Derek Hough is a professional dancer, choreographer, actor and singer. He is best known for his work on the ABC dance competition show Dancing with the Stars, which he has won a record-breaking 6 times. Hough has been dating actress and model Hayley Erbert since 2015. However, the couple is not yet married.
Derek Hough’s Early Life and Career
Derek Hough was born on May 17, 1985 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the fourth of five children in the Hough family, who are all dancers and performers. Hough began dancing competitively at the age of 9. He moved to London at 12 years old to live and study with dance coaches Corky and Shirley Ballas. Hough performed as the youngest dancer on the original cast of the stage production Burn the Floor when he was 15 years old.
After returning to the United States, Derek Hough appeared on the reality show Dancing with the Stars in season 4 in 2007, where he was partnered with actress Jennie Garth. They finished in 6th place. The next season, Hough won the competition for the first time with Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson as his partner. This marked the beginning of his streak as the show’s most decorated professional dancer.
Derek Hough’s Dancing Career
Over the course of 17 seasons on Dancing with the Stars, Derek Hough has appeared in 12 seasons and won the competition 6 times. His winning celebrity partners have been Brooke Burke, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Grey, Kellie Pickler, Amber Riley and Bindi Irwin. He holds the record for most mirrorball trophies of any pro dancer on the show. Hough has received 9 Emmy nominations for Outstanding Choreography for his work on Dancing with the Stars, winning twice.
Some other notable celebrity partners Hough has been paired with on DWTS include Ricki Lake, Maria Menounos, Amy Purdy, Nastia Liukin, Marilu Henner, Shannon Elizabeth, Jennie Garth, Lil’ Kim, Joanna Krupa, and Bethany Mota. He has come in second place on the show 4 times.
In 2014, Hough, along with his sister Julianne Hough, announced that they would not be returning for season 19 of Dancing with the Stars in order to pursue other projects. However, Derek returned to guest judge occasionally and then as a pro dancer again for seasons 23 – 29.
Derek Hough’s Other Endeavors
In addition to his prolific dancing career, Derek Hough has expanded into acting, singing and producing.
Some of Derek Hough’s acting credits include:
- Rock of Ages (2012) – plays Stacee Jaxx
- Nashville (2014-2016) – plays Noah West
- Hairspray Live! (2016) – plays Corny Collins
- Jane the Virgin (2018) – plays Don Quixote
As a musician, Derek released a solo album titled “Taking the Lead” in 2010. He has also performed in stage musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar and Footloose.
Hough co-produced and starred in the stage productions Move Live on Tour with his sister Julianne in 2014 and 2015. He also directs and acts as a judge on the NBC dance competition series World of Dance along with Jennifer Lopez and Ne-Yo.
Relationship with Hayley Erbert
Derek Hough has been in a romantic relationship with dancer Hayley Erbert since 2015. They met when Hayley performed with Derek and his sister on their Move Live tour. Prior to dating Hayley, Hough was in a relationship with British actress and singer India de Beaufort from 2000 to 2009.
Hayley Ann Erbert is an American dancer and choreographer from Topeka, Kansas. She first gained national attention as a competitor on season 10 of So You Think You Can Dance in 2013, where she finished in the top 6 female contestants. Since then, Hayley has been on concert tours with Derek Hough and Julianne Hough, Adam Lambert, and Cher. She has also performed in the Dancing with the Stars live tour.
Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert frequently post photos together on their Instagram accounts and have shared loving tributes to each other. While they appear very happy together, the couple is not yet engaged or married.
Why Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert Aren’t Married
Despite being in a serious relationship for over 7 years, Derek and Hayley have not rushed into an engagement or marriage. There are a few possible reasons for this:
- They are both focused on their careers – As professional dancers, performing and choreography takes up much of their time and focus.
- They are in no hurry – With no kids, Derek (37) and Hayley (28) may feel they have plenty of time before marriage.
- Enjoying their relationship as it is – They have spoken about prioritizing quality time together amid busy schedules.
- Waiting for the right time – The COVID-19 pandemic halted many social events and plans over the past few years.
In a 2020 interview, Derek Hough stated that he does eventually want to get married and have children, but he is simply enjoying the relationship stage with Hayley right now. While an engagement could certainly happen any time, Derek and Hayley seem content with where things stand today.
Derek Hough’s Past Relationships
Prior to dating Hayley Erbert, Derek Hough had a few other public relationships and romantic links to celebrities:
- India de Beaufort – Derek dated British actress India de Beaufort for about 7 years from 2000 to 2007. They met when partnered together as a real-life couple on the BBC One dance competition show DanceX.
- Shannon Elizabeth – Derek had a brief romantic fling with his season 6 DWTS celebrity partner Shannon Elizabeth in 2009. Their relationship did not last long after the show ended.
- Cheryl Cole – In 2010, Derek had a short relationship with British singer Cheryl Cole, who was a judge on the X Factor UK at the time. Their romance fizzled out quickly due to distance.
- Nina Dobrev – Derek reportedly had a brief fling with Vampire Diaries actress Nina Dobrev in 2013.
- Kate Hudson – Rumors circulated of a flirtation between Hough and actress Kate Hudson in 2014. This was never confirmed as more than a casual fling.
Derek Hough had fun playing the field throughout his 20s. But since meeting Hayley, he seems to have settled down into a committed relationship. Time will tell if wedding bells end up ringing for this dancer duo!
Conclusion
In summary, Derek Hough is currently in a long-term relationship with girlfriend Hayley Erbert. Despite dating for over 7 years, the popular dancers are not yet married. Hough and Erbert both maintain busy careers and travel schedules, which may be a factor in not rushing to the altar. However, they appear happy and in love. Fans continue to hold out hope for an engagement and wedding in this adorable couple’s future!
