Here's a final word on this season of "Dancing with the Stars" from our correspondent, Lenni G, who is overjoyed with J.R.'s big win:

A thoroughly jampacked episode last night with Lady Antebellum for entertainment, performances from the nine stars who had been eliminated in previous weeks, and more dancing from the three finalists.
 
During the first hour of the show, Ricki and Derek, Rob and Cheryl, and J.R. and Karina each chose a dance they had done before and did it again.  Ricki chose her fantastic "Psycho" tango because it was just so fantastic we had to see it one more time.  Rob chose his dreamy "Fly Me to the Moon" foxtrot which he had dedicated to his father.  J.R. decided to show Len that the jive Len had called a lindy hop was really a jive.  Coming in first were Ricki and Derek with 30 points.  Second place went to J.R. and Karina with 28 points, leaving third place to Rob and Cheryl with 26.
 
At the end of the first hour, Ricki and Derek became the first finalists to be eliminated.  As I said yesterday, Ricki just didn't finish this competition very well, though the rest of her season was truly excellent.

We'll try to avoid accidentally spoiling the show for you, so if you aren't quite ready to know who the winner was, don't read or click below!

Our hardworking "Dancing with the Stars" correspondent, Lenni G, sends us her recap all the way from Arizona. That's dedication.

Two dances per couple tonight, one of which was a freestyle routine.  After watching the whole show, I have to think that just one dance would have been plenty.  I don't know if it was nerves or injuries but, with the possible exception of Rob's freestyle, the performances were pretty dern average for a finale night.
 
First up, Ricki and Derek with a cha cha and coaching from Carrie Ann.  The good news - Len thought the timing was right, Bruno said she'd never looked "hotter," and Carrie Ann loved the way she "lived the dance."  The bad news - all three judges commented that there were a number of moments when the dance went wrong.  Have to say the judges were right - the whole thing seemed a bit out of sync from the beginning.  Judges' scores - 9's from all three for a total of 27.
 

"Dancing with the Stars" correspondent with her take on last night's elimination:

"Dancing with the Stars" correspondent Lenni G with last night's recap: