Derek Hough is a multi-talented American performer who specializes in Latin and ballroom dancing. He is also known for his skills as a choreographer, actor, and singer. Hough was a featured dancer on the popular ABC show Dancing with the Stars for nine seasons, during which he achieved an impressive record of six wins with his partners.
Derek Hough Bio Details
Full name: Derek Bruce Hough
Date of birth: May 17, 1985
Age: 39 years (2024)
Gender: Male
Zodiac sign: Taurus
Place of birth: Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Education: Italia Conti Academy of Theater Arts
Occupation: Dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer
Marital status: Married
Wife: Hayley Erbert
Sister: Sharee, Marabeth, Katherine, Julianne Alexandra Hough
Mother: Marianne Hough
Father: Bruce Hough
Early Life
Derek Hough was raised in Sandy, Utah, a Salt Lake City suburb, as the fourth child out of five in a Latter-day Saint household.
His parents, Marianne and Bruce Hough were active members of the Utah Republican Party, and his mother even ran for Utah’s 2nd congressional district in 2023. Hough also has four sisters named Sharee, Marabeth, Katherine, and Julianne.
His grandparents on both sides were dancers, and his parents first connected as members of a ballroom dancing group during their time at an Idaho university.
He shares a familial connection with the members of the band R5, Riker, Rydel, Rocky, Ryland, and Ross Lynch, as they are his second cousins through their shared maternal grandmothers who are sisters.
At 12, Hough’s parents, who were going through a divorce, decided to send him to London to live and train with dance mentors Corky and Shirley Ballas.
A few months later, his sister Julianne, also joined him. Although he initially planned to stay for only three months, Hough ended up staying in London for a decade, while Julianne returned after five years.
Career
Derek Hough first appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” during its fourth season in 2007. He joined the cast of professional instructors the next season and was paired with actress Jennie Garth, finishing in fourth place.
In season six, Hough partnered with actress Shannon Elizabeth and finished sixth. The next season, he partnered with model and television host Brooke Burke and achieved greater success.
Despite Derek Hough experiencing a momentary loss of consciousness after hitting his head on the floor, he and Burke ultimately emerged as the winners of the season. In the following two seasons, Hough partnered with rapper Lil’ Kim and model Joanna Krupa, achieving fifth and fourth-place finishes, respectively.
Hough won Dancing with the Stars twice in a row, with Nicole Scherzinger and Jennifer Grey as his partners. After a few near wins, he won again with Amber Riley, and a final time with Bindi Irwin.
In 2016, Derek Hough and his partner Marilu Henner achieved a sixth-place finish in their final season. Throughout his time on “Dancing with the Stars,” Hough earned nine Emmy Award nominations for his exceptional choreography, winning twice. In 2020, it was revealed that he would take on the role of judge on the show, taking the place of Len Goodman.
At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Hough collaborated with Meryl Davis and Charlie White, American ice dancers, to create their short dance program routine. As a result, the duo became the first Americans to win the gold medal in the event.
Derek Hough’s involvement in music videos has been diverse. In 2008, he had a small role in his sister’s music video for “That Song in My Head.” The following year, he played the main male role in Kate Voegele’s “99 Times” video.
Hough danced in Cheryl’s “Parachute” and Kellie Pickler’s “Someone Somewhere Tonight” videos. He directed Mark Ballas’ “Get My Name” and his single, “Hold On.” He also choreographed Michael Bublé’s “I Believe in You” and Lindsey Stirling’s “The Arena” and “Between Twilight.”
Wife
In 2014, Derek Hough and his sister Julianne enlisted Hayley Erbert to join them on tour, which is when they first crossed paths. Although they were not romantically involved at the time, Erbert’s presence on the tour caught the attention of a producer from Dancing with the Stars.
Erbert became a member of the troupe on season 21 of Dancing with the Stars in September 2015. Hough, who had been a professional on the show since 2007, won the title that year with his partner Bindi Irwin. They began a romantic relationship during the filming but kept it low-key at first.
The couple announced their engagement on June 2, 2022. A year later, they tied the knot in Monterey County, California, on August 26, 2023.
Net Worth
Derek Hough is a multi-talented performer, known for his skills as a dancer, choreographer, singer, and actor. He has a net worth of $8 million and rose to fame through his appearances on the popular ABC show “Dancing with the Stars.”
Throughout his time on the show, from 2007 to 2016, Hough won an impressive six times and was also recognized with nine Emmy Award nominations for his outstanding choreography.
