Country star Kellie Pickler stood in genuine shock as she was named the new winner of Dancing With The Stars.
After host Tom Bergeron made the big announcement, the singer was left literally open mouthed - and had to ask partner Derek Hough if it was really her and not fellow finalist Zendaya Coleman.
After a stunned pause, she finally jumped on Derek, flinging her legs around his waist and letting out a delighted squeal.
'Oh my God!' she stammered as Tom finally got to speak to her about winning season 16, while her husband Kyle Jacobs hugged friends and family in the audience.
Utterly shocked: Kellie Pickler was speechless when she was announced as the winner of Dancing With The Stars on Tuesday night alongside Derek Hough
Giddy with happiness: Once she had recovered from shock, Kellie jumped into Derek's arms as the crowd cheered them on
'This is amazing. Oh my God!' she added again, jumping up and down excitedly.
'Grandpa Ken we got you the trophy buddy!' Derek said, referring to Kellie's grandfather who raised her and persuaded her to go on the show.
Disney star Zendaya had actually led Kellie in the judges' scores over the two-night finale by a single point - but the viewers, whose votes count for half the final decision, obviously went with the country star.
Shock: The country star looked utterly gob-smacked as she hears her name, while fellow finalist Zendaya Coleman looked on in disappointment
We did it! Kellie and Derek look at each other in utter awe as they start to register that they won the competition
We did it! Kellie and Derek look at each other in utter awe as they start to register that they won the competition
A key hint came early in the final night when viewers voted to once again see Kellie's freestyle performance from the previous night, the sensual dance to Beneath You're Beautiful that left Carrie Ann Inaba in tears.
The freestyle dance is the last one viewers get to see before casting their votes - and the one that commonly decides the ultimate victor.
'I can understand Carrie Ann weeping,' Len Goodman said of the performance. 'It was truly beautiful.'
How does it feel? Co-host Tom Bergeron asked Kellie how she felt but she was temporarily speechless as Derek pumped his fist triumphantly in the air
Well-deserved: The judges gave the winners a standing ovation, after Len Goodman (centre) called Kellie 'the bee's knees' after her Monday night performance
Triumphant: Kellie and Derek held up the Mirror Ball trophy as the crowd cheered
Proud partner: Kellie's husband Kyle Jacobs cheered excitedly in the audience with her family and friends
The partners seemed genuinely emotional that their journey together was over.
'I'm just going to miss spending time with him, he's so fun - we've had so many great memories together,' Kellie had said.
'We have, a lot of great memories,' Derek agreed, having previously admitted he almost missed out as he hadn't planned on performing this season.
Second place: Zendaya and her dancing partner Val Chmerkovskiy clapped politely after finding out they had lost to Kellie and Derek
Gracious loser: Zendaya insisted she was 'very happy and proud' and said it would 'definitely suck' that she and Val wouldn't be dancing together again
Kellie, Zendaya and third placed contestant Jacoby Jones all had a final dance on the night, with less than an hour to prepare - but with all three getting perfect 30s it made no difference to the final standings.
The winners had performed an amazing jive to Little Richards' Keep-A-Knockin' - and started with some amazing acrobatics from Derek.
'Goodness gracious great balls of fire! It's like watching the incredible siblings,' judge Bruno Tonioli told them, saying that the Kellie reminded him of Derek's sister and fellow pro dancer, Julianne Hough. 'That really is a compliment,' he stressed.
Knock-out performance: The winners had performed an amazing jive earlier in the evening to Little Richards' Keep-A-Knockin' - and started with some amazing acrobatics from Derek
Chemistry: Derek and Kellie gave it all they had for their final performance of the show
Outstanding: 'Goodness gracious great balls of fire! It's like watching the incredible siblings,' judge Bruno Tonioli told them, saying that the Kellie reminded him of Derek's sister and fellow pro dancer, Julianne Hough
Carrie Ann Inaba called their dance 'a perfect ending', while Len Goodman rose to his feet as he said: 'I'm telling you Kellie, you're the bees' knees, my mama's pajamas, my uncle's carbuncle - you're awesome I'm telling you.'
Kellie's biggest threat came from Zendaya - at 16 the youngest ever competitor on the hit dance show.
The teen had led from the beginning, getting the highest score on opening night, the first perfect 30 of the season - and ending at the top of the leaders' board.
Youthful energy: While Zendaya's freestyle dance also got the same perfect score as Kellie's, her dance did not have the same emotional impact as the winner's did
Strong contender: Kellie's biggest threat came from Zendaya - at 16 the youngest ever competitor on the hit dance show
But while her freestyle dance also got the same perfect score, her dance did not have the same emotional impact that helped Kellie overwhelm the judges and leave audience members also in tears.
After coming in second, the youngster insisted: 'I'm very proud and I'm very happy and I get to leave here with an amazing experience.'
Earlier she had thanked dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy 'for being a part of me growing up' and admitted it 'definitely sucks' that they would not be dancing again.
Old favourites: Past Season 16 competitors like Lisa Vanderpump gave one last performance during the finale
Final chance to shine: Contestant Dorothy Hamill, who was forced to leave the show due to an injury, returned and gave a graceful performance
Bringing the silly: Andy Dick gave a predictably whimsical performance as he reprised one of his dance numbers
Asked if she taught him anything despite her tender years, Val said: 'Age takes a bite of your ambition and your dreams and you get a little jaded - being around Zendaya I feel like she's made me dream bigger again, believe in myself more again. Gives you purpose.'
Their final dance, a fun, high energy jive to Rockin' Robin with the youngster giving up on heels and wearing bright pink sneakers with her dress, once again bowled over the judges.
'I am going to be so sad not seeing you to dance any more - you have such a magical quality,' Carrie Ann told them of their partnership. 'You've made every single dance special and a joy.'
Len told her: 'For a young lady of 16 you dance with such maturity. I'm telling you, when Dancing With The Stars is over, spread you're wings you're going to fly away girl.'
Bruno, who told her she was rare in having 'pitch-perfect performer instinct', had a similar message, telling her: 'Twinkle twinkle little star - you're going to go very, very far.'
Powerhouse: Former contestant Wynonna Judd gave an emotional performance of I Want To Know What Love Is during the finale
Warm embrace: Wynonna's dance partner Tony Dovolani gave her a big hug after her performance
American footballer Jacoby Jones was told he was out just before the final announcement was made. Turning to dance pro Karina Smirnoff, he joked: 'Out of all my trainings I've ever had I've never had a woman push me like she's done.'
Earlier in the show, Olympic gymnast Alexandra Raisman and Mark Ballas were the first to leave after getting the lowest points of the four finalists.
'This has been the best experience of my life,' Aly insisted as she got a huge ovation from the audience. Mark told her in a recorded clip that she was 'the best student I have ever had - I love you'.
Pop culture phenomenon: South Korean singer Psy performed, bringing his signature flamboyant style to the proceedings
Giving it all he's got: The Gangham Style star shook his hops as a group of backup dancers shimmied around in skintight gold leggings
Street style: Pitbull wore a white suite and sunglasses as he performed on the show
The evening included star musical performances by PSY, Pitbull and Jessica Sanchez - and country star Wynonna, one of those who had been competing this season.
After her version of Foreigner's 'I Want to Know What Love Is' - with her former pro Tony Dovolani dancing in front of her and giving her a huge hug at the end - she said emphatically 'That's what I do', echoing her comment during the season where she admitted: 'I'm a singer not a dancer.'
And, as with all seasons, all the other contestants came back to dance.
Final practice: The winners were shown rehearsing their final dance number
Good friends: Kellie grinned as Derek tenderly hugged her as they wrapped up their last practice together
One of the biggest cheers came when Olympic gold medallist Dorothy Hamill, who had to withdraw from the show because of health concerns, returned to the dancefloor - alongside the woman who inspired her, Kristi Yamaguchi.
Dorothy had explained on the first show how she first fell in love with DWTS when she was fighting cancer. 'When I was recovering Kristi Yamaguchi was performing. Following her and watching her was the perfect thing for me at the time,' she said at the time.
'I think Kristi can teach me a few more things,' she said of her fellow ice skater, saying next time they should 'take it to the ice'.
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