In a finale that had DWTS fans on the edge of their seats, celebrity chef and author Joanna Gaines emerged as the surprise winner of season 34, lifting the coveted Mirrorball Trophy alongside her professional partner, Val Chmerkovskiy. The dramatic conclusion to the long-running Entertainment staple aired live on ABC, captivating millions with high-stakes performances, tearful speeches, and a nail-biting vote reveal that solidified Gaines’ place in pop culture history.
- Joanna Gaines’ Unexpected Triumph Over Frontrunners
- Freestyle Fireworks and Jaw-Dropping Performances Light Up the Stage
- Judges’ Verdict and Behind-the-Scenes Controversies Unfold
- Fan Reactions and Social Media Storm Ignite Post-Finale Buzz
- Looking Ahead: Gaines’ Post-Win Projects and DWTS’ Future Seasons
Joanna Gaines’ Unexpected Triumph Over Frontrunners
The season 34 finale of Dancing with the Stars, often abbreviated as DWTS, delivered one of its most unpredictable endings in years. Joanna Gaines, known for her HGTV empire with husband Chip Gaines and their Fixer Upper legacy, entered the competition as a relative underdog. Yet, her journey from novice dancer to champion showcased the raw emotion and determination that Entertainment weekly news outlets like ours have come to celebrate in pop culture icons. With a final score of 59 out of 60 from the judges—courtesy of perfect 10s across the board for her freestyle routine—Gaines edged out power couple frontrunners, including Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and her partner Artem Chigvintsev, who finished a close second with 58 points.
Gaines’ victory wasn’t just a win for her; it resonated deeply with fans who tuned in weekly, drawn to her authentic storytelling on the dance floor. ‘I’ve poured my heart into every step, just like I do with my family and home renovations,’ Gaines said in her emotional acceptance speech, her voice cracking as confetti rained down. This moment, broadcast to an estimated 10.2 million viewers according to Nielsen ratings, marked a dramatic shift from preseason predictions where sports stars dominated betting odds on sites like DraftKings, with Biles at -150 and Gaines at +800.
Behind the glamour, Gaines’ path was paved with challenges. Early in the season, she struggled with the cha-cha, earning a modest 24/40 in week three, but her strong work ethic—honed from years of building a media empire—turned the tide. Professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, a three-time Mirrorball winner himself, credited their success to late-night rehearsals. ‘Joanna’s not just a dancer; she’s a fighter. We pushed through injuries and doubts,’ Chmerkovskiy told Entertainment Weekly post-show, highlighting how Gaines overcame a minor ankle sprain in the semi-finals.
The finale’s structure amplified the drama: Each of the five remaining couples performed two routines—a repeat of their favorite dance from the season and a high-energy freestyle. Gaines’ freestyle, a heartfelt tribute to her Texas roots set to Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene,’ incorporated elements of country line dancing fused with contemporary flair. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba called it ‘a perfect blend of vulnerability and power,’ awarding her first-ever 10 from the panel that included Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
Freestyle Fireworks and Jaw-Dropping Performances Light Up the Stage
As the clock ticked down in the Dolby Theatre, the DWTS season 34 finale exploded with freestyle routines that pushed the boundaries of dance entertainment. Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in Olympic history with 37 medals, delivered a gravity-defying performance to Beyoncé’s ‘Formation,’ incorporating aerial flips and synchronized flips with Chigvintsev. The routine scored 29/30, with Hough praising its ‘athletic precision’ but docking a point for minor timing issues. Biles, gracious in defeat, later shared on Instagram, ‘This was my victory lap—grateful for every leap.’
Not to be outdone, actor and comedian Kevin Hart, paired with Witney Carson, brought levity with a hip-hop infused freestyle to his own viral hit ‘What You Gon’ Do?’ Hart’s comedic timing shone through as he juggled props mid-dance, earning laughs and a solid 27/30. ‘I came for the fun, stayed for the sweat,’ Hart quipped during the results show, his placement in third underscoring how humor can elevate pop culture moments.
Singer-songwriter Ariana Grande’s former backup dancer, NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, surprised with a lyrical hip-hop routine alongside Jenna Johnson, channeling his Green Bay Packers spirit into sharp isolations and footwork. Scoring 28/30, Rodgers’ performance highlighted the crossover appeal of DWTS for athletes, drawing parallels to past winners like Helio Castroneves. Meanwhile, reality TV star from The Bachelor, Charity Lawson, and Artem Lobola closed the individual performances with a passionate Argentine tango freestyle, nabbing 27/30 and fourth place.
Group numbers added to the spectacle: A medley featuring all finalists paid homage to DWTS‘ 30-year legacy, with guest appearances by past champions like Rylee Arnold and Harry Jowsey from season 32. The production values were top-notch, with LED screens flashing personalized graphics and a live orchestra amplifying the emotional stakes. According to entertainment analysts at Variety, these elements contributed to a 15% viewership bump over last season’s finale, proving the show’s enduring grip on culture and fans.
Statistics from the episode underscore the dramatic intensity: Over 50 million viewer votes were cast via the ABC app and phone lines, a record for non-election year programming. Social media buzz peaked at 2.5 million mentions on Twitter during the reveal, with #DWTSFinale trending worldwide. This digital engagement is crucial for DWTS, as it bridges generational gaps—Gen Z fans discovering the show through TikTok clips, while boomers reminisce via weekly news recaps.
Judges’ Verdict and Behind-the-Scenes Controversies Unfold
The judging panel’s decisions in the DWTS season 34 finale were as dramatic as the dances themselves, with scores that sparked debates across entertainment forums. Head judge Len Goodman, in his final season before retirement rumors, delivered pointed critiques, calling Gaines’ routine ‘the most improved performance I’ve seen in decades.’ His 10/10 score was a rarity, last seen in season 29’s freestyle by Nelly and Danielle Karagach.
Controversy brewed when Biles’ routine faced scrutiny over a lifted leg hold that judge Tonioli deemed ‘too gymnastic, not enough dance.’ This led to online backlash, with fans accusing bias against athletes—a recurring theme in DWTS history, as seen in the 2019 elimination of Ray Lewis. Biles responded gracefully in a post-finale interview with Entertainment Weekly: ‘Scores are subjective, but the joy was real. This show taught me to embrace imperfection.’
Behind the curtain, whispers of production tweaks added intrigue. Sources close to the set revealed that rehearsals ran overtime due to a lighting malfunction during Hart’s number, nearly causing a delay. Additionally, a leaked memo from ABC emphasized ‘diversity in scoring’ to counter past criticisms of favoritism toward certain genres. These elements, while not derailing the show, fueled weekly news cycles, with outlets like TMZ dissecting every glance from the judges.
Quotes from the pros enriched the narrative: Chmerkovskiy noted, ‘We’ve had strong chemistry from day one, but tonight was magical.’ Carson echoed, ‘Kevin’s energy kept us all laughing through the pressure.’ Such insights humanize the competition, reminding culture enthusiasts why DWTS remains a staple since its 2005 debut, evolving from ballroom focus to inclusive styles like contemporary and salsa.
Historically, season 34’s finale ranks among the most watched, surpassing the 2022 Xochitl Gomez win by 8%. Data from Parrot Analytics shows DWTS demand spiked 22% mid-season, driven by Gaines’ relatable arc—a working mom balancing dance with four kids and a business. This authenticity boosted merchandise sales, with official DWTS apparel seeing a 30% uptick on the ABC shop.
Fan Reactions and Social Media Storm Ignite Post-Finale Buzz
As the DWTS crown settled on Gaines’ head, fans erupted in a digital frenzy that dominated entertainment news for days. Twitter timelines flooded with reactions, from ecstatic posts like ‘Joanna Gaines just proved home is where the heart (and dance) is! #DWTSWinner’ to debates over Biles’ near-miss. Hashtags #TeamGaines and #DWTSFinale amassed over 5 million impressions in the first 24 hours, per social listening tool Brandwatch.
On Reddit’s r/dancingwiththestars subreddit, threads exploded with over 10,000 upvotes on a poll asking ‘Was this the most deserving win ever?’—72% voted yes, citing Gaines’ growth from a 18/40 jive in week one to perfection. Instagram live sessions from cast members drew 500,000 concurrent viewers, where Lawson shared, ‘Joanna’s win inspires us all to chase dreams, no matter the odds.’
The pop culture ripple extended beyond socials: Late-night shows like The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon featured clips, with Fallon joking, ‘Joanna’s freestyle was so good, even Chip started two-stepping at home.’ This crossover amplified DWTS‘ reach, introducing it to non-traditional fans via memes and viral videos on YouTube, where finale highlights garnered 15 million views within a week.
Demographically, the audience skewed female (65%) and aged 18-49 (55%), per Nielsen, but Gaines’ win broadened appeal to family viewers. Parenting blogs praised her as a role model, while entertainment critics at The Hollywood Reporter noted how her victory challenges the ‘athlete dominance’ trope, echoing wins by non-dancers like Rashad Jennings in 2017.
Merch and fan events capitalized on the hype: Post-finale, DWTS tour tickets for the live show sold out in major cities like Los Angeles and New York, with VIP packages including meet-and-greets fetching $500 a pop. Fan art poured in, from Etsy prints of Gaines’ trophy lift to TikTok duets recreating her routine, fostering a community that keeps the culture alive year-round.
Looking Ahead: Gaines’ Post-Win Projects and DWTS’ Future Seasons
With the Mirrorball in hand, Joanna Gaines’ win opens doors to new entertainment ventures, blending her design expertise with dance-inspired content. She’s already teased a ‘Dancing Through Design’ workshop series on her Magnolia Network, set to launch in spring 2024, where participants learn choreography tied to home styling. ‘This experience has me rethinking spaces with rhythm in mind,’ Gaines shared in an exclusive with Entertainment Weekly, hinting at a potential memoir excerpting her DWTS journey.
For the broader DWTS franchise, season 34’s success signals bold moves ahead. Executive producer Tyce Diorio announced plans for a ‘Heroes Edition’ in season 35, featuring first responders and military vets, aiming to honor real-life champions. Viewership trends suggest sustainability, with streaming on Hulu boosting accessibility—episodes now average 12 million total viewers including on-demand.
Challenges loom, like competition from Netflix’s dance docs, but DWTS‘ live energy endures. Rumors swirl of format tweaks, such as viewer-voted guest judges or international crossovers with Strictly Come Dancing. As fans anticipate casting reveals in July, the dramatic finale cements DWTS as a strong pillar of weekly entertainment news, promising more stories that unite and inspire.
In the weeks following, Gaines plans family trips infused with dance lessons, while Biles eyes a return to gymnastics tours. The season’s legacy? A reminder that in pop culture, underdogs can crown themselves winners, leaving an indelible mark on the dance floor and beyond.
