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Awards
Derek Hough won a record six mirrorball trophies on Dancing with the Stars between 2008 and 2015, partnering celebrities like Jennifer Grey and Nicole Scherzinger. He also earned three Primetime Emmy Awards for his choreography. In 2016, he played Corny Collins in Hairspray Live! on NBC. He returned to DWTS as a judge in 2020. Born in Salt Lake City, he trained at the Italia Conti Academy in London.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Derek Hough — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Derek Hough by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Derek Hough — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
At age 12, Derek Hough moved to London from Salt Lake City, Utah, to train at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. He lived in London for ten years, studying dance and performing arts. His father, Bruce Robert Hough, and mother, Marianne Heaton, supported his passion for dance. His sister Julianne Hough also became a professional dancer. His diverse ancestry includes English, Dutch, French-Canadian, German, Swiss-German, and other European roots.
Derek Hough made his professional stage debut at 18 as Ren McCormick in the musical Footloose at the London Palladium. He joined Dancing with the Stars in its seventh season in 2008, partnering Brooke Burke to win his first mirrorball trophy. He won five more mirrorball trophies: with Nicole Scherzinger season 10, Jennifer Grey season 11, Kellie Pickler season 16, Amber Riley season 17, and Bindi Irwin season 21. In 2016, he portrayed Corny Collins in the NBC live musical Hairspray Live!. He also appeared in the TV series Nashville. In 2020, he returned to Dancing with the Stars as a judge.
Derek Hough has been in a relationship with dancer Hayley Erbert since June 2015. They announced their engagement in June 2022 and married on August 26, 2023. The couple has one child. Previously, he dated actress Shannon Elizabeth, whom he met as a partner on Dancing with the Stars in 2008; they broke up in August 2009. He is also close friends with dancer Mark Ballas and a second cousin of the Lynch siblings.
Derek Hough is the most successful professional dancer in Dancing with the Stars history, holding a record six mirrorball trophies. His choreography has earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Choreography. He inspired a generation of dancers by combining technical precision with creativity. In 2020, he transitioned to a judge role, bringing his expertise to the panel. He is best remembered as the winningest pro on Dancing with the Stars and a versatile performer on stage and screen.
The complete filmography of Derek Hough — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Derek Hough — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Derek Hough — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
The Road Called Someday Leads to a Town Called Nowhere.
You Don’t Have to Be Good at Something in Order to Get Started. You Just Have to Get Started in Order to Be Good at It.
I Believe That Friedrich Nietzsche Had a Superb Point When He Said, That Which Does Not Kill Us, Makes Us Stronger. I’m the First Person to Agree with You That a Nemesis Really Is a Teacher in Disguise, That Conflicts Are Actually Opportunities for Proving Yourself. Most Adversity in Fact Presents Chances for Unlocking Passion, Love, Inner Strength, and Personal Freedom. Just Don’t Be the Guy Who Had One Kung-fu Lesson and Then Strolled into a Barroom Full of Hell’s Angels to Test It Out.
My Sisters – Particularly Julianne – and I Never Fight Among Ourselves, If We Can Avoid It. We Just Have Too Much Admiration, Respect, and Fondness for Each Other. If Jules and I Can’t Agree on How to Do Something Together, Unless We Can Try It Both Ways, We’ll Play Dueling Shoes – Like in DELIVERANCE, Only with Dancing Instead of Banjos – and Whoever Breaks the Rhythm Gives In.
Little-known facts about Derek Hough — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
London called to Derek Hough at age 12, where he lived for 10 years before moving to Los Angeles for Dancing with the Stars.
Through his maternal grandmother, Derek Hough is a second cousin of the Lynch siblings: Ross, Riker, Rocky, Rydel, and Ryland Lynch. Their grandmothers are sisters.
Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough won Dancing with the Stars Season 16 together.
Amber Riley and Derek Hough were crowned champions of Dancing with the Stars Season 17.
Derek Hough has four sisters: Julianne Hough, Katherine Hough, Marabeth Hough Poole, and Sharee Hough.
Brooke Burke and Derek Hough won Dancing with the Stars Season 7.
Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts in London is where Derek Hough attended and graduated.
Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough won Dancing with the Stars Season 10.
Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough won Dancing with the Stars Season 11.
Derek Hough’s first professional role was as Ren McCormick in the musical Footloose; his sister Julianne Hough starred in the 2011 film adaptation.
Derek Hough has eight nieces and nephews: Paris, Willow, Star, Bronson, Quaid, Aidan, Ariana, and Adilyn.
A world champion of Latin and ballroom dancing is Derek Hough’s claim to fame before television.
Mark Ballas is Derek Hough’s best friend.
Since June 2015, Derek Hough has been in a relationship with dancer Hayley Erbert.
Derek Hough is good friends with Cheryl; they met when he choreographed and starred in her music video for Parachute.
Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough ended their relationship on August 8, 2009, after meeting on Dancing with the Stars.
At age 18, Derek Hough debuted in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium and stayed for the final six months of its run.
Derek Hough’s last name is pronounced Huff.
His mother is Marianne Heaton Nelson stepfather Aaron Nelson, and his father is Bruce Robert Hough stepmother Debra Hough.
Derek Hough announced his engagement to Hayley Erbert in June 2022 after nearly 7 years of dating.
Cousin of Lorien Hough-Cord.
His grandparents are Colleen P. H. Cokie Wood and Robert Virgil Hough.
John Hough and Tina Hough, owners of the Roosevelt Hotel in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, are his uncle and aunt.
Uncles: Scott Hough and Charlie Hough.
Brooks Laich is his ex-brother-in-law.
August 26, 2023, he married Hayley Erbert after a 14-month engagement.
Derek Hough makes sounds when he dances.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Derek Hough.
Celebrities similar to Derek Hough — same craft, ranked by reach.
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