LOS ANGELES, December 7, 2025 – It was a moment that stopped time under the glittering chandeliers of the Dolby Theatre. The world of entertainment fell silent as Julianne Hough, the radiant two-time Dancing with the Stars champion and Emmy-winning choreographer, stepped to the microphone during a live taping of Dancing with the Stars: Holiday Special, her voice trembling as she delivered a devastating family announcement that left fans worldwide in tears and the industry reeling in shock.
Flanked by her husband, Brooks Laich, and her brother Derek Hough – her partner in triumphs from DWTS to Broadway’s Footloose – Julianne gripped the podium, her signature blonde waves framing a face etched with unimaginable grief. “We’ve danced through so much joy together,” she began, her words cracking like fragile glass. “But tonight… tonight, I have to tell you something that breaks my heart.” The audience of 3,500 – filled with lifelong supporters who had cheered her from Utah’s dance studios to the Mirrorball Trophy wins in Seasons 19 and 25 – sat in stunned hush. Cameras captured every quiver: the red-rimmed eyes of fellow pros Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson, the frozen shock of host Alfonso Ribeiro.
“This isn’t about the show,” Julianne continued, tears spilling freely now. “It’s about family. It’s about my beautiful sister-in-law, Hayley Hough.” Gasps rippled through the theatre. Hayley Hough, Derek’s wife of three years and Julianne’s beloved “sister” since their DWTS family days, had been battling a rare, aggressive form of ovarian cancer in secret for 18 months. Diagnosed at stage IV just after welcoming their daughter Annalise in 2023, Hayley had fought with the same fierce grace that defined her performances. But on December 5, surrounded by the Hough clan at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, she took her final breath at 36.
“Hayley was our light,” Julianne sobbed, clutching a delicate silver locket engraved with “Dance Forever” – a gift from Hayley during Julianne’s 2023 DWTS hosting debut. “She taught us to spin through the pain, to lift each other higher. She held Annalise for the last time yesterday and whispered, ‘Keep dancing, baby girl.’ We’re shattered… but we’re going to honor her by living every step she dreamed for us.”
The announcement, aired live to 12 million viewers, ignited a global wave of grief. #HayleyHough and #DanceForHayley trended instantly, amassing 250 million impressions within hours. Fans flooded Times Square with impromptu dance circles, pros from Strictly Come Dancing in London paused rehearsals for a tearful tribute waltz, and Bollywood stars in Mumbai recreated Hayley’s viral DWTS freestyle to “Unstoppable.” Outside the Dolby, thousands gathered, lighting phone screens like stars, swaying to “A Thousand Years” – the song Hayley and Derek danced to at their 2022 wedding.
Hayley Erbert Hough wasn’t just Derek’s partner; she was the heartbeat of the Hough empire. A DWTS pro since Season 19, her contemporary solos earned standing ovations and a 2021 Emmy nod for choreography. Married to Derek in a starlit Malibu ceremony attended by Julianne, Brooks, and Mark Ballas, she became a mother amid chemo, refusing to let cancer dim her smile. “I danced with death and won every round,” she posted in October, sharing ultrasound photos alongside treatment selfies. Her final Instagram, timestamped December 4, read: “If I go before you, keep the music playing. Love you eternal, Derek. Love you fierce, Julianne. Annalise – Mommy’s sparkle lives in you.”
Julianne’s courage in that spotlight echoed her own battles: the 2022 PTSD diagnosis after a traumatic divorce filing (later reconciled with Brooks), the 2019 surgery for endometriosis that threatened her fertility. “Hayley was my warrior sister through it all,” she told People exclusively post-announcement. “We’d FaceTime from hospital beds, laughing about bad Jell-O, planning Annalise’s first dance class. Losing her… it’s like losing half my rhythm.”
Derek, 40, took the mic next, voice raw: “Hayley made me believe in forever. She choreographed our life. Now, we’ll dance it for her.” He revealed Hayley’s last wish: a global “Dance for Hayley” relay, where fans upload videos to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. Already, 50,000 submissions poured in – from DWTS alums Witney Carson twirling with her toddler to global fans in 147 countries.
The industry response was seismic. ABC paused DWTS promotions, dedicating the next episode to Hayley. Tyra Banks, who mentored Julianne on America’s Got Talent, flew in for a private family vigil. Even rivals like The Masked Singer dimmed lights in tribute. Brooks Laich, the NHL star turned podcaster, posted a photo of the couples’ last double-date: “Hayley, you skated into our hearts on blades of fire. Rest in rhythm.”
As the special ended, the cast formed a tear-streaked ensemble for Hayley’s signature routine to “Rise Up.” Julianne, center stage, lifted tiny Annalise – now in Marissa’s arms – and danced. The Mirrorball, glowing behind them, cast eternal sparkles.
In a world of scripted drama, Julianne Hough reminded us: real life pirouettes through profound loss. Hayley’s legacy? A family unbroken, a spotlight undimmed, and millions inspired to dance on – for her, forever.
