"Dancing with the Stars" kicks off its Season 14
finals next week - and in a surprising twist, Katherine Jenkins will be
among those competing for mirrorball glory.
(SPOILER: This story contains the elimination news from Tuesday's "DWTS.")
Despite her salsa injury that landed her at the bottom of the
leaderboard, Welsh classical singer Katherine and her professional
partner, Mark Ballas, made it through to the finals.
Instead, coming as a shock to the "DWTS" ballroom, which booed loudly, Maria Menounos and Derek Hough were eliminated.
Maria and Derek actually topped the leaderboard the night before,
but it was Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd who were saved to compete
against Katherine and Mark, and William Levy and Cheryl Burke in the
finals.
"I learned so many things," Maria, who managed to keep a
stiff upper lip after learning the news, told "Dancing" co-hosts Tom
Bergeron and Brooke Burke. "I learned how strong I was; I learned to
persevere. I mean, we didn't know our dances yesterday until we got on
the floor, really."
Derek, a three-time "DWTS" champ, said dancing with Maria across Season 14 was a rewarding experience.
"It's been an amazing season. I've loved, loved, loved dancing with
this woman," he chimed in. "She's been an incredible person, not just
on the dance floor, but just as a person. She's not just a champion of
dancing, but a champion of life. Really. Seriously."
"Dancing with the Stars" finals begin next Monday at 8/7c on ABC.