Wait. Let’s actually think about the spring of 2013 for a second. It was a weirdly competitive time for reality TV, but Dancing with the Stars was peaking. That was the year we got the season 16 winner of DWTS, Kellie Pickler. Honestly, if you weren’t watching back then, it’s hard to describe the absolute grip that finale had on the audience. It wasn't just about the dancing. It was the narrative.
Kellie wasn't the "best" technical dancer on day one. Far from it.
She was the American Idol alum with the bubbly personality who somehow found a gear nobody knew she had. Alongside Derek Hough—who was arguably at the height of his creative powers—she turned a ballroom competition into a masterclass in storytelling. Even now, over a decade later, people still pull up her Freestyle on YouTube when they need a good cry.
The Battle Between Kellie Pickler and Zendaya
You can’t talk about the season 16 winner of DWTS without talking about Zendaya.
Yes, that Zendaya.
Before she was winning Emmys and starring in Dune, she was a sixteen-year-old Disney star who was, frankly, terrifyingly good at Latin dance. Most people thought it was a done deal. Zendaya and Val Chmerkovskiy were the frontrunners from the jump. They had the lines. They had the youth. They had the "it" factor.
But Kellie had the heart.
The finale was a total nail-biter. Zendaya led the judges' leaderboard by a single point going into the final moments. But when Tom Bergeron announced Kellie and Derek as the winners, the room exploded. It was one of those rare TV moments where the "underdog" (if you can call a country star an underdog) overtook the technical prodigy.
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It also sparked a huge debate. People were arguing on Facebook and Twitter for weeks. Was it a popularity contest? Or did Kellie’s emotional vulnerability actually outshine Zendaya’s precision?
Why That Freestyle Changed Everything
If you ask any hardcore fan why Kellie Pickler is the season 16 winner of DWTS, they will point to one specific dance: the Freestyle.
Most couples go for the "wow" factor. They bring out the trampolines, the pyrotechnics, the twenty extra backup dancers, and the fast-paced jazz hands. Derek Hough went the opposite way. He stripped the stage bare. It was just Kellie, him, and a stripped-down version of "Beneath Your Beautiful."
It was contemporary dance at its most raw.
She looked like she was flying. Literally. There was this one lift where she seemed to just hover in the air, and you could hear a pin drop in the studio. Carrie Ann Inaba was sobbing. Len Goodman, who was notoriously grumpy about "faffing about," was visibly moved.
That dance didn't just win her the Mirrorball; it changed the way future contestants approached the finale. It proved that you didn't need a circus to win. You just needed to be human.
The Derek Hough Factor
We have to give credit where it's due. Derek Hough is basically the Phil Jackson of Dancing with the Stars. By season 16, he already had three trophies, but his partnership with Kellie felt different. He pushed her.
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He knew she had this background of being a "tough girl" from a small town in North Carolina. He used that. He forced her to be graceful when she wanted to be goofy. It wasn't just choreography; it was like a three-month therapy session played out on live television.
What Happened After the Mirrorball?
Winning Dancing with the Stars is usually a springboard, but for Kellie, it felt more like a victory lap. She didn't pivot to being a professional dancer. She stayed true to country music, but the win gave her a level of respect in the industry that American Idol hadn't quite provided.
She went on to have her own reality show, I Love Kellie Pickler, and even hosted a talk show. But she’s always remained one of the most beloved alumni of the DWTS ballroom.
Zendaya, obviously, did just fine. In fact, losing might have been the best thing for her career. It kept her "hungry" and allowed her to transition away from the Disney/Teen image into the powerhouse she is today. But in the context of the show? Kellie was the queen.
The Scoring Controversy (Sort Of)
Some folks still look back at the scores and scratch their heads.
- Zendaya’s average: 27.3
- Kellie’s average: 27.4
It was the closest margin in the show's history at that point. One tenth of a point. Imagine the stress of those rehearsals. One slipped foot or one missed hand placement, and the season 16 winner of DWTS title would have gone the other way.
Lessons From the Season 16 Finale
What can we actually learn from Kellie’s win?
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First, vulnerability sells. If you're too perfect, the audience can't find a way in. Zendaya was so good it was almost intimidating. Kellie was messy. She struggled with the Jive. She got frustrated in rehearsals. People saw themselves in her.
Second, the "Freestyle" is the only dance that truly matters. You can be the best dancer for ten weeks, but if you don't stick the landing in those final ninety seconds, you're toast.
How to Watch Those Classic Performances Today
If you're looking to revisit this era, you can't just find full episodes easily due to music licensing issues (it’s a nightmare, trust me). However, the official DWTS YouTube channel still has the highlights.
Actionable Steps for DWTS Superfans:
- Watch the "Beneath Your Beautiful" Freestyle: Pay attention to the footwork. It’s actually more technical than it looks.
- Compare the Finals: Watch Zendaya’s Cha-Cha-Cha right after Kellie’s. It’s a fascinating study in two completely different styles of excellence.
- Check Out Kellie's Later Work: Her album The Woman I Am was released shortly after her win and reflects a lot of the growth she showed on the show.
- Follow the Pros: If you want to see how the choreography has evolved, follow Derek Hough’s social media. He often breaks down his old routines and explains the "why" behind the moves.
Season 16 wasn't just another year of reality TV. It was the year the show proved it could still produce high art. Kellie Pickler wasn't just a singer who learned to dance; she became a performer who reminded us why we watch these shows in the first place. We want to see someone transform. And she did.
The Mirrorball is just a trophy, but that season 16 win was a moment in pop culture history that still holds up. Whether you were Team Zendaya or Team Kellie, you have to admit: they left it all on the floor.