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[Warning: Spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen Sunday’s finale.]
Donald Trump has named the winner of the first All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.
On Sunday night’s live finale of the NBC reality competition, host/executive producer Trump “hired” Trace Adkins over fellow finalist Penn Jillette.
Adkins won $250,000 for his charity pick, the American Red Cross, along with another $100,000 from Walgreens. The country singer had come in as runner-up on his first season, the very first Celebrity Apprentice, which was won by Piers Morgan.
PHOTOS: ‘All-Star Celebrity Apprentice’: Meet the Contestants (Again)
Jillette played for Opportunity Village, a charity in Las Vegas that helps people with intellectual disabilities. Walgreens donated another $100,000 to Jillette’s charity since his ice cream flavor was the best selling of the two.
The final challenge found Adkins and Jillette tasked with creating a new ice cream flavor for Walgreens’ Delish line: Adkins’ team went with “Maple Macadamia Mash-up,” while Jillette’s group came up with “Magic Swurtle.”
The two finalists also were asked to create a commercial and throw a celebrity-filled bash to debut the ice cream flavor — as well as bring in money for charity. Jillette raised $503,655 in ticket sales for his bash, while Adkins drew $564,000.
Jillette brought such celebrities as Wayne Newton, former American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, Blue Man Group, Gilbert Gottfried and George Wallace. The Oak Ridge Boys, Wynonna Judd, NASCAR champion Tony Stewart and NFL player Tim Tebow made appearances on behalf of Adkins.
Unlike some Apprentice finales — in which, as Trump told reporters last week, the final two haven’t actually liked each other — Adkins and Jillette each showed genuine respect and admiration for the other.
Said Adkins: “If I’m gonna lose, I wanna lose to the best, and by God he’s the best.”
STORY: Donald Trump on ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ Finale: It Will Get ‘a Little Bit Nasty’
Also during the live two-hour finale, Jillette and his longtime professional partner, Teller, performed magic tricks involving the audience. Adkins, meanwhile, performed his single “Love Will” accompanied by Jillette playing the bass guitar.
There were some fireworks when Trump asked La Toya Jackson and Omarosa about their feud. It took a combination of Gary Busey and Trump to put a stop to their argument.
Also during the finale, Trump revealed that he was donating another $100,000 to Lil Jon‘s charity of choice, the American Diabetes Association. Lil Jon’s mother, who had diabetes, died after filming on the show ended.
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