A Guide to Derek Hough and Julianne Hough’s Family

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Derek and Julianne Hough created a particularly special moment on Dancing With the Stars, and it felt perfectly planned.

The incredibly talented siblings paused for a photo with their mom, Mariann Hough, while she watched the season finale on November 25th. The show concluded with Robert Irwin—a longtime family friend, going back to when Derek danced with his sister Bindi and they won in 2015—winning the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy with his partner Witney Carson.

It’s not unusual to have multiple generations involved with Dancing with the Stars—Mark Ballas even competed against his father, Corky Ballas, as a pro dancer in 2008 and 2010. However, Mariann lives in Tennessee and doesn’t often visit her children at work, so everyone was especially happy to see her there.

Though she shares five children with her ex-husband, Bruce Hough, she’s very close to them all. Each of her children has inherited a talent for music, following in her footsteps.

Derek shared a heartwarming photo from his 2023 wedding to Hayley Erbert, showing his 70-year-old dad breakdancing alongside him! He captioned the image praising his father’s lifelong integrity, love, and support for the family.

Julianne and Derek were both incredibly talented young dancers, and that’s why they moved from Utah – Julianne at age 10 and Derek at 13 – to live with the Ballas family in London. This allowed them to attend a performing arts school where they could fully focus on becoming professional dancers.

In 2014, Derek explained to People magazine that people often ask him how his parents allowed him to pursue his dreams. He believes his parents recognized a fantastic opportunity, and he credits their support with his current success.

As someone who’s followed countless families, I’ve seen firsthand how distance and even legal challenges can strain relationships. But the Hough family really showed me that a strong bond can truly overcome anything. Despite going through tough times with separations, they managed to stay incredibly close – it was inspiring to witness!

Derek described his family as very close and supportive, saying they have a “strong” bond. In a 2014 interview with Fox 411, he explained that love and support are at the heart of their relationship. He credited his dad with keeping everyone grounded and his mom with being their biggest fan, adding that they always function as a team.

Derek and Hayley Hough are expecting a baby, which means the Hough family is getting even bigger! Here’s an introduction to this close and loving family.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this! Apparently, the head of the Hough family – like, the original Hough – is from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho! And get this, he met Mariann Heaton – can you even imagine?! – while they were both on the ballroom dance team at Ricks College, which is now Brigham Young University-Idaho. It’s just…perfect. They were dancing their way to a family legacy!

Bruce and Mariann, both raised in Mormon families with parents who loved ballroom dancing, made their home in Salt Lake City. Bruce worked in communications and helped start Nutraceutical Corporation, a supplement company that, according to the Deseret News, became worth $300 million while he was involved before being sold in 2017.

Bruce became involved in politics, leading the state Republican Party for two terms and then running for Congress in 2023.

You know, I was really touched by something a runner shared with the Deseret News recently, even though he didn’t win his race. He said he wasn’t just running for a personal best, but for his family’s future – and that really resonated with me. He has a large family – 10 children and 22 grandchildren, with more on the way! – and he feels strongly that we need to protect the American dream for generations to come, especially for those grandkids. It’s a beautiful reminder that so much of what we do is about building a better future for those we love.

He jokingly said he didn’t realize his children’s dance lessons would lead to so much success. What he was most proud of, though, was hearing from others that his son, Derek Hough, and daughter, Julianne Hough, were known as some of the nicest people in the entertainment industry.

Besides Derek and Julianne, Bruce also has three daughters – Sharee Hough Selman, Marabeth Poole, and Katherine Hough – with his first wife, Mariann. After their divorce in the late 1990s, Bruce married Debra Francom Hough, who also has five children.

Mariann grew up in Idaho Falls with three brothers.

When she and Bruce were getting divorced, their children, Julianne and Derek – who were ten and thirteen at the time – moved to London to study at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.

Mariann described their departure as “devastating” in a 2019 episode of The Minds Gym podcast. However, she understood they needed to pursue their passion for dance. She explained that what helped her cope was realizing she’d grown up feeling controlled, something she attributed to a pattern within her family. She loves her parents, but acknowledged this dynamic had been passed down through generations.

She explained that she appreciates the experience now, as it led her to truly value having the freedom to choose her own path. It was also very important to her that she instill this confidence in her children, and she’s proud that they all feel comfortable traveling and exploring new opportunities.

Oh my gosh, Mariann is just incredible! She’s a painter now, living in Franklin, Tennessee, and honestly, she’s always been so talented. But she always says her husband, Aaron Nelson, is the one who really pushed her to pursue her art and believed in her, and I just think that’s the sweetest thing ever! He’s her biggest supporter, and you can totally see how much that means to her and her work.

Sharee married husband Mark Selman when she was 19 and they share six kids.

The oldest of Bruce and Mariann’s children performed with Ballet West in Utah and now owns and operates a fitness company called Hough Werks, where she teaches yoga and dance.

Mariann described her eldest child as very energetic and full of life when they were born, as she shared on The Minds Gym podcast. She explained that Sharee was a naturally creative and self-driven child, always thinking and exploring.

Moreover, with 11 years between Sharee and her youngest sister, “Julianne thinks she has two moms.”

Mariann described her daughter, Marabeth, as a kind and independent person who enjoys having time to herself. Marabeth also organizes small getaways in Nashville specifically for women.

In September 2025, her younger sister Julianne revealed on the Not Skinny but Not Fat podcast that she moved from Utah to Nashville hoping to become a country music star. Now, she’s thriving as a realtor and holistic health coach, while also pursuing her passion for singing and songwriting.

Marabeth married Michael Poole in 2002 and they live in Nashville with son Aidan.

Mariann described her daughter Katherine, a mom of three, as someone who is genuinely warm and likable. “She just makes you smile,” Mariann shared on the podcast The Minds Gym, “because she’s so authentic.”

The beauty expert was with Tony Schnur when he sadly passed away from brain cancer in 2023. In a February 2025 Instagram post, marking two years since his death, Katherine wrote about how much she missed him, calling him her soulmate, best friend, and life partner, and expressing her grief over their short time together.

Katherine is incredibly resourceful and manages a lot. Julianne shared on her podcast, Not Skinny But Not Fat, that she’s amazed by how Katherine balances raising three daughters, staying active, and planning everything – it’s truly impressive.

On September 24, 2025, Katherine announced she had fallen in love again. She shared a series of heartwarming photos on Instagram with a message saying that after experiencing a lot of sadness, she didn’t think she’d find such a wonderful relationship. She described Chris as the man she’d always hoped for – kind, generous, loving, patient, and a blessing to both her and her daughters.

I’ve been a huge fan of Derek Hough ever since he started on Dancing With the Stars back in 2007! It’s incredible to think about how he’s won the Mirrorball Trophy six times – a record, actually! And his talent doesn’t stop there; he’s also won four Emmy Awards for his amazing choreography. He’s truly a phenomenal dancer and choreographer!

Following his final performance as a competitor on Dancing with the Stars in 2016, Derek joined the show as a permanent judge in 2020.

He first met dancer Hayley Erbert in 2015. After overcoming some significant challenges, as he shared on the Couple Things With Shawn Johnson and Andrew East podcast, they married in August 2023.

Hayley and her partner faced a major challenge early in their marriage when Hayley suffered a life-threatening brain hemorrhage and needed immediate surgery, just four months after getting married. They were thrilled to share in July 2025 that they were expecting their first child.

In April 2024, Derek shared a photo on Facebook of his dad, Bruce, dancing at Bruce and Hayley’s wedding. He wrote a caption expressing his admiration for his father, saying he hopes to be just as good a father to his own family.

Born on July 20, 1988, the youngest member of the Hough family rose to fame on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) in 2007. Partnering with Derek, she went on to win the show for two consecutive seasons.

Julianne began pursuing an acting career in 2009, with a notable early role in the 2010 film Burlesque—though she actually made her film debut as an uncredited Hogwarts student in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone back in 2001. In 2011, she landed the lead role in the Footloose remake. She later returned to the world of dance as a judge from 2014 to 2017, earning an Emmy Award for her choreography. Since 2023, she’s been co-hosting the show with Alfonso Ribeiro.

Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich got married in 2017 but separated in 2020. Their divorce was finalized in 2022.

In a 2024 interview on The Jamie Kern Lima Show, she explained that her divorce allowed her to rebuild her relationship with her parents, who were very supportive during a difficult time.

“That was exactly what I needed,” Julianne said. “It allowed me to reconnect with my parents as their child, and let them care for me. It was incredibly healing.”

Okay, so Julianne was talking about her and Derek being, like, the ‘it’ couple in the family, and it just melts my heart. She said there wasn’t any jealousy from her other siblings, which is amazing, honestly. But she also said there was this little bit of sadness, like they wished they had that kind of spotlight and attention too. It’s just… so insightful and makes me adore her even more. It’s not about rivalry, it’s just a wistful feeling, you know?

Julianne explained that Sharee, Marabeth, and Katherine are very content with their lives and truly enjoy them. However, she added that our group experienced something they didn’t, and that makes things difficult.

Julianne explained that while she has a strong connection with Derek, he and her sister were very close growing up, and she didn’t share that same sisterly bond. She also noted they both have marriages and children, experiences she hasn’t had herself.

Mariann shared on The Minds Gym that her five siblings have a very close relationship. She believes the biggest challenge is simply being apart, as they create a special energy when they’re together.

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2025-12-06 11:18