Julianne Hough Through the Years: From ‘Dancing With the Stars’ to Triple Threat

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Julianne Hough Through the Years: From ‘Dancing With the Stars’ to Triple Threat

What can’t she do? Julianne Hough made her mark on Dancing With the Stars before moving on to conquer acting, singing and more. The professional dancer joined the ABC competition series in 2007 and won the mirrorball trophy during her inaugural season. Later that year, she became a back-to-back champion. Hough then shifted her focus toward acting, landing roles in Footloose, Safe Haven and Grease Live! She later returned to Dancing With the Stars as a judge in 2014 and took her talents to another reality competition show — America’s Got Talent — in 2019. In March 2019, Hough shared how she approaches self-care within her hectic life. “It’s the ancient wisdom of mind, body, soul, not the quote that’s on the pillow. You know what I mean?” she exclusively told Us Weekly. “It’s the true meaning of your mindset, what your body physically does to get energetic and then of course, it’s your creativity. That is your purpose, that is your passion. So finding those three elements, and really finding the things that work for me.” [jwplayer Zjft8Om9-l3ahXupL] Amid her professional success, the actress fell in love with Brooks Laich. The couple tied the knot in July 2017 after three years together. However, they announced their split in May 2020 following months of speculation about their relationship status. Prior to their separation, Hough gushed about embracing the trials in their relationship. “I’m not a newlywed anymore, technically, so … I think the best part [of being married] is that you go through your ups and downs, but you always know that the ugly parts of you are your best parts,” she told Us in February 2019. “I don’t know, that sounds really deep. But … those parts of you are the parts that you get to share with the person [who will remain] next to you at all times.” The songstress added that fans often perceive her “as this bright, positive, happy, sunshine, girl-next-door woman,” but “you can’t have the bright without the dark.” Us reported in September 2020 that Hough and Laich were “giving things another shot” after their breakup. “They’ve both done a ton of soul searching, had plenty of time and space to reflect and ultimately concluded that there’s too much love there to let it go,” a source revealed at the time. However, she ultimately filed for divorce in November 2020. Nearly two years later, Us Weekly confirmed that the pair’s split had officially been finalized in June 2022. It was announced in March 2023 that Hough would return to DWTS once again, this time taking over for former cohost Tyra Banks for season 32 of the ballroom competition. “It is such an honor to be rejoining Dancing with the Stars as co-host. The show holds such a special place in my heart from the many years and different roles I have had the privilege of being a part of,” the Bigger star told Variety in a statement at the time. “The incredible team that brings the ballroom to life every night has been my family for the past 17 years.” Scroll down to revisit key moments from Hough’s life, from her career to her love life and more.

Credit: Courtesy of Julianne Hough/Instagram

1990s

Hough was born in Utah in July 1988. As a child, she trained and danced competitively. She and brother Derek Hough moved to London in the ‘90s to study with coaches Corky Ballas and Shirley Ballas, the parents of Mark Ballas.

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2007

Julianne became a pro on Dancing With the Stars in 2007. She went on to win season 4 and season 5 with partners Apolo Anton Ohno and Hélio Castroneves, respectively. She left after season 8 in 2009.

The Rock of Ages star returned as a judge from 2014 to 2017. “I owe my career to that show!” she told Us in August 2019. “I was 18 and they brought me back in two different ways. I was a dancer, I was a judge and I’m so happy for everything that’s going on there.”

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2008

The Emmy winner released her self-titled debut album, which included the single “That Song in My Head,” in May 2008. She won Top New Female Vocalist at the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards and toured with Brad Paisley.

After a hiatus from recording, she proved in 2019 that she still has a passion for music, dropping a new song called “Transform.”

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2008

Julianne dated her season 8 Dancing With the Stars partner, country singer Chuck Wicks, from August 2008 to November 2009. “It’s a good thing for us right now,” she told Us of their split in 2009. “We are both extremely busy and working on our careers and really focused on that.”

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2010

The Heartstrings actress moved on with Ryan Seacrest, whom she was in a relationship with from April 2010 to March 2013. “Every relationship, there was nothing wrong or bad, but there was nothing right,” she admitted in the August 2014 issue of Redbook. “I had one foot out because I didn’t want to get hurt. And I didn’t say what was on my mind because I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers. I needed to be perfect.”

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2011

Julianne landed her first leading role in the 2011 remake of Footloose alongside Kenny Wormald. The part led to several similar gigs in musicals in the years to come.

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2013

The Utah native proved herself as a dramatic actress in the 2013 Nicholas Sparks film, Safe Haven, opposite Josh Duhamel.

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2016

Julianne starred as Sandy in the 2016 television production of Grease Live! Aaron Tveit and Vanessa Hudgens rounded out the cast.

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2017

Us confirmed in February 2014 that the TV personality was dating Laich after being introduced in December 2013. The couple got engaged in August 2015 and married in July 2017. “I’m so grateful I get to spend forever with this incredibly kind, thoughtful, strong and adventurous man,” she gushed via Instagram after their nuptials. “I’m the luckiest woman in the world to be your wife!”

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2019

Julianne joined America’s Got Talent as a judge for season 14. “I love ballroom dancing, but I love to sing and I love to act and I love to perform. I do different styles of dance,” she explained to Us in August 2019. “So this feels more encompassing of my passion and fulfillment to be able to be on this show, watching other people’s dreams come true.” She left the show after one season.

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2019

The reality star opened up about her personal identity in her September 2019 cover story for Women’s Health. “I [told Brooks], ‘You know I’m not straight, right?’ And he was like, ‘I’m sorry, what?’” she said. “I was like, ‘I’m not. But I choose to be with you.’”

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2019

The choreographer launched a fitness platform called KINRGY in 2019. "It's a high-sensory activated dance method," she explained to Women's Health. "We open up our senses, so we open up our imagination and connect to nature's elements."

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2020

Julianne made headlines in January 2020 when she received a chiropractic treatment in an Instagram video. “I feel so much more liberated on the inside that I can speak my truth clearly, stand in my power and not feel overtaken by emotion, my mind, and I feel free inside myself to just be,” she noted. “Our body is our vessel to hold our energy, and that is the most prominent thing that we can take care of.”

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2020

Laich and Julianne sparked split rumors in December 2019 after she removed her wedding ring. Us confirmed in January 2020 that they “were having problems,” and they announced their split in May 2020.

“We have lovingly and carefully taken the time we have needed to arrive at our decision to separate,” they said in a joint statement. “We share an abundance of love and respect for one another and will continue to lead with our hearts from that place. We kindly request your compassion and respect for our privacy moving forward.”

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2020

Us confirmed in September 2020 that Julianne and Laich reconciled after their separation, but she filed for divorce that November. “Julianne and Brooks just can’t get past their problems,” an insider explained at the time.

Following her and Laich's split, Hough was spotted out several times with Shadow and Bone star Ben Barnes. “She had been spending a lot of time with Ben Barnes and has been leaning on him,” a source exclusively told Us in June 2020. “She told Brooks it was nothing, but it’s not.”

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2021

The "My Hallelujah Song" singer was also linked to model Charlie Wilson after they were spotted kissing in Los Angeles in November 2021.

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2022

Nearly two years after their divorce, Us confirmed that Hough and Laich filed a Declaration for Uncontested Dissolution in February 2022. “The parties have entered into a written agreement regarding their property and their marriage or domestic partnership rights, including support, the original of which is being or has been submitted to the court,” state paperwork obtained by Us read.

Hough and Laich's divorce was officially finalized in June of that year.

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2023

Returning to her roots, Hough was announced as Alfonso Ribeiro's new cohost for DWTS season 32 in March 2023, replacing former cohost Tyra Banks. “It is such an honor to be rejoining Dancing with the Stars as co-host. The show holds such a special place in my heart from the many years and different roles I have had the privilege of being a part of,” she said in a statement to Variety. “The incredible team that brings the ballroom to life every night has been my family for the past 17 years.”

She continued: “I am so excited to reunite with Alfonso, Carrie Ann [Inaba], Bruno [Tonioli], Derek [Hough], the unbelievably talented pros, and the amazing cast on the dance floor. The energy is magnetic every time you step foot in to the ballroom and I can’t wait to feel it again — and of course to share it all with the absolute best and most loyal fans — for another exciting season.”