In a bombshell announcement that’s rippling through the entertainment world like a freestyle drop gone viral, ABC confirmed on November 27, 2025—just 48 hours after the confetti-soaked chaos of Dancing with the Stars Season 34 finale—that Julianne Hough will part ways with the show as her contract expires this weekend. The 37-year-old triple-threat—dancer, singer, actress, and eternal ballroom darling—steps away from her co-hosting perch alongside Alfonso Ribeiro after three electrifying seasons, closing a chapter that began with her as a teenage pro in 2007. “Julianne has been the sparkling heartbeat of DWTS, infusing every moment with her unmatched charisma, expertise, and joy,” the network’s statement read. “As her time with us concludes, we honor her profound impact and eagerly anticipate her dazzling future endeavors.” The exit, timed amid the finale’s lingering scandals—rigging cries, a podium handshake snub, and Robert Irwin’s razor-thin win—feels less like a graceful exit and more like a cha-cha into the unknown.

Hough’s DWTS saga is the stuff of showbiz legend, a full-circle arc spanning nearly two decades. She burst onto the scene in Season 4 (2007) at 19, the youngest pro ever, partnering Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno to a Mirrorball victory with a freestyle that fused ice-rink precision and Latin fire. She repeated the feat in Season 5 with Hélio Castroneves, her samba hips and storytelling flair earning her the “youngest winner” moniker twice over. Through Seasons 4-8, Hough choreographed routines that redefined the pro-celeb dynamic—think her paso doble with Mark Ballas in Season 6, a matador masterpiece that had Len Goodman dubbing her “a force of nature.” She bowed out in 2009 for Broadway (Footloose) and Hollywood (Burlesque, Safe Haven), but returned as a judge in Seasons 19-21 (2014-2015), her critiques blending tough love with empathy, like gushing over Corbin Bleu while nudging his footwork. A guest judge stint in Season 23 (2016) preceded her full exit for NBC’s America’s Got Talent and her 2017 marriage to NHL star Brooks Laich (divorced 2022).

The hosting era? Pure reinvention. After Tyra Banks’ 2023 departure amid ratings dips, Hough slid into the co-host slot for Season 32 alongside Ribeiro, elevated to lead. Their chemistry—her bubbly banter offsetting his Carlton-funk flair—reinvigorated the show, boosting viewership 15% in the 18-49 demo. Season 34, marking DWTS’ 20th anniversary, was her swan song: live-streamed on ABC and Disney+ from September 16, it shattered records with 72 million finale votes, a diverse cast (Irwin’s khaki conquests, Chiles’ gymnast grit, Earle’s TikTok tangoes), and Hough’s signature moments—like her emotional Week 6 dedication to Hayley Erbert (Derek’s wife, post-brain surgery) during a Phil Collins medley. “This show’s family—it’s in my DNA,” she reflected in a Deadline interview days before the finale, teasing a three-hour spectacle with Wicked-themed dances and Flavor Flav as guest judge. Yet, amid the glamour, cracks showed: her on-air pivot during Chiles’ “injustice” clapback in the post-finale talk show drew side-eye for seeming “too polished.”

Whispers of her departure simmered for months, rooted in Hough’s exploding empire. In April 2025, she told TV Insider she’d nix a pro dancer return—”I don’t know how I could do both” hosting and competing—hinting at bandwidth woes. Her slate? A killer: starring in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s untitled IMAX thriller (filming wrapped October 2025, release eyed for 2027), expanding her KINERGY fitness empire (West Hollywood studio opened March 2024, app downloads up 40% post-DWTS promo), and a Symphony of Dance tour extension with brother Derek for 2026. Add Broadway’s POTUS (2022 debut) and Tony Awards hosting (2022 with Darren Criss), and it’s clear: Hough’s a mogul in motion. Insiders peg family as the clincher—post-divorce, she’s prioritizing “balance,” per a source to Us Weekly, echoing her skipping the 2025 live tour for “holiday reset.” “The finale’s intensity—scandals, votes, that handshake freeze—crystallized it,” the insider adds. “Julz loves the ballroom, but life’s calling louder.”

The timing stings, dovetailing with Season 34’s tempests. Irwin’s 89 edging Chiles’ 89 and Earle’s 90 sparked #DWTSRigged fury, with Hough’s finale banter (“What a night of heart and hustle!”) clashing against Chiles’ podium nod (“I don’t shake hands with injustice”) and her talk-show salvo that left Ribeiro scrambling. Fans dissected Hough’s “neutral” smile during the exchange, some branding it “tone-deaf,” others praising her poise. Petitions for score audits (now 280K signatures) and Derek’s own exit whispers (his Extra hosting gig clashing schedules) paint a panel in flux. “Julz was the glue,” a former pro tells E! News. “Without her, it’s Alfonso solo—brilliant, but different vibes.”

Fandom’s fracturing: #ThankYouJulianne trended with 1.9 million posts by evening, fanvids splicing her Season 4 samba with hosting highlights like her Wicked night twirl (choreographed by Jenna Johnson). “DWTS without Julz? Like a tango without tension,” laments a TikTok thread hitting 5 million views. Her impact? Seismic: from youngest winner to co-host who greenlit diverse casts (Season 34’s first Black finalists, gymnast glow-ups), she’s mentored pros like Rylee Arnold and boosted inclusivity—her KINERGY app now integrates DWTS-inspired “mindful moves.” Off-floor, she’s a wellness warrior: Juicy Fruit ads (2008), holiday EP (Sounds of the Season), and AGT judging (2017-2021).

ABC’s next steps? Ribeiro stays as sole host, per insiders, with Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli returning—Derek’s status TBD amid his Hayley-focused family pivot. Season 35, renewed for 2025-26 (first unscripted lock-in), eyes a March premiere to dodge Olympics, teasing “viewer-voted twists” and guest hosts like Mark Ballas. Hough’s farewell? A November 29 special: alums recreating her iconic lifts, with a Tom Bergeron reunion (their November 10 IG pics already melted hearts). “The ballroom’s my roots, but I’m branching out,” she posted, a Mary Poppins-esque umbrella snap captioning her pivot. From London dance exile at 10 (with Derek under coaches Corky and Shirley Ballas) to EGOT whispers, Hough’s no stranger to reinvention.

For a show that’s tangoed through Tom Bergeron’s 2020 ouster and pandemic pivots, Hough’s bow feels bittersweet—a mirrorball dimming amid scandal’s glare. Yet her spark endures: in every hip swivel she taught, every tear she shared during dedications. As Ribeiro quipped post-finale, “Julz doesn’t leave—she just takes the encore.” The dance floor awaits her return, but for now, the Hough era hosts its final bow. Cue the standing O.