couple was assigned one of the three judges at random, and their style was then chosen by the judge.
The night kicked off with a sparkly opening number featuring every contestant who appeared on season 34. They also appeared in small group dances throughout the night and were seen cheering in the skybox.
Alix Earle kicked off the night, dancing a samba complete with fantastic fringe pants alongside Val Chmerkovskiy. Earle was assigned judge Carrie Ann Inaba. The pair scored a perfect 30 out of 30 for their first routine of the night.
Dylan Efron performed a shirtless paso doble. His assigned judge, Bruno Tonioli, was speechless at the performance, then said Efron’s torso was a shape Michelangelo himself couldn’t make.
Derek Hough joined Elaine Hendrix and partner Alan Bersten in rehearsal for their rumba. Hendrix performed a fantastic routine, earning her a perfect 30 out of 30 score.
Hough also visited Irwin and partner Witney Carson, choosing the quickstep for the pair. The couple performed a fast-paced routine, and Hough called Irwin the "quickstep king.” They scored a 29 out of 30.
Inaba joined her last couple, Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, in rehearsal for their paso doble. Chiles earned a 29 out of 30 for her intense routine.
Earle topped the leaderboard in the first round of competition and also went first for the instant dance challenge. Couples prepped four different styles during rehearsal week, and randomly drew a style of dance, blindfolded; Host Alfonso Ribeiro also pulled their song randomly. Couples had the commercial break to pick costumes, change and then quickly rehearse their dance.
Earle blindly chose a cha-cha, bringing out her pink and orange pants again, and earned a perfect 30 out of 30 for her instant dance challenge. In the skybox, her partner Chmerkovskiy pleaded with the camera to never make them do the challenge again.
Efron drew a foxtrot, despite looking disappointed at the reveal, rehearsal footage later showed he was hoping to get this style of dance. He received a perfect 30 out of 30 with partner Daniella Karagach and rendered each judge speechless.
Hendrix and Bersten drew a quickstep, but Hendrix's impressive showmanship was not enough to hide the footwork mistakes the judges pointed out. She wound up with a 27 out of 30 for her instant dance.
Irwin drew a cha-cha and performed it to “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE with partner Carson. Irwin had many mistakes during his dance, but somehow earned a 30 out of 30. Chiles also earned a perfect score for her impressive tango.
The most anticipated dance of the night, the freestyle round, closed out the three-hour-long finale. Earle was up first and performed a tango-fusion routine to “Maneater” and “Sports Car.” Earle earned her third perfect score of the night.
Efron shed tears in his rehearsal package as he shared how he wasn’t proud of himself the first few weeks of competition, but was in the finale and felt like he belonged there. He performed an emotional contemporary freestyle, dedicated to dance itself, earning a perfect 30 out of 30.
Hendrix and Bersten danced one of the most performance-packed freestyles of the night. The theme of her freestyle was Bersten’s own dance journey; she acted and danced her way through a fake dance audition and received the part in her routine. She was joined by a familiar face and best friend, Lisa Ann Walter, as well as Andy Richter, who played the director. The routine earned Hendrix a perfect score.
Irwin and Carson performed a jam-packed freestyle mixed with emotional moments and sharp holds. Hough recalled seeing Irwin in the ballroom at 11 years old, as he was partnered with his sister Bindi Irwin, and called him a true dancer. The pair earned a perfect score.
Rounding out the freestyle dances, showstopper Chiles stole the night as she performed a hard-hitting, sexy freestyle to “Motivation” by Normani. Normani joined Chiles on stage for the performance, as Chiles flipped across the stage.
The freestyle caused Inaba to claim it was the best freestyle routine she has seen in 20 years. An impressive feat for Chiles and partner Sosa, who is in the finale for the first time during his second season as a pro. The pair also earned a perfect score.
After freestyle routines, the pros hit the ballroom floor to perform a routine together, used to market the DWTS tour. The tour starts Jan. 22 in Akron, featuring most pro-dancers as they travel across all 50 states.
After three intense rounds of dances and six routines learned by each couple, the hosts brought the five couples out to the floor for the final standing announcement.
Hendrix and Bersten earned fifth place. Efron earned fourth place. Chiles earned third place.
Earle and Robert Irwin were brought down to the center stage. After a commercial break, it was announced Earle and Irwin received the most votes combined, than anyone in show history.
Despite finishing at the top of the leaderboard for finale night, Earle earned second place and Robert Irwin was crowned the Len Goodman mirrorball champion.
The win means the Irwin siblings now each hold a mirrorball, as Irwin won exactly 10 years after his sister did. Robert Irwin’s partner, Carson, earned her second mirrorball.
And with that, the 34th season of DWTS comes to an end. Goodnight.
