Derek Hough is an American professional Latin and ballroom dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is best known as a professional dancer on the ABC dance competition series "Dancing with the Stars", where he achieved a remarkable feat of winning the show a record-breaking six times with his celebrity partners between 2007 and 2016. He is also famous for his receiving eleven nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography, securing three wins. He later took on the role of a judge on "Dancing with the Stars" starting from its 29th season. Hough's talents extend to the stage, as he showcased his acting abilities in the West End premiere of Footloose: The Musical at the Novello Theatre and also in the 2015 New York Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. In the world of film and television, he starred in the movie Make Your Move and had a recurring role in the ABC musical-drama series Nashville. Additionally, Hough portrayed Corny Collins in NBC's live musical TV production of Hairspray Live! in 2016. From 2017 to 2020, he served as a judge on the NBC dance competition series World of Dance.
Derek Hough is a ballroom dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. His claim to fame is winning "Dancing with the Stars" a record-breaking six times with celebrity partners from 2007 to 2016, and he's also a three-time Primetime Emmy Award-winning choreographer. Additionally, he appeared in films like Make Your Move and starred in the NBC live musical TV production of Hairspray Live!
Derek Hough, born on May 17, 1985, was given the birth name Derek Bruce Hough, and he was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Holding American nationality and belonging to American-White ethnicity, he is the son of his mother, Mari Anne Hough, and his father, Bruce Robert Hough, who was twice chairman of the Utah Republican Party. Derek has four sisters named Sharee, Marabeth, Katherine, and Julianne Hough. At the age of 12, his parents, who were going through a divorce, sent him to London to live and study with dance coaches Corky and Shirley Ballas, where his sister Julianne later joined him. Derek spent ten years in London, receiving training in various forms of dance, song, theater, and gymnastics at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, where the Ballas' children also studied. Alongside them, he formed a pop music trio called 2B1G ("2 Boys, 1 Girl"), performing at dance competitions in the UK and the US, as well as appearing on UK television shows. During this time, he also learned to play the piano, guitar, and drums, ultimately graduating from the Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts in London's Goswell Rd.
Derek Hough has achieved remarkable success in the world of dance, with notable wins such as the WDSF World Latin Championship in 2002 and the Blackpool U-21 Latin title in 2003 alongside Aneta Piotrowska. His talent as a choreographer was recognized when he won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for his work on Dancing with the Stars in 2013 and 2015, accumulating a total of nine Emmy nominations in choreography. In 2014, he collaborated with world champion ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White, choreographing a routine that led them to win the gold medal at the Sochi Winter Olympics, making Olympic history for the United States. Additionally, he embarked on two successful summer tours, "Move Live on Tour," with his sister Julianne, combining dance and singing, and featuring a talented group of dancers chosen through auditions. Due to high demand, the tour returned in 2015, captivating audiences across the U.S. and Canada. Derek's passion for promoting health and community led him to host free fitness pop-up events called "Move Interactive" in Los Angeles and in 2016, he announced plans for a new tour, "MOVE BEYOND Live on Tour," scheduled for 2017.
Hough's journey on "Dancing with the Stars" began as a guest instructor in season four, alongside his sister Julianne and Apolo Anton Ohno. He officially joined as a professional instructor in season five and danced with Jennie Garth, finishing in fourth place. In season six, Hough was partnered with actress Shannon Elizabeth and achieved a sixth-place finish. Season seven brought success as he danced with model/TV host Brooke Burke, and they went on to win the mirror ball trophy. In season eight, he was paired with rapper Lil' Kim, earning a fifth-place finish. Next, he partnered with model Joanna Krupa in season nine and achieved a fourth-place finish. Season ten marked his second win as he danced with Nicole Scherzinger, and in season eleven, he won for the third time with actress Jennifer Grey. Hough skipped season 12 to be part of the film COBU 3D. In season 13, he danced with actress and TV host Ricki Lake, finishing in third place. In season 14, Hough partnered with television personality Maria Menounos and topped the leaderboard, ultimately finishing in the semi-finals.
In season 15, he was paired with season eight champion Shawn Johnson, finishing as runners-up. After announcing that season 15 would be his last, he returned for season 16 with country singer Kellie Pickler, winning the Mirror Ball trophy for the fourth time. He continued his winning streak in season 17 with Glee star Amber Riley, securing his fifth Mirror Ball trophy. In season 18, he danced with paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy, earning a runner-up position. Hough returned for season 19 with YouTube personality Bethany Mota and later partnered with gymnast Nastia Liukin in season 20, finishing in fourth place both times. Season 21 proved to be a triumph as he and wildlife conservationist Bindi Irwin took home the trophy, marking his sixth win on the show. He made a comeback as a professional dancer for season 23 with actress Marilu Henner, finishing in sixth place. In a surprising turn, Hough replaced longtime judge Len Goodman for season 29 and continued as a judge for the 30th and 31st seasons.
In May 2017, Derek Hough joined NBC's new dance competition series, World of Dance, as a judge, alongside Jennifer Lopez and Ne-Yo, with Jenna Dewan as the host and mentor. The show became the highest-rated premiere of a new summer alternative series on broadcast in five years and the most-watched in nine years. World of Dance was renewed for a second season and continued successfully through the third and fourth seasons. In theater, his early work included starring as the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Millfield Theatre and dancing in the company of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium. He starred as Ren in the original cast production of Footloose: The Musical at London's West End in 2006 and later appeared in the 2006 UK national tour. His performance earned him a nomination for The Stuart Phillips London Newcomer of the Year in the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers' Choice Awards. On January 8, 2010, Hough made his Broadway debut in Burn the Floor for the show's final four performances, alongside Kym Johnson and Mary Murphy. In the realm of acting, he made cameo appearances in the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in 2001 and in the movie Rock of Ages in 2012, where his sister Julianne played the female lead role. In 2011, he took a break from Dancing with the Stars to star in his first movie, Make Your Move (originally titled Cobu 3D), which premiered in 2014. He also made guest appearances on several TV shows, such as Better with You, Nashville, and Jane the Virgin. Notably, he played Corny Collins in the NBC live broadcast of Hairspray, which aired in December 2016.
Derek Hough has been involved in a diverse range of projects throughout his career. He was a panelist on BBC One's DanceX in 2007 and later choreographed and performed in Cheryl Cole's "Parachute" music video. Hough was a founding member of the Ballas Hough Band, sharing lead vocals, playing guitar, and contributing to songwriting on their debut CD. He directed Mark Ballas' music video for "Get My Name" in 2014. Hough also authored the book Taking the Lead: Lessons from a Life in Motion, which became a New York Times Best Seller. Along with Ballas, he appeared on the HGTV series Mark & Derek's Excellent Flip, renovating and flipping a house for profit. In 2016, Hough choreographed and appeared in Lindsey Stirling's music video for The Arena. He participated in the celebrity edition of American Ninja Warrior for Red Nose Day in 2017 and revealed plans to perform on Breaking Benjamin's upcoming album. In 2019, Hough hosted the NBC special Return to Downton Abbey: A Grand Event and had emergency surgery for appendicitis. In 2020, he signed a wide-ranging deal with ABC Entertainment, showcasing his versatility and continuing to make an impact in various entertainment realms.
Derek Hough, a professional ballroom dancer, has amassed an estimated net worth of $8 million as of 2023, with a current salary of around $1 million. His career gained prominence through his performances in the dance competition series "Dancing with the Stars" from 2007 to 2016, where he served as both a contestant and a judge. His main source of wealth comes from the dance industry, where he earned around $1200 to $5000 per episode as a support performer for celebrities on the show. Leveraging social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Derek earns thousands of dollars per post. He owns a luxurious house in LA, California, featuring spacious rooms, a large lawn, and an open swimming pool with a breathtaking view over LA, reportedly purchased for $3.45 million. Additionally, Derek's passion for automobiles is evident with his possession of a Mercedes S63 Coupe AMG, estimated to cost between $79,999 and $189,982. Embracing a lavish lifestyle, Derek Hough enjoys the fruits of his successful career earnings.
Derek Hough is currently engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Hayley Erbert, a fellow Dancing with the Stars troupe member. The couple got engaged in June 2022 after dating for nearly 7 years. Their relationship began in 2015, and in August, they were spotted kissing while filming the show's opening in Los Angeles. Hayley shared a video on her social media account in October, featuring them performing a sexy couple dance at her birthday party. Derek and Hayley are happily enjoying their present life together. He identifies as straight when it comes to his sexual orientation.
In the past, Derek has been in relationships with Raquelle Gracie, India de Beaufort, Shannon Elizabeth, Joanna Krupa, Cheryl, Lauren Conrad, Nina Dobrev, Nikki Reed, and Kate Hudson.
Derek Hough, with a height of 5 feet 10 inches and a well-proportioned body weight of 76 kg, boasts an athletic physique that complements his striking blue eyes and blonde hair. His body measurements of 42-32-14.5 (chest-waist-biceps) inches exemplify his fitness dedication. Sporting a shoe size of 10 (US), he takes great care of his health by engaging in regular exercise, contributing to his overall well-being and maintaining a healthy body.
As a personal trainer, Hough maintains his chiseled abs through dance workouts, prioritizing a dynamic warmup, which may include jumping jacks or running in place for a few minutes, before diving into the routines. To achieve comprehensive fitness benefits, he incorporates various strength training exercises, primarily bodyweight movements like squats, lunges, and push-ups, though he sometimes introduces dumbbells for added challenge. Even during his travels, Hough remains committed to his daily exercise regime. If a hotel gym is available, he engages in regular cardio and strength training workouts, but in the absence of one, he improvises with push-ups and sit-ups in his hotel room to break a sweat and stay on track.
Derek Hough's dance journey began at a young age when he started his formal training at 12 years old. From the start, he showed great promise, swiftly excelling in a range of dance styles, from ballroom to jazz and hip-hop. His early passion for dance laid the foundation for his remarkable career as a professional ballroom dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer, achieving tremendous success in the world of entertainment.
Derek Hough hails from a family with a strong dance background, as both of his parents, Marianne and Bruce Hough, are dancers. In addition to his parents, his sister Julianne Hough has also followed in their footsteps and has achieved great success as both a dancer and an actress. With a family deeply rooted in the world of dance, it is no surprise that Derek's passion and talent for dance have flourished, contributing to his impressive career in the entertainment industry.
In addition to his prowess in dance, Derek Hough is also a versatile actor who has made notable appearances in various movies and TV shows. He has showcased his acting talent in projects like "Make Your Move," "Footloose," and "Hairspray Live!" Furthermore, he has made two cameo appearances, one in 2001 in the movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone" and another in the movie "Rock of Ages." Derek's ability to excel in both dance and acting has solidified his position as a multi-talented performer in the entertainment industry.
His journey on "Dancing with the Stars" began with a guest appearance in season four as an instructor alongside his sister Julianne and Apolo Anton Ohno. He officially joined the cast of professional instructors in season five, where he was paired with Jennie Garth. After several successful seasons on the show, Hough announced on July 27, 2012, that season 15 would be his last on the series. Throughout his time on the show, he left a lasting impact with his exceptional dance skills and charismatic presence, solidifying his status as one of the show's most memorable performers and choreographers.
Derek is a highly acclaimed choreographer and dancer, having won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography. His exceptional talent and creativity have earned him a total of eight Emmy Award nominations for his outstanding work on the popular show "Dancing with the Stars." Hough's choreography has consistently impressed both audiences and critics alike, and his Emmy wins are a testament to his remarkable skills and dedication to his craft.