Derek Hough Makes a Show‑Stopping Return Just Days After Revealing That He and Wife Hayley Erbert Are Expecting Their First Child

27 July 2025

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Derek Hough stepped into the spotlight once again on July 26, 2025, attending the VIP launch of the International Dance League at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles appearing poised and radiant just days after he and his wife, Hayley Erbert, surprised fans with the news that they are expecting their first child together

At age 40 the dancer and actor embraced a new chapter in his personal life with joy and confidence reminding onlookers why his presence on and off the stage continues to command attention. The event marked a showcase of elite global dance crews including Royal Family from New Zealand 1MILLION from South Korea Quick Style from the UAE GRV from the USA Brotherhood from Canada and Jam Republic from Singapore with a halftime performance by rapper BIA and hosted by influencer Just Maiko plus an exclusive capsule merch drop by designer Jeff Staple

Hough’s appearance came just four days after the couple’s emotional Instagram reveal on July 22 in which they shared a serene video of themselves embracing against a scenic backdrop followed by Hayley lifting a strip of sonogram images to the camera. The caption read “We can’t believe the biggest thing to happen to us could be so small” and instantly lit up with congratulatory comments from fans and fellow dancers alike

The couple’s timeline reads like a modern romance scripted by fate. They met in 2014 when Hayley Erbert was cast as a troupe dancer on Derek and his sister Julianne’s Move Live tour. Their connection deepened over the years and they began dating around the time she joined Dancing with the Stars as a troupe member during season 21. They quietly celebrated milestones including a proposal in June 2022 and their wedding in August 2023 in Monterey County California pulling off a dreamy ceremony followed by what Derek described as an epic barn dance party

Their relationship was tested just months after their nuptials in December 2023 when Hayley fell critically ill on tour leading to an emergency craniectomy after a severe brain bleed. That scare shocked fans and nearly ended her life but her remarkable recovery and return to the stage by April 2024 served as a testament to her resilience. Derek stood by her side through that fear‑inducing ordeal dedicating an Emmy win to her perseverance and calling her “a miracle” on several occasions.

Throughout their recovery journey Derek emphasized the importance of presence and gratitude staying in the moment and honoring the fragility of life telling PEOPLE in late 2024 that the experience taught them both how precious each breath truly is. Earlier in 2024 Derek openly shared with E! News that he and Hayley had long envisioned expanding their duo into a small dance company of their own as parents dreaming of little dancing children running around the house one day. The news of their pregnancy now brings that dream firmly into view and feels especially poignant given all the couple has navigated together thus far.

At the IDL event Hough maintained his trademark charm and style winning praise not only for his showmanship but for carrying himself with quiet grace as the world now knows that his life offstage is entering its most transformative chapter yet. His sister Julianne Hough has publicly celebrated their announcement too declaring on Instagram “Baby Hough is so wise to choose you two as parents” and signing off affectionately as Aunt JuJu. Fans of Dancing with the Stars and beyond are watching closely as Derek returns to the dance world while preparing to embrace fatherhood with his extraordinary partner by his side.

The tone of this moment is less celebrity flash and more heartfelt transition. A journey shaped by art love loss and resilience has arrived at a tender crossing. Derek and Hayley appear ready to welcome a new life with openness and grace savoring each step until that little dancer arrives to join them in the spotlight.

Under the evening lights of L.A. Hough’s presence at IDL spoke volumes. There was celebration there not just for the art of dance but for the art of perseverance and of family renewed in hope. The past year’s trials and triumphs have converged into this moment where the dancer and the dancer’s wife now await the debut of their most delicate collaboration yet. Category: Celebrity Family