.jpg)
5 hours ago
2
Derek Hough Shares Precious Look at Wife Hayley Erbert's Growing Baby Bump
Derek Hough may take the lead when twirling Hayley Erbert around the dance floor, but they're navigating life side-by-side, one step at a time.
And not just as a professional team, the couple touring three times last year following Hayley's hearteningly speedy recovery from emergency skull surgery to treat a cranial hematoma she suffered in December 2023.
The in-sickness-and-in-health portion of their vows was put to the test only four months after they tied the knot. And there wasn't a dry eye in the house (including hers and Derek's) when she returned to Dancing With the Stars last October, partnering with her husband on a routine set to Benson Boone's "Beautiful Things."
"We've had a full marriage already, just in a year and a half," Derek quipped to E! News in March of spending all that time in hold with his wife. "We found a really good balance. We love it. We're actually really fortunate. We were just being grateful every day. There's so much to be grateful for."
But while they were pros at the pas de deux, they're now rehearsing for a dance party of three, the pair sharing in July that Hayley, who's celebrating her 31st birthday Oct. 11, is pregnant with their first child.
Derek, who at 40 is aiming for dual daddy-zaddy status when he becomes a father, captioned a reel from the Oct. 6 Tron: Ares premiere, "Date Night with my Babies," the plural a running theme in his posts since "#babyhough" entered the conversation.
And while life hasn't always been an effortless lift for the pair, at this point neither could imagine dancing through life with anybody else.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Hayley met her future husband when he and sister Julianne Hough hired the Kansas native to dance on their "Move Live on Tour 2014," and she joined the DWTS pro troupe the following year.
But though they started dating in 2015, it took a few beats for Derek to choreograph a proposal, the six-time DWTS champion admitting on a November 2023 episode of the podcast Couple Things With Shawn Johnson and Andrew East that he had "a negative association with marriage" as a child of divorced parents.
"For me it was just like, what's the point?" Derek said. "Like, I'm good, maybe it's not something for me."
But over time, he noted, "we started surrounding ourselves with couples, with people who were married and had great relationships."
Still, even he and Hayley ended up having "10 different versions of our relationship," Derek shared. "In our vows we talked about it, we walked through fire together...We've been through some insane obstacles, insane moments that would usually crush and destroy couples."
He continued, "There would be times when our relationship was over and it was dead—and I mean that in a beautiful way."
As in, he explained, "This relationship is over but let's start this new one...Now let's begin this new version of who we are together."
And each relationship they've had, Hayley said, "is better than the last."
Their husband-and-wife era commenced Aug. 26, 2023, in an outdoor ceremony at the Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel, Calif.
Corine Solberg/Getty Images
Hayley, who wore custom Marchesa down the aisle, recalled that, while the scenery was gorgeous, “I don't remember seeing any of it. I was, like, straight tunnel vision to Derek the entire time that I didn't hear anybody."
But all credit went to Hayley for planning their big day. "As far just the execution, organization—like logistics, laying it all out—she literally did that entire thing," Derek said. "It was masterful." And yes, the dancing at the reception was 10 out of 10.
Hayley noted, "You feel the pressure, because you're like, 'This is literally a once in a lifetime thing, it has to be perfect.' But then I was like, actually, it just has to be perfect for us."
Then it was onto their two-week Italian honeymoon, after which they headed out on tour.
And when the newlyweds were talking about growing and changing together on Couple Things—"I try to keep my thoughts one day at a time," Derek said, "because if I think about everything that's happening, I'll get overwhelmed"—they had no idea that they'd be called upon to make it through the fire yet again a month later.
They had just wrapped their Dec. 6, 2023, show in Washington, D.C., when Hayley fell ill and was rushed into surgery to remove pressure on her brain after a blood vessel burst.
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
"That's part of the symbolism of us getting married and having dinner in the garden," Derek said on the podcast. "It was the idea of growth, the idea of things in nature are not clean. It's tangled, it's crazy, it's messy, it's this and that, but it's so beautiful."
And now he couldn't feel more blessed to be planting roots with Hayley.
As he told E!, visions of becoming a dad dancing in his head, "Our love has just deepened, and it's gotten stronger and better."
Everything they had been through, he said, "just makes you reflect and take stock of how important life is."
See all the incarnations of Derek and Hayley's love story in photos:
Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
October 2015: Hayley Joins Dancing With the Stars
Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert meet back in 2014 when she performed on his and sister Julianne Hough's tour. A Dancing With the Stars producer is impressed with Hayley and she is called to interview to join the show's troupe, getting the job the following year, according to the Hutchington News. Also in 2015, she and Derek begin dating.
Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Tony Robbins
July 2016: Derek & Hayley Step Out
The two begin going out to public events, including at the 2016 premiere of the Tony Robbins Netflix documentary I Am Not Your Guru.
Rob Latour/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images
September 2016: Creative Arts Emmys Governors Ball
The duo get glammed up for a star-studded night out.
David Livingston/Getty Images
August 2017: Red Carpet Debut
The dancers make their red carpet debut as a couple at the Television Academy's 2017 Choreography Peer Group Celebration at Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, Calif.
David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
September 2017: Emmys Date
Hayley joins Derek as his date for the Creative Arts Emmys, where he was nominated for Outstanding Choreography for his work on Dancing With the Stars.
Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Casamigos Tequila
October 2017: Happy Halloween
The two attend the star-studded Casamigos Halloween Party.
Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Caruso
November 2017: Christmas Tree Lighting
Hayley joins Derek as he hosts The Americana at Brand shopping mall's Christmas tree lighting event in Glendale, Calif.
Phillip Faraone/WireImage
May 2018: May the Force Be With You
The two attend the Hollywood premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
September 2018: Emmys After-Party Date
The couple steps out at HBO's post-Emmys celebration.
Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic
October 2019: They Are the Ones Who Hug
They aren't pumping the brakes as they attend the premiere of Netflix's El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie.
Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage
February 2020: Oscars Party Date
The two pose for pics at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar viewing party.
ABC via Getty Images
November 2020: Disney Holiday Singalong
Feeling festive, they dance on the special to ring in the Christmas season.
Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic
August 2021: Respect Premiere
The two are all smiles at the premiere in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
August 2021: Emmy Winner
The partners appear at the Creative Arts Emmys, where Derek wins Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming for his work on Dancing with the Stars.
Brian Feinzimer/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images
March 2022: Oscars Party Dance
The two dance as they arrive at the 2022 Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscars viewing party.
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
May 2022: Top Gun: Maverick Premiere
They look top tier on the red carpet.
Michael Kovac/Getty Images for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards
June 2022: Engaged
Hayley flashes her engagement ring at the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
David Livingston/WireImage
June 2023: Elemental Premiere
The two get cozy at the launch of the Disney-Pixar film.
Instagram / Derek Hough
August 2023: Just Married and Honeymoon
The couple honeymoon in Italy following their Aug. 26, 2023 wedding in California.
December 2023: In Sickness and in Health
Derek was by Hayley's side as she underwent emergency skull surgery due to a burst blood vessel. "It was a time filled with uncertainty and fear, going from living our dreams onstage, to a nightmare in an instant," he wrote on Instagram over a week later. "Her recovery process has been nothing short of a miracle."
Disney/Eric McCandless
October 2024: Road to Recovery
After being given medical clearance to get back to performing, Hayley and Derek resumed their Symphony of Dance tour in April 2024. In October, she made her triumphant return to the ballroom as she joined her husband for an emotional routine set to Benson Boone's "Beautiful Things."
Disney/Eric McCandless
July 2025: Baby on the Way
The couple announced they'd be welcoming a new addition to their family as they revealed they were expecting their first baby together. Alongside an Instagram video unveiling their unborn child's sonogram, Hayley wrote, "We can’t believe the biggest thing to happen to us could be so small."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
English (US)