Some performers stick to one lane their whole career. Julianne Hough has spent hers refusing to sit still. She started as a ballroom dance champion, became a movie star, wrote a novel, built a wellness company, and along the way, found the courage to speak honestly about her marriage, her health, and who she really is. That kind of constant reinvention takes real guts.
Quick Bio: Julianne Hough at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Julianne Alexandra Hough |
| Born | July 20, 1988 |
| Birthplace | Orem, Utah |
| Age (as of 2026) | 37 years old |
| Family Background | Youngest of five children, raised Mormon |
| Parents | Bruce and Marianne Hough |
| Father’s Career | Twice chairman of the Utah Republican Party; ran for Congress in 2023 |
| Brother | Derek Hough, fellow “Dancing With the Stars” pro and judge |
| “DWTS” Career | Two-time champion pro; youngest pro to win twice; judge (2014-2017); current co-host with Alfonso Ribeiro |
| Film Credits | “Burlesque,” “Footloose” (2011), “Rock of Ages,” “Safe Haven,” “Paradise” |
| Broadway Credit | “POTUS” (2022) |
| TV Special | Sandy in FOX’s “Grease Live!” |
| Upcoming Film | “The Bride,” directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal (2026) |
| Wellness Company | KINRGY, launched 2020, flagship studio opened in West Hollywood in 2024 |
| Dance Convention | Ovation, co-founded with brother Derek Hough, launching 2026 |
| Author | Debut novel “Everything We Never Knew,” co-written with Ellen Goodlett, released 2024 |
| Husband/Ex-Husband | Brooks Laich, retired NHL player |
| Married | 2017 |
| Separated | 2020 |
| Divorce Finalized | 2022 |
| Health Condition | Endometriosis, discussed publicly |
| Sexuality | Publicly identifies as “not straight,” discussed since 2019 |
A Utah Childhood Built Around Dance
Julianne Alexandra Hough was born in Orem, Utah, on July 20, 1988. She was the youngest of five children, raised in a devout Mormon household by her parents, Bruce and Marianne Hough.
Her father, Bruce, wasn’t just involved in raising his kids. He served twice as chairman of the Utah Republican Party and even ran for Utah’s 2nd congressional district in 2023, showing that political engagement ran deep in the family, even as Julianne’s own path headed in a completely different direction.
Growing Up With Derek Hough
Julianne isn’t the only Hough sibling who found fame through dance. Her brother, Derek Hough, became one of the most recognized professional dancers and judges on “Dancing With the Stars” in his own right.
Growing up surrounded by that level of shared passion and talent clearly shaped both of their paths. Decades later, the two would even become business partners, co-founding a dance convention together as adults.
Becoming a Two-Time Champion
Julianne first captured national attention on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” where she became a two-time champion as a professional dancer. She holds the distinction of being the youngest pro to win the competition twice.
That’s a genuinely impressive achievement, especially on a show where competition partners change every season and consistency at that level requires real, sustained skill rather than a single lucky pairing.
From Judge to Co-Host
After her run as a competing professional, Julianne returned to “Dancing With the Stars” as a judge from 2014 to 2017. Years later, she came back once again, this time stepping into the co-host role alongside Alfonso Ribeiro, continuing into her third season as co-host starting in fall 2025.
That’s three completely different roles on the same show across more than a decade: competitor, judge, and now host. Few performers manage to stay relevant on a single program across that many different capacities.
Making the Leap From Ballroom to Film
Julianne didn’t stay confined to dance competitions for long. She made a genuinely smooth transition into film, starring opposite Cher in “Burlesque,” headlining the 2011 remake of “Footloose,” and appearing in “Rock of Ages,” “Safe Haven,” and Diablo Cody’s “Paradise.”
These weren’t small, forgettable roles either. Footloose especially placed her in the spotlight as the lead of a reboot of a beloved franchise—a bold step for someone who had built her reputation as a dancer rather than as a professionally trained actress.
Bringing Sandy to Life on Live Television
In one of her most memorable television performances, Julianne played Sandy in FOX’s live broadcast of “Grease Live!,” a production that went on to win an Emmy. Live television musicals are notoriously difficult, since there’s no room for editing mistakes or reshoots.
Pulling off a role as iconic as Sandy, live, in front of a national audience, without the safety net of a traditional film shoot, says a lot about her confidence and preparation as a performer.
Taking On Broadway
In 2022, Julianne expanded her range even further, starring in Selina Fillinger’s sharp political comedy “POTUS” on Broadway. Stepping onto a Broadway stage represents a completely different kind of performance discipline than television or film, with eight shows a week and zero room for retakes.
More recently, in June 2026, she hinted strongly at another possible Broadway return during an interview with BroadwayWorld at the Tony Awards. When asked directly about coming back to the stage, she teased, “You might be hearing something soon. So, we’ll see,” sparking immediate excitement among fans hoping for a follow-up announcement.
Building KINRGY From the Ground Up
Beyond acting and dancing, Julianne has built a genuine entrepreneurial career. In 2020, she introduced KINRGY, a wellness and movement platform centered on dance, choreography, energy practices, and creative self-expression.
What started as a digital community eventually became something bigger. In 2024, KINRGY opened its first physical flagship studio in West Hollywood, marking a real transition from an online concept into a tangible, in-person business.
Partnering With Her Brother on Ovation
Julianne and her brother Derek co-founded Ovation together, described as an innovative dance convention and competition set to tour major U.S. cities, with a formal launch planned for 2026. Mentoring young performers has clearly been a meaningful, ongoing priority for Julianne throughout her career, and Ovation gives that mission a concrete, large-scale platform.
Working alongside her own brother on a project like this adds a genuinely personal layer to the business, blending family history with professional ambition.
Becoming a Published Author
In 2024, Julianne released her debut novel, “Everything We Never Knew,” co-written with author Ellen Goodlett and published in partnership with Temple Hill Entertainment. The story centers on a woman embracing her own power against difficult odds, and Julianne has said it draws directly from her own life and emotional journey.
Writing a novel is a genuinely different creative muscle than dance, acting, or hosting, and choosing to draw from her own real experiences shows a real willingness to be vulnerable in yet another new format.
Meeting and Marrying Brooks Laich
Julianne began dating Brooks Laich, a retired Canadian NHL player, in 2014, when she was 25 years old. The two eventually got married in 2017, following a period of long-distance dating while Julianne was based in Los Angeles and Brooks was in Washington, D.C.
She’s since spoken candidly about how she deprioritized her own needs during that stretch, saying, “I would go back and forth to DC every other week, and I stopped taking care of what I wanted to do.”
Opening Up About Her Sexuality
In a 2019 interview with Women’s Health, while still married to Laich, Julianne revealed a conversation she’d had with her husband that marked the first time she publicly addressed her sexuality. She remembered saying to him, “You do know I’m not straight, don’t you?” He looked surprised and replied, “Wait, what?” Her answer was simple: “I’m not. I just choose to be with you.”
She’s spoken about the safety she felt within her marriage that allowed her to begin exploring parts of her identity she’d previously felt shame or fear around, something she’s directly connected to her strict Mormon upbringing.
Reflecting on Coming Out, Years Later
Five years after that initial 2019 revelation, Julianne revisited the topic during an August 2024 appearance on “The Jamie Kern Lima Show” podcast. She reflected, “Coming out is one of the most vulnerable and empowering things that you can do,” adding, “it’s not about being straight or gay or bi or queer. It’s more about, I think I’m just learning what love is, and I love people.”
That’s a genuinely thoughtful way to describe an ongoing personal journey, rather than treating sexuality as a single, fixed label to announce once and never revisit.
The Marriage Beginning to Unravel
Despite the openness in their relationship, cracks eventually appeared in Julianne and Brooks’s marriage. Rumors of a potential split began circulating around the end of one year, fueled partly by Julianne posting Instagram photos of herself decorating a Christmas tree alone, without her wedding ring visible.
The couple briefly quieted those rumors with a public embrace at an airport, caught on camera. But the underlying tension didn’t fully disappear, and bigger changes were still ahead.
Separation and Eventual Divorce
Julianne and Brooks officially separated after nearly three years of marriage. They attempted a reconciliation before Julianne ultimately filed for divorce in November 2020, roughly five months after their initial separation became public.
The divorce was finalized in 2022, closing out a marriage that had lasted almost five years total. Neither Julianne nor Brooks commented extensively on the filing itself, though Julianne posted a Nelson Mandela quote to her Instagram Stories around that time: “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”
How Julianne Has Talked About the Divorce Since
Rather than treating the divorce as something purely painful or regrettable, Julianne has spoken about it with a surprising sense of peace. On the “Armchair Expert” podcast, she said plainly, “I feel like our relationship and our marriage was exactly right, and the end of it is right too.”
That’s a genuinely mature perspective, framing both the marriage and its ending as meaningful rather than as a failure to be ashamed of.
Staying Friends and Reuniting at Family Events
Despite the divorce, Julianne and Brooks have remained on good terms. They reunited at her brother Derek Hough’s wedding to Hayley Erbert in August 2023, held in Monterey County, California, showing that their connection didn’t turn bitter after their split.
Brooks has since moved forward in his own life and is now engaged to Icelandic CrossFit athlete Katrín Davíðsdóttir. The two exes reportedly remain friends, a genuinely rare outcome for a marriage that played out so publicly.
Her Life After Divorce
Two years after finalizing her divorce, Julianne gave People magazine an update on her love life in July 2024. She described herself as single at the time, saying, “Look, my heart is open,” and adding that she was “ready for whatever is right,” while also making clear she wouldn’t force a relationship that didn’t feel genuine.
She described her general state as “very happy,” emphasizing that any future relationship would need to be “something really special” rather than something she settled into out of habit or pressure.
Talking Openly About Endometriosis
Beyond her relationship history, Julianne has also spoken candidly about living with endometriosis, a painful reproductive health condition. She’s discussed how the condition can make intimacy “really frustrating,” bringing real visibility to a health issue that affects millions of women but often goes undiscussed publicly.
That kind of openness fits a consistent pattern throughout her adult life: choosing honesty over silence, even when the topic is uncomfortable or deeply personal.
Hosting New Year’s Eve With Ryan Seacrest
Julianne’s career has also included hosting work beyond “Dancing With the Stars.” She joined Ryan Seacrest’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” broadcast, co-hosting the Las Vegas segment alongside former NFL player Rob Gronkowski, as ABC and Dick Clark Productions rang in a recent New Year with multiple simultaneous broadcasts across different cities.
Interestingly, Julianne and Ryan Seacrest were previously linked romantically years earlier, adding a small layer of personal history to their professional collaboration on the broadcast.
Her Upcoming Return to Film
Looking ahead, Julianne is set to return to film in 2026 with a role in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s highly anticipated project, “The Bride.” Details about her specific role haven’t been widely publicized yet, but her involvement alone has generated real excitement given Gyllenhaal’s growing reputation as a director.
This upcoming role represents yet another chapter in a film career that’s spanned musicals, romantic dramas, and now, apparently, whatever genre “The Bride” turns out to be.
Why Her Story Keeps Resonating
Julianne Hough’s career doesn’t fit into one neat box, and that’s exactly what makes her story compelling. She’s been a champion dancer, a judge, a host, a film actress, a Broadway performer, an entrepreneur, and now a published author, all while being remarkably honest about her health, her marriage, and her own evolving understanding of herself.
That combination of professional range and personal transparency is genuinely rare among performers who’ve stayed in the public eye for as long as she has.
Final Words
Julianne Hough’s story starts in a devout Mormon household in Orem, Utah, and stretches through ballroom championships, Hollywood films, Broadway stages, a wellness empire, a published novel, and a very public marriage and divorce that she’s chosen to discuss with unusual honesty. Over the years, she has spoken candidly about her sexuality, her health challenges, and her continuing pursuit of meaningful relationships instead of presenting a carefully polished public persona.
Whatever comes next, whether it’s a Broadway comeback, her role in “The Bride,” or the official launch of Ovation, Julianne has built a career defined by constant reinvention and real openness. That’s a genuinely rare combination, and it’s exactly why people keep paying attention to whatever she does next.
FAQ About Julianne Hough
Q1. How old is Julianne Hough?
She was born on July 20, 1988, in Orem, Utah, making her 37 years old as of 2026.
Q2. Is Julianne Hough related to Derek Hough?
Yes, Derek Hough is her brother, also a professional dancer and judge on “Dancing With the Stars.” They’ve also become business partners through their dance convention, Ovation.
Q3. What roles has Julianne Hough had on Dancing With the Stars?
She’s been a two-time champion professional dancer, a judge from 2014 to 2017, and is currently a co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro, with her third season as host starting in fall 2025.
Q4. What movies has Julianne Hough starred in?
Her film credits include “Burlesque,” the 2011 remake of “Footloose,” “Rock of Ages,” “Safe Haven,” and “Paradise.” She’s set to appear in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Bride” in 2026.
Q5. Was Julianne Hough married?
Yes, she was married to retired NHL player Brooks Laich from 2017 until their divorce was finalized in 2022.
Q6. Why did Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich divorce?
The specific reasons weren’t fully detailed publicly, though Julianne has spoken about personal growth and evolving identity during the marriage. She’s described the divorce as feeling “right,” rather than framing it as a failure.
Q7. Are Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich still friends?
Yes, they’ve remained on good terms and were seen together at her brother Derek’s wedding in August 2023. Brooks is now engaged to Icelandic CrossFit athlete Katrín Davíðsdóttir.
Q8. Has Julianne Hough discussed her sexuality publicly?
Yes, she first addressed it in a 2019 Women’s Health interview, describing herself as “not straight,” and has continued discussing her evolving understanding of her sexuality in interviews since.
Q9. What health condition has Julianne Hough spoken about?
She’s discussed living with endometriosis, a painful reproductive health condition, and how it has affected her intimate life.
Q10. What is KINRGY?
It’s a movement and wellness platform Julianne launched in 2020, focused on self-expression through dance and energy work. It opened its first physical studio in West Hollywood in 2024.
Q11. What is Ovation?
It’s a dance convention and competition Julianne co-founded with her brother Derek Hough, set to formally launch and tour major U.S. cities in 2026.
Q12. Has Julianne Hough written a book?
Yes, her debut novel, “Everything We Never Knew,” co-written with Ellen Goodlett, was released in 2024 and draws inspiration from her own life experiences.
Q13. Is Julianne Hough returning to Broadway?
As of June 2026, she hinted strongly at a possible return during a Tony Awards interview, saying, “You might be hearing something soon,” though no official announcement had been made at that time.
Q14. Did Julianne Hough date Ryan Seacrest?
Yes, they were previously romantically linked years before later working together professionally, including co-hosting a New Year’s Eve broadcast together.
Q15. What is Julianne Hough’s family background?
She was raised in a strict Mormon household in Orem, Utah, as the youngest of five children. Her father, Bruce Hough, served twice as chairman of the Utah Republican Party and ran for Congress in 2023.
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