After an intense season of talented dancers, football superstar Donald Driver and his partner Peta Murgatroyd walked away with the infamous mirror ball trophy last night on Dancing With The Stars. It was a close race, with the final three dancers right next to each other in their final scores. When it came down to picking the night’s winner, it was the fans’ votes that put Driver on top.

There was no lack of energy in the room as the winners were announced, Driver even took to rolling around on the dance floor as part of his celebration. And gathering for last night’s finale were all the dancers from Season 14, including music’s Gavin Degraw and Gladys Knight. Gavin performed his hit song “Sweeter” earlier in the season, so last night was just a return to dancing for him, reenacting his latin infused tropical island performance with partner Karina Smirnoff and a few extra props (including inflatable sharks). Gladys on the other hand not only returned for one last swing around the dancefloor, but also to wow the crowd with a solo performance of the classic, “The Way We Were.”

Kelly Clarkson, gearing up for her own competition show this week with Duets, took to the Dancing with the Stars stage to perform a medley of her new single “Dark Side” and the rather appropriate anthem for the competition, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).”

Donald and Peta beat out latin sensatin William Levy and Cheryl Burke along with classical singer Katherine Jenkins and partner Mark Ballas for the trophy last night. When news outlets caught up with the pair shortly after their names were announced, the Greenbay Packer had this to say about coming out on top, “It’s like winning the Superbowl.”

And as fans heard last night, the next season of Dancing with the Stars will feature familiar faces, as an all-star cast from past years is being formed. Who that will be exactly will be announced later this summer.

-Heather Stas, CBS Local