Dancing With The Stars had close score averages going into the final week of competition. Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough were leading in first place with an average of 26.9 for the previous nine weeks.

The duo had to compete in three dances for the first segment of the season finale. First up for Kellie and Derek was the Quickstep. The pair moved to the dance floor from the steps and worked to keep their "knobbly bits" together throughout the routine. Sporting a white gown and Marilyn Monroe style hair, Kellie kept pace with the white vest donning Derek. The judges were suitably impressed by the competitors' improvement in body contact. According to Len Goodman, they were held together like "a stamp on a letter." Bruno Tonioli called them a tour de force. Kellie and Derek received 10s from each judge leaving them with a perfect 30.

The second piece of the evening's competition was the Cha Cha Cha relay. In this dance, each couple was assigned to dance a different segment of the same song. Scoring ranged from 5 points for the pair who came in first to 2 points for the ones who came in fourth. Kellie and Derek drew the first performance slot. The pair came in second and received 4 points.

Last came the much-anticipated freestyle dance. Competitors were free to chose whatever style and music they so desired. The pair came to the stage alone and engaged in a slow, breathtaking routine to "Beneath Your Beautiful" by Labrinth. Kellie's freestyle brought the judges to their feet. Bruno praised the dance as having "spellbinding beauty" while Len observed the pair's total immersion in the performance and each other. Kellie and Mark received 10s across the board.

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Dancing with the stars 2013