23 May 2012 Last updated at 04:50 ET

Dancing with the Stars: Katherine Jenkins loses to Donald Driver

Donald Driver is crowned winner on Dancing with the Stars

Katherine Jenkins has come second in the final of the US version of Strictly Come Dancing.

The 31-year-old Welsh mezzo soprano finished runner-up to American football star Donald Driver in the show Dancing with the Stars.

Judges' scores combined with viewer votes decided the show's winner.

The pair, together with fellow finalist actor William Levy, earned perfect scores for their final performances on Tuesday.

Jenkins, who is originally from Neath, was unveiled as a contestant on the ABC show in February, which some commentators regard as a move towards trying to carve out a successful musical career in the US.

After the result was announced she posted a message on her Twitter page saying a "humongous thank you" to her dance partner Mark Ballas for his patience.

The entire cast of this season's show reunited for the two-hour season finale, including former tennis player Martina Navratilova, actress Melissa Gilbert and soul star Gladys Knight.

The next round of Dancing With the Stars will feature contestants from past seasons.

Previous champions of the show include Dirty Dancing actress Jennifer Grey, who became a guest judge on Strictly last year, and former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger.