'Dancing With the Stars' finals: Zendaya rules

• Stars had to dance three numbers
• Three stars earned perfect scores on at least one dance
• Jacoby Jones is at the bottom of the pack

"Four couples left and everyone is amazing," said Kellie Pickler at the start of Dancing With the Stars' final performance show of Season 16 on Monday.

She was right. And she's one of those stars vying for the mirrorball trophy on Tuesday, along with Aly Raisman, Jacoby Jones and Zendaya.

Hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke-Charvet (sporting a Justin Bieber-like pompadour and a bun) introduced them during the usual grand entrance, and then the finalists got down to the business of trying to impress judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli.

The stars were tasked with three rounds of dancing: a judge's pick dance, a cha-cha relay round (Best couple gets 5 extra points, next gets 4, then 3 and the worst couple gets 2 points) and the always-amazing supersized freestyle.

But first, a news flash: Val Chmerkovskiy bloodied his face when he bashed it during Monday rehearsals when Zendaya accidentally hit him just above the eye with her elbow. But he was cleared to dance.

Here's how it all played out:

Round 1

Disney star Zendaya told her partner Val the "only way to be better is to work harder." Carrie Ann stopped by to help the two work on their samba. One challenge seemed to be Zendaya's balance and posture when dancing in her heels. "You can never have enough help," said the chipper teen, taking the tips to heart. On the dance floor, her legs only looked all the longer with her heels on as she wore slim red pants. Carrie Ann loved it. "It was just absolutely great." Len said it was "eye-popping, show-stopping, jaw-dropping." He said the surface of her talent has barely been scratched. Bruno said, "You're just incredibly fierce, child." Scores: 10, 10, 10 = 30

Kellie Pickler and partner Derek Hough got a 29 the first time they did a quickstep for the judges. Would they be able to get a perfect score when they tried it again? Len came to help them during rehearsals. Kellie says she thinks of him as the "principal." He reminded them to stay glued at their "nobbly bits" — otherwise known as hips. Their number had zip and pizzazz, with an old-time feel. The crowd adored it. Len said, "I was palpitating, perspirating and I got so excited I was nearly flatulating!" He said they were "like a stamp on a letter" — stuck together. Bruno said she was "better than ever. ... fantastic!" Carrie Ann: "The one thing I was looking for was an improvement in your body contact, and I saw it!" Scores: 10, 10, 10 = 30

Aly Raisman had to dance the samba for the first round. Bruno came to give her and USA TODAY blogger Mark Ballas some pointers, urging them to put in a particularly tough step. On the dance floor, they wore beige outfits and Mark had a feathery long belt/sash that made it look like he was wearing an animal tail, but the dance went well. Bruno praised it, saying, "There's no stopping you now!" Carrie Ann said "you have the momentum. ... You have the swagger like Jacoby and the lines of Kellie and the musicality of Zendaya." Len quibbled a little about Aly's legs, but said it was "terrific." Scores: 9, 9, 10 = 28

Jacoby Jones planned to "spring to the finish" after being in the middle of the pack all season. Len Goodman spent some time with him working on his footwork and his toe-pointing for the judges' pick first-round dance. "Kick a peanut!" Len told him. He and Karina Smirnoff danced a high-energy jive that was full of peanut-kicking and Jacoby pulled it off, adding his usual splits and slides. Len said the footwork

was "a bit better" and it was "great entertainment." Bruno said he "brought a limitless supply of energy and power." But, he added, Jacoby "missed the beat" at times and "went flatfooted." Carrie Ann said he "brought the swagger. But I think the peanuts won." Scores: 9, 9, 9 = 27

Round 2

During the cha-cha relay, the couples played tag, with Kellie going first, passing it off to Jacoby, then Aly and Zendaya. "You are all winners," said Len. "You're so diverse," said Carrie Ann, also praising each of them. Here's how they ranked: Zendaya, 5, Kellie, 4, Aly, 3, Jacoby, 2.

Round 3

Zendaya and Val put on a show that included a troupe of kids helping them out. Zendaya mixed all kinds of dance for her freestyle, but didn't focus on just hip-hop, as everyone might have expected. Len loved it. Bruno said it had a "unique luminosity." Said Carrie Ann: "Way to bring it home! ... You're just divine, my dear." Scores: 10, 10, 10 = 30

Aly's freestyle was designed by Mark to be futuristic and showcase everything she has learned this season. He wanted her to use a tall metal pole to dance around and on, to highlight her strength. She was concerned. And when Mark saw how high the pole was — up on a platform — he was nervous. Of course, the dance was freaky and fluid and Aly flipped and jumped and twirled her way through it. "Different. Unexpected. I've never seen anything like it," said Bruno. "That was one of the most amazing routines I've seen on Dancing With the Stars," raved Carrie Ann. Len said he was dubbing her "Alexandra the Great." Scores: 10, 10, 10 = 30

Kellie and Derek took a risk by not going for any big gimmicks. Instead, he thought the freestyle should just be about her ability to dance. So instead of a fast-paced, high-jumping jive filled with tricks, as he has done in the past, the two danced barefoot using contemporary moves which showcased his strength and her beautiful lines as they told a story of a tormented couple. Did it work? The audience seemed to like it. Kellie smiled when it was over. Carrie Ann was teary and smiling and gave Kellie a big hug. "Kellie, you just bared your soul on the dance floor and it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen." Len loved it, too, saying she drew "everyone into the performance." He stood and applauded her. Bruno called it a "contemporary work of art." Kellie called it a dance that was "all about trust." Scores: 10, 10 ("should have been an 11!"), 10 = 30

Jacoby danced shirtless in a routine that started with a stomping group and young tap dancers in a tribute to Baltimore and New Orleans. He held Karina up over his head and twirled her. Len said it had "great energy. ... well done." Bruno said it was "like watching a Mardi Gras parade down Bourbon Street," although he noticed Jacoby got off on his timing. Carrie Ann said the dance was the "right strategy" but all the bells and whistles "outshined" him. Scores: 9, 9, 9 = 27

Leaderboard

Zendaya: 65

Kellie: 64

Aly: 61

Jacoby: 56

The two-hour finale on Tuesday (ABC, 9 p.m.) will include one last "instant" dance for the stars. Scores will be added to the public vote to determine a winner.

What do you say? Who should win the Season 16 trophy?