NEWSAnd The Winner of 'Dancing With the Stars' Season 16 Is...
May 22 2013, Published 4:47 a.m. ET
It was a tight race between the four finalists on Dancing With the Stars but in the end Kellie Pickler and pro partner Derek Hough were crowned the winners of season 16, securing that sought after mirror ball trophy.
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After giving a truly emotional and inspiring freestyle performance during Monday night's show, it's not surprising the pair took home the win.
"I’m overwhelmed with joy," says Kellie. "I’m kind of speechless for the first time. Usually I’m just spitting out words left and right and now I don’t even know what to say."
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Kellie's husband Kyle Jacobs was in the audience and beamed with pride as his wife accepted the night's honor.
"I’m absolutely blown out of my mind," says Kyle. "For a girl who has never danced in her life to win Dancing with the Stars is absolutely phenomenal. As her husband I couldn’t be more proud. I’ve seen her feet. It looks like she’s walked over hot coals. She’s really put in a lot of hard work. I fully believe she deserves it. She has worked so hard."
Now that Kellie has developed such a love for dancing, she's determined to share it with Kyle, who says he will relent and participate in her new hobby.
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"I told her last night that I’m gonna have to man up and I’m going to definitely take dance classes," he says. "We’re going to take them together back home."
"I told him that if he didn’t take dance classes with me then I was gonna have to find a rent-a-husband," joked Kellie.
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When asked to compare DWTS with her time on that other reality competition American Idol, the country star is thankful for both experiences.
"I placed sixth on Idol which is in the same studio building, it’s right across the hall (from DWTS)," she says. "Derek and I were just over there two nights ago and they’ve torn down the old Idol stage and it’s just a big, empty studio and I’ve never seen it like that. I’ve only seen that room when the Idol stage was set up. We’re standing there and I walk in the middle of the room and I look over at Derek and I was like, “This is where it all started. This room. How do I hug this room to say thank you?' You fast forward to now and I’m on this side of the building and I want to hug this room and everybody in it. It’s been unbelievable. It’s been great."
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Post Dancing, Kellie and Kyle plan on taking a much-needed vacation.
"We haven’t been able to spend much time together for two and a half months," he says. "It’s tough. We definitely have a getaway planned. I can’t wait."
Do you think the right contestant won DWTS? Tell us in the comments below or tweet @OKMagazine.
