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‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 34 Finale Live Recap: Dances, Scores and Winners

And the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy goes to...

Allie Hayes

Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli
Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli / Disney/Eric McCandless

It’s officially time for the Season 34 finale of Dancing With the Stars.

The hit ABC competition has been on fire this year, consistently bringing in more viewer votes each week and breaking all kinds of records. And of course, we recapped the entire epic final episode live for you so you didn’t miss a second of this three-hour-long extravaganza!

In case you missed last week’s show

The theme for last week’s semifinal was “Prince Week,” with each of the remaining six dancing duos taking on two routines choreographed to songs by the iconic artist. Every pair had to perform one repeat dance style they’d already performed earlier in the season (as a redemption moment of sorts), while their other routine was a brand-new dance style to them. Everyone did incredibly well, with all involved earning strong 9s and 10s across the judging panel.

By the end of the evening, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson were at the top of the leaderboard with a total score for their two routines—a Jive routine set to “Baby I’m a Star,” and a Viennese Waltz set to “Wow”—of 59/60. Hot on their tails were Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy, as well as Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas, who all tied for second-place with total scores of 58/60 for their respective routines.

Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa, as well as Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten, found themselves in the middle of the pack, but both dancing duos still had exciting weeks, as both earned their first perfect scores of the season. Chiles and Sosa took home all 10s for their amazing Argentine Tango set to “U Got the Look,” while Hendrix and Bersten killed it with their Paso Doble set to “When Dove Cry.”

You can check out our full recap of last week’s episode here!

At the bottom of the leaderboard were Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach, despite also doing very well with a total score of 55/60. (Remember: since this was the semifinals, it was a tight race where only a few points could place you at the bottom!)

Last week’s elimination

After the judges’ total scores from both dances were combined with a record-breaking number of viewer votes, Leavitt and Ballas were eliminated. During their final interview, Leavitt said she “already felt like a winner,” and the episode ended with the five finalists embracing Leavitt and Ballas as they said their goodbyes.

This week’s songs & rules

Switching things up from the usual weekly format, the three-hour finale will be broken up into three distinct rounds: a Judges’ Choice round, an Instant Dance round and a Freestyle Dance round.

While the Instant Dances will remain a surprise due to the nature of that particular round, the Judges’ Choice picks and the Freestyle numbers were already shared on the official DWTS Instagram account in anticipation of the finale.

ROUND 1: JUDGES’ CHOICE

Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy

After a high-energy opening number featuring the entire Season 34 cast—including all of the eliminated contestants—Earle and Chmerkovskiy took to the ballroom floor to kick off the first round. In behind the scenes footage shown before their routine, judge Carrie Ann Inaba stopped by their rehearsal to assign the pair a Samba set to “Hip Hip Chin Chin” by Club des Belugas.

Inaba praised Earle’s signature style, saying she “performed the heck out of” the number, scoring them a perfect 10. Derek Hough applauded Chmerkovskiy’s choreography and teaching skills, earning them another 10. Bruno Tonioli said Earle wasn’t merely good, but “incandescent,” giving them a third 10 for a Round 1 score of 30/30.

Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach

Next up were Efron and Karagach, who were assigned a Paso Doble choreographed to “Stampede” by Alexander Jean ft. Lindsey Stirling by Tonioli. Before they hit the dance floor, the duo reminisced about the season so far and how far Efron had come. They also noted that—despite being at the bottom of the leaderboard last week—they had still made it to the finale and needed to focus on giving their dances tonight their all.

Tonioli praised Efron’s physique, noting that the routine left him “speechless,” which earned them a perfect 10. Inaba praised Efron’s vulnerability but gave him a note on his hand placement for the next round for a 9. Hough seconded Inaba while applauding Karagach’s incredible choreography, giving them another 9 for a Round 1 score of 28/30.

Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten

It was Hendrix and Bersten’s turn, and they celebrated all the ups and downs of their season, including their first perfect score in the semifinals. They also talked a bit about how they fought to overcome Hendrix’s injuries. Then it was Hough’s turn to assign a duo a dance from the judges, assigning Hendrix and Bersten a Rumba set to “Take My Breath Away” by Jae Hall. He also noted that the judges picked this style specifically because they thought Hendrix would shine.

Hough loved the routine, highlighting Hendrix’s resilience and praising Bersten’s choreography for a 10. Tonioli said the dance was “like silk,” earning them another 10. Inaba stated that she’d been “waiting and waiting” to see Hendrix perform a routine like this and also praised Bersten’s choreography, giving them another 10 for a Round 1 score of 30/30.

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson

Irwin and Carson were met in rehearsals by Hough, who assigned them a Quickstep choreographed to “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet. Hough provided Irwin with plenty of pointers to improve his frame and arm movements, and Irwin and Carson continued their practice as usual. Then, Irwin revealed he’d been suffering from rib pain in the lead-up to the finale, and it was suggested that Carson alter the choreography.

Hough called Irwin “the Quickstep king” and commended Carson’s choreography all season for a 10. Tonioli said that Irwin had “the power of a lion,” earning them another 10. Inaba called the dance “amazing” and “wonderful,” but did give Irwin a note about a slip-up at the beginning of the routine, giving them a 9 for a Round 1 score of 29/30.

Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa

Chiles and Sosa closed out Round 1 and the first hour of the three-hour finale. After receiving their first perfect score in the semifinals last week, the duo was energized, excited to prove what they could really do in the finale. Inaba then stopped by their rehearsal to assign them a Paso Doble set to “Breakin’ Dishes” by Rihanna. Inaba gave Chiles some great tips for the routine, and Chiles noted that she hopes to “make her proud.”

Inaba said that Chiles was a pleasure to work with, but felt she was “disconnected” from the dance, “a tiny bit” for a 9. Hough said she “did the dang thing,” and congratulated Sosa on his first finale, giving them a 10. Tonioli also loved the choreography and commended Chiles’s focus, giving them another 10 for a Round 1 score of 29/30.

ROUND 2: INSTANT DANCES

Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy

For the Instant Dances round, the duos each had to draw a random dance style, and then they were assigned song. From there, they were then expected to choreograph and dance a routine on the fly—but in rehearsal, they had to prepare for every possible style. Earle and Chmerkovskiy kicked off the round, drawing a Cha Cha set to “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” by RAYE.

Tonioli highlighted Earle’s growth from the first week to now, giving their instant dance a 10. Inaba said they gave a “show-stopping” performance for another 10. Hough loved the idea of the Instant Dance round, calling their choreography “impressive” for another 10 and a Round 2 score of 30/30 and 60/60 so far.

Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach

Efron and Karagach took on their Instant Dance next, and drew a Foxtrot choreographed to “Ordinary” by Alex Warren. The two were visibly not pleased with the selection, which host Alfonso Ribeiro even pointed out. Efron joked that his “head was going to explode” from the difficulty of this particular challenge, but the two still left it all on the ballroom floor.

Inaba applauded Efron, saying the dance was “unbelievable” and giving them a 10. Hough joked that the judges were sitting on the panel, saying, “WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?!” and adding that it was “one of the best Foxtrots” they’d seen from a man, earning them another 10. Tonioli complimented their “quality of movement” and control for yet another 10 and a Round 2 score of 30/30 and 58/60 so far.

Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten 

Next came Hendrix and Bersten, who drew a Quickstep set to “You Can’t Hurry Love” by The Supremes for their Instant Dance. In behind the scenes clips, Hendrix revealed that a Quickstep wouldn't be ideal given her previous injuries, but that she’d give the round her all no matter what.

Hough referenced his comment to Irwin in Round 1, calling Hendrix “the Quickstep queen” for a 9. Tonioli said she “captured the spirit of Ginger Rogers,” earning them another 9. Inaba loved that Hendrix kept it “fun” and “light,” giving them a third 9 for a Round 2 score of 27/30 and 57/60 so far.

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson

Before the commercial break, Irwin and Carson drew their Instant Dance: a Cha Cha choreographed to “Cake by the Ocean” by DNCE. Irwin specifically noted in their behind the scenes segment that he didn’t want the Cha Cha as their surprise style because it “didn’t make sense” to him. He also said that it was the one style where “the most could go wrong.”

Tonioli complimented Irwin’s style, adding that he was “on fire” tonight for a perfect 10. Inaba loved their partnership, earning them another 10. Hough admitted he was “nervous” for Irwin when he drew the Cha Cha, but highlighted his “impressive” technique, giving them a third 10 for a Round 2 score of 30/30 and 59/60 so far.

Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa

Chiles and Sosa once again closed out the round, drawing a Tango set to “I Like It” by Alesso and Nate Smith for their Instant Dance routine. As they ran to practice during the commercial break, Sosa could be heard saying that he had never even heard that particular song. In behind the scenes clips, Chiles was confident she’d be able to retain whichever moves they needed to succeed, given her gymnast background, and revealed that she actually hoped they got another Tango.

Inaba called the routine “fantastic,” adding that Chiles’s hold was “clean and sharp” for a perfect 10. Hough said he “couldn’t have thought of a better dance for [Chiles],” earning them another 10. Tonioli simply called the dance “fabulous,” giving them a third 10 for a Round 2 score of 30/30 and 59/60 so far.

ROUND 3: FREESTYLE DANCES

Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy

For the final round of the season, Earle and Chmerkovskiy hit the ballroom floor one last time for their Freestyle Dance, which was choreographed to a mashup of “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado and “Sports Car” by Tate McRae. In their behind the scenes segment, the dancing duo shared their appreciation for each other and how much they’d learned from one another. Earle specifically noted how much the show had helped her confidence, and that she wanted to “pull out all the stops” for her last number.

Hough called Earle an “absolute superstar” and said the routine felt like a “stadium performance” for a perfect 10. Tonioli said Earle was the “leader of the pack” and that “nothing could stand in [her] way,” earning them another 10. Inaba said she felt “so connected” to Earle’s journey on the show and that she couldn’t wait to see what she did next, giving them a third 10 for a Round 3 score of 30/30 and a total score of 90/90 for the night—a true perfect score overall.

Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach

Efron and Karagach returned to the ballroom for their third (and final) turn, showcasing their Freestyle Dance set to “Something in the Heavens” by Lewis Capaldi. In their behind the scenes footage, Efron was candid and emotional, opening up about how proud he was of himself. Karagach said that, of everyone she’s been partnered with, Efron was one of the most dedicated and easiest to teach.

Tonioli called the routine “beautiful and poetic,” earning the duo a perfect 10. Inaba said the number was the epitome of what DWTS was all about for another 10. Hough applauded Efron’s “kind masculinity” and said he was a “good man,” giving them a third 10 for a Round 3 score of 30/30 and a total score of 88/90 for the night.

Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten

After a quick segment featuring Season 33 winners Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson, Hendrix and Bersten were up. The pair hit the hardwood to perform their Freestyle Dance, which was a highly theatrical routine choreographed to “I Hope I Get It” from the musical A Chorus Line. In their behind the scenes segment, Hendrix opened up about her love of dance and how she avoided it after her injury. She credited the show for giving her that love back, and added that she finally felt confident calling herself a “dancer.”

Inaba loved how Hendrix incorporated so many people from the season into her routine (including fan-favorite Andy Richter), and got emotional while she gave them a 10. Hough said that it was a “pleasure” to have a front-row seat to their “full Broadway production,” earning them another 10. Tonioli applauded how Hendrix used her last dance to highlight her acting skills, giving them a third 10 for a Round 3 score of 30/30 and a total score of 87/90 for the night.

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson

Irwin and Carson were next with the penultimate number of the season, taking center stage for their Freestyle Dance, which was set to a mashup of “Black & Gold” by Sam Sparro and “The Nights” by Avicii. In an emotional behind the scenes clip, Irwin said he wanted their final routine to not only be a “thank you” to the viewers who have supported him at home, but also a love letter to his father Steve Irwin’s legacy.

Hough got emotional while praising Irwin and his family’s legacy, giving them a perfect 10. Tonioli assured Irwin that his father was watching and that their dance was incredible, earning them another 10. Inaba seconded Tonioli, saying she hoped Irwin felt the love in the room, giving them a third 10 for a Round 3 score of 30/30 and a total score of 89/90 for the night.

Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa

The final routine of the night was Chiles and Sosa’s Freestyle Dance, which was choreographed to a mashup of “Bow Down (Homecoming Live)” by Beyoncé and “Motivation” by Normani (the latter of which Chiles had previously performed a gymnastics routine to). The pair’s sweet friendship was highlighted in their behind the scenes segment, and Chiles praised Sosa for his support throughout the season. She credited the show with helping her grow her confidence, while Sosa said he wanted viewers to see Chiles “unleashed” in their last dance. (Their routine also included a surprise cameo from Normani herself!)

Tonioli said Chiles “hit new heights” in her final number, earning them a perfect 10. Inaba proclaimed that the routine was “the best Freestyle she had ever seen [...] hands down” for another 10. Hough finished up judging for the season, saying their Freestyle Dance was “everything,” giving them a third 10 for a Round 3 score of 30/30 and a total score of 89/90 for the night.

Who were the winners of Dancing With the Stars Season 34?

After an incredible season filled with stand-out routines, viral moments and record-breaking participation, the judges’ scores for the evening were combined with viewers’ votes—over 72 million votes, to be exact—one last time to declare the official victors of the 20th anniversary season of the hit ABC show. The final ranking for the Season 34 finalists was as follows:

In 5th place: Hendrix and Bersten
In 4th place: Efron and Karagach
In 3rd place: Chiles and Sosa
In 2nd place: Earle and Chmerkovskiy

And the winners of DWTS Season 34 were Irwin and Carson!

A massive congratulations to all of the fabulous finalists on a truly marvelous season and a record-breaking finale—and of course, here’s to more Dancing With the Stars next year!

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Allie Hayes
ALLIE HAYES

Allie Hayes is an experienced pop culture staff writer and editor specializing in movies, TV and celebrity news. Before joining the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit team as a Breaking/Trending News Editor, she worked at several outlets including BuzzFeed, The Daily Dot, and Newsweek. When she’s not writing for work (or writing for fun), you’ll find her curled up on the couch reading yet another romance novel, obsessively watching pro wrestling with her friends, or taking blurry photos of her two adorable cats.

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