Julianne Alexandra Hough is an American dancer, actress, singer, television personality and entrepreneur who has built a career across dance, music, film, television and theatre. Born on July 20, 1988, in Orem, Utah, she became internationally recognised through her work on Dancing with the Stars, where she won two championships as a professional dancer before expanding into acting, music and television presenting.
Hough became one of the most recognisable professional dancers on American television after joining Dancing with the Stars in 2007. Her success on the programme helped establish her as an entertainment personality beyond ballroom dancing, leading to opportunities in film, country music, television judging and Broadway.
Over the course of her career, Hough has appeared in films including Burlesque, Footloose, Rock of Ages and Safe Haven, released music, served as a judge on Dancing with the Stars and America’s Got Talent, and made her Broadway debut in POTUS in 2022. She has also developed businesses and wellness projects, including KINRGY, a movement and wellness platform she founded.
Julianne Hough Early Life
Julianne Alexandra Hough was born on July 20, 1988, in Orem, Utah, to Bruce and Marianne Hough. She is the youngest of five children and grew up alongside her brother Derek Hough and three older sisters. Dance was already part of her family background, as all four of her grandparents were dancers.
Hough began formal dance training at the Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Orem and started competing in dance at a young age. After her parents divorced, Julianne and her brother Derek moved to London when she was ten so they could receive intensive dance training under Corky and Shirley Ballas.
During her years in England, Hough trained extensively in ballroom and other performance disciplines and competed internationally. She and Derek later returned to the United States when Julianne was a teenager, after which she continued developing her dance and performance career while completing her secondary education.
Julianne Hough Education
Julianne Hough received much of her early education through specialised performing arts training. After moving to London, she attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, where she studied dance, theatre, gymnastics and other performance disciplines while competing internationally.
Her training at Italia Conti played a significant role in developing her technical abilities as a dancer. During this period, she and Derek trained under Corky and Shirley Ballas and competed in prestigious international dance competitions, including competitions associated with Blackpool.
After returning to the United States, Hough attended the Las Vegas Academy before completing her high school education at Alta High School in Utah. She graduated from Alta High School in 2006 and did not pursue a conventional university degree, instead continuing directly into professional entertainment.
Julianne Hough Career
Julianne Hough began building her professional entertainment career through dance and television appearances. Before becoming a household name, she appeared as one of the Million Dollar Dancers on the ABC game show Show Me the Money in 2006. In 2007, she joined Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer and quickly became one of the programme’s most successful competitors.
Hough won Dancing with the Stars twice, taking the championship with Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno and later with Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves. Her achievements on the programme earned her Emmy recognition for choreography, and she became the youngest professional dancer to win the competition twice.
Hough subsequently expanded into music and acting. She released her self titled country music album in 2008, which reached number one on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Her film career included roles in Burlesque, Footloose, Rock of Ages and Safe Haven, establishing her as an actress as well as a dancer and singer.
Her television career continued to expand after she stepped away from professional competition on Dancing with the Stars. She returned to the programme as a judge from 2014 to 2017 and later became a judge on America’s Got Talent. In 2022, she made her Broadway debut in POTUS and also co hosted The Tony Awards: Act One.
Hough returned to Dancing with the Stars as a co host in 2023 alongside Alfonso Ribeiro and continued developing projects outside television. She founded KINRGY, a movement and wellness platform, and co founded Ovation, a dance convention and competition tour with her brother Derek. In 2026, she also returned to film in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride!, playing Iris and Jinx.
Julianne Hough Returns as Dancing with the Stars Season 35 Co Host
Julianne Hough is currently attracting attention following the September 2026 premiere of Dancing with the Stars Season 35, in which she returned as co host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro. ABC announced Hough and Ribeiro as the hosts for the new season, which began with a two night premiere on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The Season 35 premiere brought Hough back into the centre of live television coverage as the programme introduced a new group of celebrity contestants. During the first night, Hough also participated in a surprise dance performance, while the show featured performances from contestants including Harry Shum Jr., Tyler Cameron and Ezra Frech.
The premiere also attracted attention after Dancing with the Stars experienced technical problems with its online voting system. Hough announced during the broadcast that online voting had crashed, and viewers were subsequently instructed to use text voting. The issue affected the first night’s voting process, with online votes ultimately being disregarded for that evening.
Julianne Hough Personal Life
Julianne Hough has been involved in several high profile relationships throughout her career. She previously dated country musician Chuck Wicks and later had a relationship with television personality Ryan Seacrest. She subsequently became engaged to Canadian professional ice hockey player Brooks Laich, whom she married in 2017.
Hough and Laich separated in May 2020 after nearly three years of marriage. Hough filed for divorce later that year, and their divorce was officially finalised in June 2022. The couple did not have children together.
In 2026, Hough continued to describe herself as open to future relationships while focusing on her career, personal development and other projects. Her former husband Brooks Laich married athlete Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir in August 2026, and Hough publicly reacted to the marriage.
Julianne Hough Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Julianne Hough was born on July 20, 1988, making her 38 years old in 2026. She was born in Orem, Utah, in the United States and is American by nationality. Her career has taken her from competitive ballroom dancing into television, film, music, Broadway and entrepreneurship.
Hough was raised in a Mormon family, although her current religious affiliation is not clearly documented in reliable recent public sources. Her religious upbringing formed part of her childhood in Utah, but it should not automatically be treated as a statement of her present beliefs.
Julianne Hough is commonly listed at approximately 5 feet 3 inches, or 1.60 metres, tall. She is recognised for her athletic dancer’s physique, blonde hair and expressive performance style, which have remained part of her public image throughout her career.
Julianne Hough Social Media Presence
Julianne Hough maintains an active social media presence where she shares updates about her television work, dance, wellness projects, travel, personal experiences and entertainment career. Her public Instagram account is @juleshough, where she has built a large audience around her work and lifestyle content.
Her social media presence has also allowed her to connect her entertainment career with her wellness and movement projects. Through digital platforms, she regularly promotes dance, creativity, personal expression and projects connected to her professional work.
Julianne Hough Net Worth
Julianne Hough’s exact net worth has not been officially disclosed. Her income has been generated through several areas of entertainment, including professional dancing, television hosting and judging, acting, music, choreography, Broadway performances and business ventures.
Public estimates of Hough’s wealth vary. Celebrity Net Worth has estimated her fortune at approximately $12 million, while another 2026 estimate places her net worth at approximately $10 million. These figures are estimates rather than verified financial disclosures.
Based on her decades long career across television, film, music, Broadway and entrepreneurship, an estimated net worth of approximately $10 million to $12 million is a reasonable range to cite cautiously. Her continuing work as a Dancing with the Stars host, entertainment professional and entrepreneur provides additional sources of income.
Julianne Hough Legacy
Julianne Hough’s legacy is strongly connected to the expansion of ballroom dancing into mainstream American entertainment. Her two championship victories on Dancing with the Stars helped establish her as one of the programme’s most successful professional dancers and contributed to her transition into television, acting and music.
Her influence extends beyond competitive dance. Hough successfully moved between television, film, country music, Broadway and wellness entrepreneurship, demonstrating the range of opportunities available to performers who develop skills across multiple entertainment disciplines. Her Emmy winning choreography and later hosting and judging roles further expanded her professional profile.
Hough’s career also includes a strong connection to movement and wellness through KINRGY and her continuing involvement in dance projects. Her return to film in The Bride! and ongoing role on Dancing with the Stars demonstrate her continued presence across different areas of entertainment.
Conclusion
Julianne Hough is an American dancer, actress, singer, television host and entrepreneur whose career has developed from competitive ballroom dancing into a broad entertainment career. Best known for her championship success on Dancing with the Stars, she has expanded into film, music, Broadway, television judging, hosting and wellness entrepreneurship. In 2026, she remains closely associated with Dancing with the Stars as co host while also returning to the big screen in The Bride!, continuing a career that spans more than two decades.
Frequently Asked Questions About Julianne Hough
Who is Julianne Hough?
Julianne Hough is an American dancer, actress, singer, television host and entrepreneur best known for Dancing with the Stars.
How old is Julianne Hough?
Julianne Hough was born on July 20, 1988, making her 38 years old in 2026.
Where was Julianne Hough born?
Julianne Hough was born in Orem, Utah, United States.
What is Julianne Hough known for?
Julianne Hough is best known for winning Dancing with the Stars twice as a professional dancer. She is also known for her acting, music, television hosting, choreography and Broadway work.
Is Julianne Hough married?
No. Julianne Hough is divorced. She was previously married to former professional hockey player Brooks Laich, and their divorce was finalised in 2022.
Who was Julianne Hough’s husband?
Julianne Hough’s former husband is Brooks Laich, a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. They married in 2017 and finalised their divorce in 2022.
Does Julianne Hough have children?
Julianne Hough does not have children from her marriage to Brooks Laich.
What is Julianne Hough’s nationality?
Julianne Hough is American. She was born in Utah in the United States.
What religion is Julianne Hough?
Julianne Hough was raised in a Mormon family. Her current religious affiliation has not been clearly documented in reliable recent public sources.
How tall is Julianne Hough?
Julianne Hough is commonly listed as approximately 5 feet 3 inches, or 1.60 metres, tall.
What is Julianne Hough’s Instagram handle?
Julianne Hough’s Instagram handle is @juleshough.
Is Julianne Hough still on Dancing with the Stars?
Yes. Julianne Hough continues to serve as a co host of Dancing with the Stars alongside Alfonso Ribeiro. She returned for Season 35, which premiered in September 2026.
When did Julianne Hough join Dancing with the Stars?
Julianne Hough joined Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer in 2007. She later returned as a judge and eventually became a co host.
How many times did Julianne Hough win Dancing with the Stars?
Julianne Hough won Dancing with the Stars twice as a professional dancer. She won with Apolo Ohno and Helio Castroneves.
What movies has Julianne Hough been in?
Julianne Hough has appeared in films including Burlesque, Footloose, Rock of Ages and Safe Haven. She also appeared in the 2026 film The Bride! as Iris and Jinx.
What happened to Julianne Hough’s marriage?
Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich separated in May 2020. Hough filed for divorce later that year, and their divorce was finalised in June 2022.
What is Julianne Hough’s net worth?
Julianne Hough’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Public estimates place her wealth at approximately $10 million to $12 million, based on her long career in television, film, music, dance and entrepreneurship.
What is Julianne Hough doing in 2026?
In 2026, Julianne Hough is continuing as a co host of Dancing with the Stars and returned to film in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride!, in which she plays Iris and Jinx.