In a heartwarming display of humility and gratitude, Joey Graziadei, the newest champion of Dancing with the Stars, attributes his unexpected dancing prowess to his professional partner, Jenna Johnson.
The 29-year-old "Bachelor" alum, who previously made his living as a tennis instructor, surprised not only the audience but also his fiancée with his newfound dancing abilities. When asked if Kelsey Anderson, his fiancée, knew he had such moves, Joey candidly admitted,
"No, no she was very surprised, along with everyone else. I was surprised but yeah, I credit all that to her (Jenna) for making me look that good."
This refreshing acknowledgement of Johnson's choreographic expertise came after the duo clinched the coveted Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in the Season 33 finale of Dancing with the Stars.
Dancing with the Stars Season 3 Finale - Joey and Jenna win
The finale of Dancing with the Stars Season 33 transformed into a spectacular showcase of talent, with five couples vying for the championship. Joey and Jenna's journey to victory was punctuated by two remarkable performances that left both the judges and the audience in awe.
Their tennis-inspired freestyle to "Canned Heat" by District 78 featuring Jake Simpson cleverly incorporated Joey's pre-Bachelor career, while their redemption cha-cha to Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling!" earned them a perfect score.
Reflecting on their victory, Joey shared his initial expectations with characteristic modesty:
"I mean we had goals coming in just to be here and to enjoy it, to have the ability to be through the whole process. To actually have a championship, to have a mirror ball in our hands, feels amazing."
Talking about being the first ever bachelor to make it to the Dancing with the Stars finale, and also the first to ever win the show, his genuine excitement was evident as he said,
"That's a lot of firsts, that's pretty good, that's pretty exciting."
What happened during the finale?
The competition for the finale of Dancing with the Stars was fierce, with an impressive lineup of contestants including Super Bowl champion Danny Amendola (39) and Witney Carson (31), who took fifth place; Olympian gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik (26) and Rylee Arnold (19) securing fourth; actress Chandler Kinney (24) and Brandon Armstrong (30) claiming third; and Olympian rugby player Ilona Maher (28) and Alan Bersten (30) finishing as runners-up.
Each couple brought their A-game to the Dancing with the Stars finale, performing both a Freestyle with additional dancers and a redemption dance. The redemption round saw various dance styles: while Joey and Jenna revisited their Cha Cha, Danny and Witney opted for a Tango, Stephen and Rylee chose a Quickstep, and both Chandler and Brandon and Ilona and Alan showcased their Jive skills.
Joey's victory continues an impressive streak for Bachelor Nation in the competition, following in the dance steps of Hannah Brown's 2019 win and Kaitlyn Bristowe's triumph the following year.
The finale was a dazzling spectacle, complete with eye-catching performances set to Madonna and Troye Sivan hits, showing us that sometimes the path from serving tennis balls to serving dance moves isn't as far as one might think.
By the end of the night, Joey and Jenna's consistent excellence was reflected in their position at the top of the leaderboard, with their perfect redemption dance and an impressive 29/30 on their freestyle serving as the perfect conclusion to their journey.
Their victory not only marks another milestone for Bachelor Nation but also stands as a testament to the transformative power of great partnership and dedicated training – even if it leaves your fiancée doing a double-take at your newfound dancing skills.
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Joey and Jenna won Dancing with the Stars Season 33.
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