Dancing With the Stars: Donald Driver Wins Trophy as William Levy Finishes Third

May 21, 2012: Donald Driver and his partner Peta Murgatroyd perform on the celebrity dance competition series "Dancing with the Stars" in Los Angeles. Driver won the mirror ball trophy Tuesday. (AP Photo/ABC, Adam Taylor) (AP2012)

And the mirror ball winner is… not William Levy.

In a close race for the top, Cuban actor William Levy and opera singer Katherine Jenkins saw the mirror ball trophy slip away from their fingers in the “Dancing With the Stars” finale Tuesday night, as NFL star Donald Driver took home the victory instead.

All three contestants dazzled with their moves the evening before receiving high scores, at times a perfect 30 (out of 30), for their multiple routines.

They also performed again on Tuesday, and had the judges and the fans going wild.

But the votes and scores were in and there was no turning back. Levy finished third, Jenkins second and Driver came in first place.

“This is awesome!” said the Green Bay Packers Bay football player.

"I would have to say it was a miracle," Driver added. "We did what we had to do on the floor, and we knew we had to leave it up to the judges and the fans. The fans made the decision, and the fans loved our freestyle last night. I think the freestyle put us on top, and after that, there was no looking back."

It was this freestyle on Monday night that sent the judges raving about Driver and dance partner Peta Murgatroyd, but may have landed Levy and partner Cheryl Burke in third place, after no-nonsense judge Len Goodman called Levy’s freestyle “predictable.”

What you do, you do well," Goodman said. "I liked it -- I liked the lifts, I liked the changes of rhythm... But, for me, it was too predictable."

"I'm fed up with it!" he told Levy. “All you do is shake your butt and get the women screaming,” he added.

The telenovela heartthrob said he was happy to have been in the competition and made it as far as he did.

"I thank you guys for all you have done for us," Levy told the fans in the audience. As he received a standing ovation for his efforts throughout the season, Levy hugged judge Carrie Ann Inaba and waved to the crowd.

As for runner-up Katherine Jenkins, being a part of DWTS was a huge accomplishment.

"It's been an absolute dream," said the opera singer from Wales.

To share the big night with the final three, former DWTS contestants put on multiple performances, such as The View host Sherri Shepherd dancing to “It’s Raining Men” with a bunch of sexy DWTS male dancers, Tennis champ Martina Navratilova and partner Tony Dovolani dancing their past routine as well as Anna Trebunskay and Jack Wagner shaking their stuff to a samba.

Jaleel White did a 70’s inspired Shaft paso doble sporting a black, leather trench coat and Disney star Roshon Fegan and Chelsie Hightower did a freestyle to keep the audience entertained.

Melissa Gilbert danced her popular trio with the Chmerkovskiy brothers, and Maria Menounos danced a tango. Kelly Clarkson took the stage, showing her slimmer shape and soul singer Gladys Knight sang “The Way We Were,” as footage of the final three appeared on the background screen.

You can reach Alexandra Gratereaux at: Alexandra.Gratereaux@foxnewslatino.com or via Twitter:@GalexLatino

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