‘Dancing With The Stars’ Season 24 Finale Recap: Rashad Jennings Crowned Winner

The two-and-a-half hour season finale of Dancing with the Stars aired last night and the winner of the Mirrorball Trophy was revealed to be Rashad Jennings and his partner Emma Slater.

DANCING WITH THE STARS SEASON FINALE RESULTS

But before the final results are given, the show took us on a roller coaster ride of dance and emotion. First they play a video of the remaining three pairs (Jennings/Slater, David Ross/Lindsay Arnold, Normani Kordei/Val Chmerkovskiy) showing how they worked well together, how they’ve grown, and how close they’ve become. By the end, mostly everyone is shedding tears.

Then they bring out two choreographed dance numbers – the first all ladies, the second all guys. And then right back to the tears. More footage of the journey through the season, showing the best moments and highlights from the past weeks. The show brings back contestants Nancy Kerrigan and Artem Chigvintsev to do a carefree ramba to Ricky Martin‘s “Shake Your Bon Bon,” and Bonner Bolton and Sharna Burgess return for a a country themed routine. Nick Viall and Peta Murgatroyd grace the stage next, followed by a flawless rumba by Maks Chmerkovskiy and Heather Morris.

Then the remaining pairs perform their favorites from the season. Ross and Arnold do their Magic Mike -inspired jazz routine, Jennings and Slater do their week one cha-cha for unknown reasons, and Kordei and Chmerkovskiy impress everyone with their construction-themed salsa with help from judges Bruno Tonioli and Len Goodman.

There are some performances from OneRepublic, Lady Antebellum, and the cast of Dirty Dancing, but finally we get to the final round of competitive dancing – The 24-Hour Fusion Dance Challenge.

Ross and Lindsay are the first to go, dancing a foxtrot and salsa fusion to “Living” by Bakermat feat. Alex Clare. While not technically perfect, the dance is so full of joy and excitement that the judges are happy. The pair earn a 36/40.

Kordei and Chmerkovskiy are up next and perform an Argentine tango and foxtrot fusion to “Nothing Holding Me Back” by Shawn Mendes. The dance shows all of their strengths and none of the weaknesses, and earns them what feels like their millionth perfect score of the season. 40/40.

Lastly, Jennings and Slate take the stage for a cha-cha and tango fusion to “I Don’t Like It, I Love It,” by Flo Rida feat. Robin Thicke. The adorable pair please the crowd, the judges, and themselves. 39/40.

In the end, Kordei comes in third place, and Ross in second, leaving first place, and the Mirrorball Championship, to Rashad Jennings.