“Dancing with the Stars” has announced its latest victor.
Following an impressive 72 million votes cast during the live season finale on Tuesday, Nov. 25, “DWTS” concluded triumphantly, declaring Robert Irwin and professional partner Witney Carson the champions of Season 34.
The duo achieved the highest combined score from both viewer votes and the judges’ evaluations. They surpassed the other finalist pairs: Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach; Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy; Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa; and Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten.
Throughout the evening, Irwin and Carson received a score of 89 out of a possible 90 points. Earle, partnered with Chmerkovskiy, secured second place and earned a perfect score of 90 out of 90.
Chiles and Sosa finished in third place, Efron and Karagach in fourth, and Hendrix and Bersten came in fifth.
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In a “DWTS” first, the final couples each performed three brand-new dances. The action-packed finale included a judges’ choice routine, an instant dance challenge, and freestyle performances.
Every couple from Season 34 returned to the dance floor for extra routines set to “Sugar on My Tongue” by Tyler, The Creator, “Applause” by Lady Gaga, and “I Don’t Dance” by Alexander Jean. The evening also featured multiple other performances, such as an opening number choreographed by Joey Pizzi to “Never Can Say Goodbye” by The Communards.
Following an intensely competitive season, Robert Irwin—wildlife conservationist and son of the beloved, late Steve Irwin—won the prestigious Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy with his partner, Carson.
Throughout the finale, Irwin and Carson earned a total of 89 points out of a possible 90.
Before the final episode, Irwin’s professional partner revealed in a TikTok video posted on Tuesday, Nov. 25, that he had sustained an injury. “Robert’s ribs have been killing him, and more will be revealed on Tuesday, and you guys can get a better idea of what we’ve been dealing with all week,” Carson stated in the video.
Carson also characterized the final episode as having mixed emotions, explaining that the previous eleven weeks of dance practice had drained them both physically and mentally. “My body is feeling it. Robert’s body is feeling it. We’re, like, kind of falling apart right now,” she said. “Just trying to keep it together.”
Carson also characterized the final episode as having mixed emotions, explaining that the previous eleven weeks of dance practice had drained them both physically and mentally. “My body is feeling it. Robert’s body is feeling it. We’re, like, kind of falling apart right now,” she said. “Just trying to keep it together.”
Carson also described the final episode as emotionally complex, noting that the intensive eleven weeks of dance rehearsals had left both of them physically and mentally exhausted. “My body is feeling it. Robert’s body is feeling it. We’re, like, kind of falling apart right now,” she said. “Just trying to keep it together.”
Carson also described the final episode as emotionally complex, noting that the intensive eleven weeks of dance rehearsals had left both of them physically and mentally exhausted. “My body is feeling it. Robert’s body is feeling it. We’re, like, kind of falling apart right now,” she said. “Just trying to keep it together.”
How ‘DWTS’ finalists performed in Round 1, Judges’ Choice scores
In the Judges’ Choice round, Earle was the first to perform. She and Chmerkovskiy delivered a samba to “Hip Hip Chin Chin” by Club des Belugas, earning a perfect score.
The star-filled evening also showcased performances from every eliminated celebrity of the season, such as beloved fan Andy Richter and the divisive reality personality Whitney Leavitt. These two emerged as the season’s most memorable characters as the series, a long-standing fixture of network TV, rode a surge in viewership and attracted a flood of younger audiences.
“Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” cast members Jen Affleck, Hilaria Baldwin (wife of Alec Baldwin), retired NBA star Baron Davis, Pentatonix’s Scott Hoying, “The Goonies” actor Corey Feldman, former Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui, and “Boy Meets World” star Danielle Fishel all came back to the ballroom to cheer on the top five finalists.
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba didn’t let a shout from the crowd go unnoticed while she was evaluating finalist Jordan Chiles’s routine. When a heckler quickly defended the gymnast by calling her a “queen,” Inaba paused her critique to demand, “What? What did you say?” Co-host Alfonso Ribeiro then steered the exchange toward finalist Derek Hough, stating, “Alright, alright, it’s alright. Don’t worry about that — Derek, you’re up.”
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