After a lot of hard work, self improvement and soul-baring, Rumer Willis, 26, and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy took home the mirror ball trophy this season. They beat out fellow finalists Riker Lynch, 23, a singer and performer on Glee, and Noah Galloway, 33, an Iraqi war vet and Purple Heart recipient who lost his left arm and left leg in combat. Rumer performed incredibly this season, wowing judges and viewers with her technical skill and emotional breadth. In one of her final performances, Rumer and Val earned perfect 10s from the judges across the board, causing her dad Bruce Willis to tear up. Here’s more on her win:
Season 20 of Dancing With the Stars has been one of the most competitive — and least predictable! — in DWTS history. There were injuries, tears, and one marriage proposal. An Olympic gymnast missed the finals by a hair. An Army vet with missing limbs made the final three. At various points in the season, all three remaining couples — Rumer Willis and Val Chmerkovskiy, Riker Lynch and Allison Holker, and Noah Galloway and Sharna Burgess — brought the judges to tears.
But Tuesday’s finale show was about more than just the winners. Riker and Allison were chosen by the judges to give an encore performance of their freestyle routine from last night, and former contestants from both this and prior seasons (including fan favorites Amy Purdy, Alfonso Ribeiro, and Sadie Robertson) hit the dance floor.
Castoff contestant Patti LaBelle showed off her impressive pipes, while Derek Hough (apparently recovered from his injury) and his sister, judge Julianne Hough, danced together while Sia belted out her hit song, “Elastic Heart.”
After as much fanfare as time would allow, finally, host Tom Bergeron announced which couple would take home the golden Mirroball, and the bragging rights that come with it. While the race was close — especially between Team Willis and Team Lynch, who wound up the final pair — ultimately, it was Rumer and Val who took the top prize.
It seems like whenever I tell an older person what I do for a living, they ask me if I cover or watch Dancing With The Stars. It’s not my thing, but my mom watches it so I called her for comment. She said that Rumer improved so much this season and that she “kind of exposed herself, in the skimpy outfits but also emotionally,” which helped add to her appeal. My mom found Rumer’s story genuine and heartfelt. She pointed out that Val has been in the finals two other times, but unlike his older brother, Maksim, he’s never won DWTS so it may have been his time. My mom also said that the second place finisher, Riker, was really good.
I asked my mom if she thought Rumer’s status as a celebrity daughter helped her win and she said “her father and mother were there every time, and her father was crying the day before the votes would come in, of course that affects viewers.” Rumer earned this on her own, she busted her butt and danced like a champ, but it didn’t hurt that Bruce and Demi were there rooting for her, to their credit. Rumer’s whole family was very supportive. Congratulations to Rumer and Val!
Here’s Rumer and Val’s Freestyle from the finals. In the accompanying music she’s actually singing “Toxic” and Val is playing the violin.
And here’s the announcement of the winners.
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