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Who Is Derek Hough?
Derek Hough is a celebrated professional dancer, choreographer, and television personality, best known for his impressive tenure on Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) from 2007 to 2016. Throughout his time on the show, he won a record six Mirror Ball trophies with various celebrity partners. Hough’s exceptional talent as a choreographer has earned him two Emmy Awards for his work on DWTS, solidifying his reputation in the industry.
Hough honed his skills in ballroom and Latin dance during his teenage years in London, where he became the Latin world champion at the age of 18. In addition to his accomplishments on DWTS, he has toured with his sister, Julianne Hough, and has appeared in various stage productions, films, and television shows, including his role as a judge on World of Dance. Furthermore, he is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Taking the Lead: Lessons from a Life in Motion (2014).
Early Life and Family
Born on May 17, 1985, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hough was raised in a family deeply connected to the arts, particularly dance. He grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with three older sisters and a younger sister, Julianne. His parents, Mari Anne and Bruce Hough, met while participating in a college ballroom dance team, and dancing was a tradition passed down through generations.
Hough has candidly shared his experiences with bullying during his childhood in Utah. In a 2014 interview with People magazine, he described instances of physical bullying, stating, “I was punched in the face, pretty aggressively in the stomach. I was tied up in trees and left in fields.” Despite these challenges, Hough has expressed forgiveness towards his bullies.
Encouraged by their parents, Hough and Julianne began dancing together as children, performing at local schools and state fairs. At the age of 13, they relocated to London to attend the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, where they lived with fellow dancer Mark Ballas’ family. This move not only advanced their careers but also provided a supportive environment amid their parents’ divorce.
Dancing With the Stars
In 2007, Hough joined the cast of Dancing With the Stars as a professional dancer for its fifth season, joining his sister, who was already part of the show. His role involved teaching celebrities to perform various dance styles, including rumba, tango, paso doble, and jive, while also choreographing diverse routines. Over the years, Hough received multiple Emmy Award nominations for his choreography, winning in 2013 and 2015.
After a successful decade on the show, where he became a six-time Mirror Ball trophy winner, Hough departed from Dancing With the Stars in 2016. He returned as a judge for the 29th season, bringing his expertise and insight back to the competition.
Partners
During his inaugural season of Dancing with the Stars, Derek Hough partnered with 90210 actress Jennie Garth. In the following season, he was paired with American Pie actress Shannon Elizabeth for season 6, and then with Brooke Burke in season 7, culminating in a victory for the duo. In 2009, Hough partnered with rapper Lil’ Kim in season 8 and model Joanna Krupa in season 9. He achieved consecutive wins in 2010, dancing with singer Nicole Scherzinger in season 10 and Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey in season 11. After a brief hiatus in season 12, Hough returned to the dance floor in 2011 for season 13, partnering with talk-show host Ricki Lake. In 2012, he danced with Maria Menounos in season 14 and Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson in season 15. Hough enjoyed another pair of consecutive victories in 2013 with country star Kellie Pickler in season 16 and Glee actress Amber Riley in season 17.
In season 18, Hough impressed audiences with Paralympian Amy Purdy, followed by a partnership with YouTube star Bethany Mota in season 19. His first partner of 2015 was gymnast Nastia Liukin in season 20, and in season 21, he triumphed for the sixth time alongside conservationist Bindi Irwin. Hough’s collaboration with Taxi actress Marilu Henner took place during season 23 in 2016.
Movies and TV Appearances
Derek Hough’s film career encompasses both background roles and leading performances.
Harry Potter
While residing in England, a young Hough appeared as an extra in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), portraying a student in the Ravenclaw house. Although he had not read the Harry Potter books at the time, he decided to keep part of his costume, which he later misplaced.
Make Your Move
In Make Your Move (2014), Hough starred alongside South Korean pop star BoA, playing two dancers from disparate backgrounds drawn to each other. Originally titled Cobu 3D, the film contributed to Hough’s absence during the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars.
Nashville and Hairspray Live!
Hough took on a straight dramatic role in a guest appearance on the TV show Nashville, where he became involved with Hayden Panettiere’s character, Juliette. Additionally, he showcased his vocal talent as Corny Collins in NBC’s live musical production of Hairspray Live! in December 2016. Hough also participated in a fantasy sequence on Jane the Virgin, where he danced the salsa with Gina Rodriguez.
Family Dance Off and American Ninja Warrior
In 2013, Hough hosted the competition show Family Dance Off. The following year, he joined Mark Ballas for HGTV’s Mark & Derek’s Excellent Flip, collaborating on a house renovation project with the goal of flipping it for profit. Furthermore, Hough competed in the celebrity edition of American Ninja Warrior as part of NBC’s annual Red Nose Day charity fundraising campaign.
World of Dance
In 2017, Hough served as a judge on NBC’s summer television program World of Dance, alongside Ne-Yo and Jennifer Lopez, who was also an executive producer and personally selected Hough for the panel. The show featured dancers from around the globe competing for a $1 million prize and became a ratings success, maintaining its popularity through its season 4 premiere in 2020.
Music Career
In addition to his remarkable achievements as a dancer and choreographer, Derek Hough has pursued a successful music career. He and longtime friend Mark Ballas formed the Ballas Hough Band, showcasing their musical talents. Hough also directed and starred in the music video for Michael Bublé’s “I Believe in You” and performed alongside violinist and friend Lindsey Stirling in the video for “The Arena.”
‘Hold On’
Hough’s song “Hold On” was initially inspired by a friend who was struggling with personal issues. After the tragic suicide of Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, Hough felt compelled to re-record the song and create a music video aimed at raising awareness about suicide—a cause that resonates deeply with him, as it also claimed the life of his uncle. The updated version of the song was released on November 1, 2017, with the intention of encouraging open discussions about mental health, particularly among men.
Breaking Benjamin
A long-time admirer of the band Breaking Benjamin, Hough covered their song “Ashes of Eden” following his vocal cord surgery and has collaborated with them on various projects.
Theater
In 2006, Hough took on the lead role in a West End production of Footloose. He also appeared in the New York Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall in 2015, although an injury prevented him from participating in some performances. Hough was slated to star in a Broadway production of Singin’ in the Rain in 2017, but the project faced delays.
Choreography
Hough’s choreography has earned him multiple Emmy Awards and recognition from ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who performed a routine he choreographed at the Sochi Olympics in 2014, where they won a gold medal—the first for the United States in that sport. At the age of 22, Hough also served as a choreographer for the BBC reality show DanceX.
TV Specials and Tour with Julianne
Hough frequently collaborates with his sister Julianne Hough. Their time on Dancing With the Stars overlapped, and they headlined the successful dance tours Move Live on Tour and Move Beyond Live on Tour. Additionally, the siblings faced off on Lip Sync Battle in 2015 (with Julianne emerging victorious) and co-hosted The Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration in 2016, followed by the variety special Holidays With the Houghs in 2019.
Personal Life
Hough’s romantic life has included a year-long relationship with actress Shannon Elizabeth, which began after they were paired on Dancing With the Stars and ended in 2009. He also briefly dated designer Lauren Conrad in 2011. Other notable romantic connections include actresses Nina Dobrev and Nikki Reed, as well as British singer Cheryl Cole.
Since July 2015, Hough has been in a relationship with Hayley Erbert, a troupe dancer from Dancing With the Stars. In July 2017, Erbert accompanied Hough to the wedding of his sister Julianne and Brooks Laich.