Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani: We were shocked to win 'Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars'

Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani say they were absolutely surprised they waltzed away with Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars' big win.


"We didn't expect it. It was really surreal, and yeah, there were shiny mirrorballs in front of us!" Rycroft said during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live following Tuesday night's Dancing with the Stars: All-Stars finale broadcast.

"I think I lost my mind," Dovolani added.

Unlike fellow finalists Shawn Johnson and Kelly Monaco, Rycroft -- who finished in third place with Dovolani during the eighth edition of Dancing with the Stars -- had never won a Dancing with the Stars title prior to last night. Similarly, after 14 seasons of competing on the reality dance competition, Dovolani was finally crowned a champion. 

"This whole season, I think Tony and I kind of underestimated ourselves and thought we were underdogs, and it was totally unexpected. It's such a surprise," Rycroft subsequently explained on Good Morning America.


"I think feeling like we didn't really have anything to prove meant that you could go out and not be nervous and go leave it all on the dance floor. If you've made yourself happy, then leave it at that. And I think that gave us the ability to just kind of go out with confidence."

Dovolani announced that winning Dancing with the Stars came at the perfect time because he's also been celebrating his thirteenth wedding anniversary. The pro dancer said on GMA that his victory was the best gift he could've given his wife and that waiting since Season 2 to receive the mirrorball trophy was well worth it.

"I'm so pleased and grateful to Melissa because she not only affected me but my entire family," Dovolani said.

Also during the couple's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Kimmel asked Rycroft and Dovolani some comical yet awkward questions about former The Bachelor star Jason Mesnick, who dumped Rycroft on television in 2009, and former reality TV star Kate Gosselin, whom Dovolani was paired with on Dancing with the Stars' tenth season.

"This was the first win for both of you. You beat a room full of champions. Melissa, the first time you competed on the show, Shawn Johnson won after a very close final vote. She was in the Final 2 tonight, and finally, you have exacted your revenge. One by one your enemies are being crushed. Will Jason Mesnick be next?" Kimmel asked with a smirk.


"Not commenting on that one!" Rycroft noted after bursting out into laughter.

After teasing Rycroft, Kimmel then moved on to Dovolani.

"Tony, does this victory make up for having to dance with Kate Gosselin a few years ago?" Kimmel joked.

"Ugh, you could say that. But she's a sweetheart. I'm sure she voted for us," Dovolani said with a laugh.

Once Dovolani responded to Kimmel, Rycroft giggled and told her pro dancing partner he was "so nice."






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski