The 26-year-old country singer and her partner, Derek Hough, earned two sets of perfect scores Monday night and another on Tuesday. Judges' scores combined with viewer vote determine the winner.

It is Hough's fourth mirror ball trophy.

Disney Channel star Zendaya fell short of the title.

The Baltimore Ravens' Jacoby Jones finished in third. Gold medalist Alexandria Raisman was let go at the beginning of Tuesday's episode.

A new champion will be crowned Tuesday night.

Football pro Jacoby Jones, Olympian Alexandra Raisman, singer Kellie Pickler and 16-year-old Disney Channel star Zendaya each did three dances on Monday's episode of the ABC competition.

Zendaya performed perfectly, earning the maximum score for each routine. Pickler was a close second, collecting perfect 10s for her quickstep and freestyle dances, but finishing behind Zendaya in the cha-cha relay, which saw all four finalists perform to the same song.

Raisman finished third and Jones was fourth.

Each will perform one last dance during Tuesday's season finale to add points to their totals. Judges' scores combined with viewer votes will determine the new champion.

The four remaining contestants, Baltimore Ravens player Jacoby Jones, singer Kellie Pickler, actress Zendaya and gymnast Aly Raisman, are feeling nervous but excited about the big competition.

“This is my seating chart and there are four charts,” says Debbie Clark.

Clark decides where each guest is seated, but this is about more than just stars.

“People come here and say this is the best day of their life besides getting married and having a child,” says Clark.

Former Hoover Middle School principal Carolina Kursman won tickets from ABC7.

“Somehow I was chosen and I was very excited because I’m a long-time fan of Dancing with the Stars,” says Kursman.

And not only do the fans come to see the fancy footwork, it’s the stage, the costumes, and the music.

Carmen Carter is a singer on the show. :

“I can go from Ella Fitzgerald to Beyonce in the same day so we’re constantly trying to make sure the song sounds as munch like the dancers were practicing to as possible,” she says.

The remaining contestants are people accustomed to competition, whether it’s on the football field, the balance beam or in auditions. It seems they’re all channeling that ambitious energy into their dances.

The competition is friendly but nonetheless fierce for the final seven.

“We’re going to take that shiny ball back to Nashville baby,” said country music star Kellie Pickler.

Each of the surviving contestants has something to prove.

“I read something on TMZ and it said they hired Andy Dick for comedy, and they don’t expect much,” Andy Dick explained.

Disney star Zendaya is 16-years-old and the youngest contestant ever.

“I feel like being young people say, 'She’s young. We’ll give her a pass.’ I don’t want any passes. I want to be just as good as everybody else," she said.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones is known for having some of the best touchdown dances in the NFL. And for Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, there’s a high-flying standard. Her mentor Shawn Johnson danced to the top of the leader board twice.

“She’s always been a role model to me. I looked up to her and watched her in the 2008 Olympics and watched both seasons on the show. She was awesome,” Raisman added.

Then there’s the buff bachelor Sean Lowe and the sultry soap opera star Ingo Rademacher, who has a not-so-secret weapon, his partner Kym Johnson.

“She’s great, and she’s won twice already. She’s very patient.”

But one of this season’s clear frontrunners is Pickler and her dance partner Derek Hough, the best pro-dancer yet.

“You know what my strategy is? It’s to adapt, to constantly change as I’m going. Even when you think you know it all, you never really do. It’s about making it about her and making her shine,” Hough said.

Four couples are headed home before the final battle for the mirror ball trophy can begin.

Adrianne Haslet-Davis will be featured in a profile piece Tuesday night. The 32-year-old dance teacher lost her left foot and part of her leg in the attack.

"I absolutely want to dance again, will dance again," she told E!Online.

She said she also hopes to run in the marathon next year.

ABC7’s Brianne Carter interviews her on Capitol Hill, where Raisman is speaking out against teen drinking.

Among the Dancing with the Stars contestants are comedians Andy Dick and D.L. Hughley, who will be bringing their laughs to the line-up.

"This is the perfect place to embarrass yourself,” Hughley says.

This year's cast pits country queen Winona Judd against fellow singer Kellie Pickler.

The 16th season also boasts an all-star lineup of athletes. Boxing champ Victor Ortiz, Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman and skating sensation Dorothy Hamill. who says her time on the ice isn't an advantage.

"As skaters we try to make it look as though it's dancing but it's pretty much opposite," Hamill says.

But one dancing king that's already caught the attention of our area is Baltimore Raven's Super Bowl champ Jacoby Jones, who's looking to give his Lombardi a little company from that mirrored ball.

On Friday, Cynne Simpson spoke to two of the celebrity contestants who have made names for themselves outside of the dancing world. - Welterweight boxing champion Victor Ortiz and reality star Lisa Vanderpump from Bravo's hit shows "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" and "Vanderpump Rules."

ABC says Dorothy Hamill, Wynona Judd and Andy Dick are among 11 contenders for the mirrored ball on the new season of the celebrity dance competition.

Other famous faces in the show's 16th edition include standup comic and actor D.L. Hughley, Baltimore Ravens football player Jacoby Jones and former "American Idol" contestant Kellie Pickler.

Also on hand will be former welterweight boxing champ Victor Ortiz, "General Hospital" star Ingo Rademacher, actress-singer Zendaya Coleman and Lisa Vanderpump from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," as well as Olympic gold-medal gymnast Aly Raisman.

The new "Dancing With the Stars" season kicks off on ABC with a two-hour premiere on March 18.

Here's the full list:

Country singer Wynonna Judd, dancing with Tony Dovolani

Actor D.L. Hughley, dancing with Cheryl Burke

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones, dancing with Karina Smirnoff

Real Housewives Reality star Lisa Vanderpump, dancing with Gleb Savchenko

Actor Andy Dick, dancing with Sharna Burgess

Boxer Victor Ortiz, dancing with Lindsay Arnold

Disney star Zendaya Coleman, dancing with Val Chmerkovskiy

Gymnast Aly Raisman, dancing with Mark Ballas

Actor Ingo Rademacher, dancing with Kym Johnson

Country singer Kellie Pickler, dancing with Derek Hough

Figure skater Dorothy Hamill, dancing Tristan MacManus

The show premieres March 18 right here on ABC7.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

The reality TV star and her professional dance partner, Tony Dovolani, were named the champions Tuesday on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars: All Stars."

The pair beat out fellow finalists (and former champs) actress Kelly Monaco and Olympian Shawn Johnson to claim the sparkly mirror-ball trophy.

Other contestants hoisted the new winners into the air as confetti rained down inside the "Dancing With the Stars" ballroom.

Besides Rycroft, Monaco and Johnson, the season's cast featured returning stars Pamela Anderson, Sabrina Bryan, Kirstie Alley, Gilles Marini, Joey Fatone, Drew Lachey, Helio Castroneves, Bristol Palin, Apolo Anton Ohno and Emmitt Smith.

Burke posted a video message Thursday on YouTube disclosing her condition and her plans for surgery to remove her thyroid.

The 41-year-old mother of four says a lump on her thyroid was found during a biopsy.

She says in the video that the surgery has been scheduled, but she doesn't specify when.

She says it will leave "a nice big scar right here," tracing a line across her throat.

Although initially shocked by the diagnosis, Burke says she now feels strong and confident and her doctors are optimistic.

She vows to make "a positive out of this negative thing."

Found in the front of the neck, the thyroid secretes several hormones that influence metabolism, growth and development.

The package, which contained a suspicious white powder, was found Wednesday on the show’s lot in California.

According to TMZ, the package came with a note, demanding Palin be removed from the show or a more harmful package would arrive.

Experts insisted the powder was not dangerous, but the package was sent to a lab for more testing.

Back in 2010, a letter bearing Palin’s name was sent to the “Dancing with the Stars” set. It also contained powder, but was declared harmless.

This season, Hollywood's "best of the best" are hitting the dance floor again for "Dancing with the Stars - All Stars."

And this time around, winners from past seasons are competing against those who fell just shy of the mirror ball trophy.

Past winners kicking up their heels include Emmit Smith, Kelly Monaco, Apolo Anton Ohno, Helio Castronevez, Shawn Johnson and Drew Lachey as well as Gilles Marini, Kirstie Alley, Melissa Rycroft, Pam Anderson, Bristol Palin, and Joey Fatone.

In one surprise move already, fans voted online for the 13th contestant: "Cheetah Girl" Sabrina Bryan.

The new "All-Star" season of DWTS is slated to begin on Sept. 24, and the likes of Kirstie Alley, Shawn Johnson and Emmitt Smith are set to grab another Mirror Ball Trophy.

Twelve of the 13 pairings were announced Monday, and the 13th celebrity will be voted into the show by fans. Either Carson Kressley, Sabina Bryan or Kyle Massey will be the 13th contestant.

The pairings are as follows for this coming season:

"Dancing" returns on ABC on Sept. 24.

ABC says an "All-Star" edition of the competition show will bring back 12 former rivals including Pamela Anderson, Kirstie Alley and Bristol Palin.

Former 'NSync member Joey Fatone and gymnast Shawn Johnson will also be returning.

In a break from the past, viewers can vote online for the 13th contestant, choosing among three former contestants including actors Kyle Massey and Sabrina Bryan and celebrity stylist Carson Kressley.

The announcement was made Friday at the Television Critics Association conference. "Dancing" returns on ABC on Sept. 24.

Some even held watch parties for Tuesday night's big finale.

ABC 7's Autria Godfrey went to one of the parties in Northwest. Watch her report to see fans celebrate Donald Driver's win.

The Green Bay Packers receiver won the ABC dance show Tuesday. He and partner Peta Murgatroyd hoisted the glittery prize above their heads as streamers and confetti filled the ballroom.

Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins came in second place and Cuban actor William Levy finished third.

All three finalists earned perfect scores for their final performances Tuesday. Judges' scores combined with viewer votes determined the winner.

The final three competitors, William Levy, Katherine Jenkins and Donald Driver, will dance tonight in their final bid for the mirror ball trophy.

Check out ABC 7's Cynne Simpson's behind the scenes report.

"I stumbled upon dancing," he said. "I realized that you can do it competitively."

Dr. Rad, who had been an athlete all his life, made it his mission to succeed as a dancer. He was able to achieve a ranking of 38th in the world.

He even went up against some of the "Dancing With the Stars" professionals.

"People like Maks or Karina - I actually danced with them and against them. We had the same coach in New York," he said.

Unlike those pro dancers, Dr. Rad set dancing aside to focus on his medical career, and three years ago, he met Dr. Noelle Sherber, a dermatologist, at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Rad and Dr. Sherber just happened to be consulted by the same patient at the same time, he said. They met at the patient's bedside and went out for a first date the next night.

Like Rad, Sherber knew how to dance -- her mother taught ballroom dancing. The two began dancing together for fun.

"She already knew all the basics in ballroom and more," Rad said. "It's easy to work together."

The two doctors continue to work together professionally as well.

"I think if you can dance together, you can work together," said Sherber, "because it's an attention to detail, a dependence on the other person."

Five months ago , they got married, and now they spend many nights cheering on Rad's former teammates on "Dancing With the Stars."

Though Rad says he's glad he chose doctoring over dancing, Sherber thinks he could have won the show.

The couple is planning to dance together at an upcoming fundraising event and say they can't think of a better way to have fun, help others and get great exercise.

The 52-year-old actor was axed from the ABC dance competition Tuesday despite turning in a samba that the judges praised.

Judges' scores are combined with viewer votes to determine who is ousted each week. Wagner said he had a great time on the show and wished the remaining contestants good luck.

Returning to compete next week will be actors Jaleel White, Roshon Fegan, William Levy and Melissa Gilbert; singers Gladys Knight, Gavin DeGraw and Katherine Jenkins; TV personalities Maria Menounos and Sherri Shepherd; and football star Donald Driver. Each will dance to a rock 'n' roll song on the next episode.

The tennis champ was eliminated from the TV dance competition Tuesday and became the first star dismissed from the series' new season.

She came into the results episode in last place and was disappointed, but apparently not surprised, at her dismissal. She said she gave it everything she had but confessed that she made mistakes during her jive routine Monday.

Navratilova, Roshon Fegan and Gavin DeGraw were all told during Tuesday night's results show - the first of this season - that they were in jeopardy of being eliminated. However, it was Martina that ended up being sent home.

Returning to compete next week will be actors Jaleel White, Roshon Fagan, William Levy, Jack Wagner and Melissa Gilbert; singers Gladys Knight, Gavin DeGraw and Katherine Jenkins; TV personalities Maria Menounos and Sherri Shepherd; and football star Donald Driver.

Next week's episode will see the remaining contestants tell a story through dance.

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"Family Matters" actor Jaleel White, singer Gladys Knight and National Football League player Donald Driver will be among the 12 celebrity contestants on the next season of the ABC dancing competition. Other famous faces participating in the 14th edition include "The View" co-host Sherri Shepherd, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, "Little House on the Prairie" actress Melissa Gilbert and Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan.

The new cast, which also includes tennis player Martina Navratilova, "Melrose Place" actor Jack Wagner, telenovela star William Levy, operatic singer Katherine Jenkins and "Extra" co-host Maria Menounos, was announced Tuesday on "Good Morning America."

The contestants will dance their first routines with their professional partners March 19 and March 26, and the first couple will be eliminated March 27.

Last season, actor J.R. Martinez and professional partner Karina Smirnoff took home the mirrorball trophy with reality TV star Rob Kardashian and partner Cheryl Burke coming in second place in front of former talk show host Ricki Lake and partner Derek Hough.

Other previous champions include "Dirty Dancing" actress Jennifer Grey, Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger and gymnast Shawn Johnson.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, Donny Osmond, Brooke Burke and Drew Lachey have also all brought home Mirror Ball trophies. Six Dancing champions have come from the athletic ranks.

ABC7's Justin Karp contributed to this report.

"Dancing" draws 18 million viewers a week who got a firsthand look at the Iraq war veteran with the infectious positive attitude. They heard his story: How he was severely burned over more than 40 percent of his body when the Humvee he was driving for the U.S. Army struck a land mine, how he underwent numerous surgeries over years of recovery — then they saw him dancing like that had happened to somebody else. The 28-year-old actor and motivational speaker radiates joy.

MORE: SEE PHOTOS OF ALL 'DANCING' CONTESTANTS

"You've got such a sparkling personality, you just light up this room," ''Dancing" judge Len Goodman said.

Earlier this month, Martinez was chosen as grand marshal of the 123rd annual Tournament of Roses parade. He was on the cover of People magazine and named one of its "sexiest men" a few weeks later. And on Tuesday, he became the new "Dancing With the Stars" champion.

Martinez and professional partner Karina Smirnoff claimed the mirrorball trophy over fellow finalists Rob Kardashian and Ricki Lake.

"We've been able to create a lot of magical moments on the show and to top it off with this is amazing," Martinez said, holding the glittery trophy.

"And my friend, she deserves it," he continued, looking at Smirnoff. "She's an amazing dancer and she should be in that category with the elite when it comes to this show and hold her own trophy up. The fact that I was able to be part of that journey, I'm excited about that."

The dance partners (and neighbors — Smirnoff and Martinez live near one another) already know where they'll put the mirrorballs.

Smirnoff wants to keep hers at her dance studio in "a space with a spotlight and I'm going to polish it every morning," she said.

Martinez will be keeping his trophy even closer.

"Right now I'm going to put mine in bed. I'm going to tuck it in, and it's going to roll around with me," he beamed. "And then after that, once we've kind of grown apart, I'm going to glue it to the hood of my car and drive around Los Angeles and honk my horn and it will be my own parade."

Kardashian, who came into the season finale in first place with professional partner Cheryl Burke, said he didn't mind finishing as a runner-up.

"I feel great. I literally did everything I could have asked myself to do and more," the reality star said after the show. Still, he said Martinez "deserves that trophy more than anyone."

It appears fans had the final say. Viewer votes combined with judges' scores determine the winner, and Kardashian and Martinez were just a point apart when all the dancing was done. As the third-place finisher, Lake was eliminated part way through the final episode.

"J.R. and Karina really deserved to win," she said after the show. "And Rob and Cheryl, I'm so impressed with them both, so it's great to be among the three best."

After a quick trip to New York with his fellow finalists to make an appearance on "Good Morning America," and maybe some dance-free downtime over Thanksgiving, the former soldier and current "Dancing With the Stars" champ has a full roster of activities planned.

"I want to focus on writing a book. I want to tell people more in-depth the story of who J.R. Martinez is and what I've been through," he said. "And at the same time, I want to continue acting, continue doing motivational speaking and, from time to time, call Karina and say, 'Let's go dance.'"