BREAKING NEWS: Dancing With the Stars Shocker—Derek Hough Bows Out as Judge After Explosive Season 34 Finale

In a move that’s sending shockwaves through the ballroom and beyond, ABC announced on November 27, 2025—just two days after the Dancing with the Stars Season 34 finale—that longtime judge Derek Hough will part ways with the show as his contract expires this weekend. The six-time Mirrorball champion, who evolved from dazzling pro dancer to Emmy-winning choreographer and head judge, leaves behind a legacy etched in perfect scores, passionate critiques, and a few too many standing ovations. “Derek’s time on the judges’ panel has been nothing short of magical,” read the network’s official statement. “His expertise, energy, and heart have elevated the show for seven unforgettable seasons. As his contract concludes, we celebrate his extraordinary run and wish him every success in his next adventures.” The timing? Ironic, to say the least—coming hot on the heels of a finale marred by rigging accusations, a viral handshake snub, and the crowning of Robert Irwin amid cries of “injustice.”

Hough’s DWTS odyssey began in 2007 as a fresh-faced pro alongside sister Julianne, the duo turning the floor into a family dynasty. Over 17 seasons as a dancer, he snagged a record six wins—with partners like Brooke Burke, Nicole Scherzinger, and Bindi Irwin in 2015—choreographing routines that blended Latin fire with contemporary soul, earning four Emmys for Outstanding Choreography. His freestyle with Kellie Pickler in Season 16? A Broadway-worthy explosion to “Jailhouse Rock” that had Bruno Tonioli leaping like a man possessed. But it was 2020 when Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews’ exits paved his path to the panel, replacing Len Goodman as head judge. Hough’s tenure injected youth and empathy—his misty-eyed dedications, like tearing up during Bindi’s freestyle tribute to Steve Irwin, became as iconic as his “10 paddles up!” calls. Season 34 alone? He helmed a cast of 12, from Irwin’s khaki-clad quicksteps to Jordan Chiles’ Olympic-fueled pasodobles, dishing 142 perfect 30s across the run.

Yet whispers of his exit bubbled for months, fueled by Hough’s expanding empire. In August 2025, he inked a deal to host Extra, the syndicated entertainment newsmag, replacing Billy Bush starting September 8—mere days before DWTS’ fall premiere. “The ballroom has been my stage, my home, and my launchpad,” he gushed then, assuring fans he’d juggle both gigs like a pro’s triple spin. But insiders tell Variety the dual load proved untenable: Extra‘s daily shoots clashed with DWTS’ grueling Tuesday/Monday filming, especially post his wife’s health scare. Hayley Erbert, Hough’s wife of two years, suffered a cranial hematoma in December 2024 requiring emergency brain surgery; their July 2025 baby announcement (a girl due spring 2026) added family pull. “Derek’s heart is in the dance, but his life is pulling him elsewhere,” a source close to production spills. “The contract was always term-limited—three years as head judge—and with Season 35 prep looming, it was now or never.”

The finale’s fallout only amplified the drama. Season 34, DWTS’ highest-rated in nine years (up 22% in the 18-49 demo, 72 million votes), ended in chaos: Irwin’s 89 edging Chiles’ 89 and Earle’s 90, sparking #DWTSRigged. Hough’s effusive Irwin praise—”Steve’s spirit in every step”—drew fire for “Bindi bias” (he partnered her to victory in 2015), with Chiles’ podium snub (“I don’t shake hands with injustice”) and her post-show clapback freezing the After the Mirrorball set. “Suspicious scoring,” Chiles alleged, pointing to her “micro-pause” deduction (later debunked as lighting) versus Irwin’s glossed “stumble.” Hough defended on GMA November 26: “I’ve judged with heart, not favoritism—Robert’s journey inspired us all.” But the backlash, including petitions for audits (250K signatures), left scars. “The toxicity tipped it,” an exec admits. “Derek’s too positive for this storm.”

Fans are reeling—#ThankYouDerek trended with 1.4 million posts by noon, montages of his desk-flips and “syndrome of the week” gaffes (coined during Mark Ballas’ 2022 win) flooding TikTok. “DWTS without Derek? Like a foxtrot without flair,” wails one viral thread. His impact? Monumental: from mentoring pros like Jenna Johnson (now a mom and choreo queen) to guest spots on Nashville and Hairspray Live!, Hough’s off-floor ventures—Symphony of Dance tour (2026 dates just dropped, presale November 12)—signal no slowdown. “I’m stepping into new spotlights,” he teased in a pre-announcement IG Live, hinting at Extra expansions and a potential World of Dance revival.

ABC’s pivot? Swift. Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli return, with Ribeiro and Julianne Hough hosting—family ties intact. Rumors swirl on a “guest judge rotation”: Ballas for choreography flair, or Emma Slater for fresh energy. Season 35, eyeing a March 2026 premiere to dodge Olympics overlap, teases “bold twists” like viewer-voted elims. But Hough’s void looms large. “He’s the heartbeat,” Inaba posted, a rare vulnerability from the panel’s eternal optimist.

As the weekend contract cliff approaches, Hough’s farewell looms poetic: a man who danced through appendicitis (2019 surgery mid-season) and personal tempests now pirouettes onward. His final episode? A tearjerker special November 29, featuring alums like Val Chmerkovskiy and Rylee Arnold recreating his iconic lifts. “DWTS gave me wings,” Hough reflected in a statement. “I’ll always be in the ballroom—in spirit, if not in sequins.” For a show that’s survived scandals (2019’s Karamo Brown bias claims) and pandemics, losing Hough feels like goodbye to its golden era. Yet in true DWTS fashion, the music plays on—faster, fiercer, forever forward. The judges’ table just got a little quieter, but the dance floor? It’s electric with what’s next.