How Derek Hough Supported Sister Julianne Hough After Dogs' Death

As a reader, it is truly inspiring to delve into Julianne Hough’s life journey and understand her resilience, courage, and growth. Her experiences, from her early years in the Mormon culture, her dance career, personal relationships, body image struggles, to her recent exploration of energy work, paint a rich and complex portrait of a woman who has faced adversity head-on.

Derek Hough puts family over everything.

Five years after the heartbreaking coyote attack that claimed the lives of his sister’s dogs Lexi and Harley, the judge from Dancing with the Stars opened up about the ways he offered comfort and support during those tough times.

In much the same way families do, you draw strength from one another when tough times hit, the 39-year-old explained to People on December 20th.

He added, “It’s families who stand by you during tough times, and I believe it’s then that you truly understand the beauty of having a family.

After all, the familial bond can be one of the most special things in life.

He shared that he had conversed with a doctor who mentioned having been by the bedsides of countless patients near death. Remarkably, as he recounted, none of these patients requested their awards, recognition, or wealth. Instead, they yearned for their loved ones, serving as a poignant reminder of the significance of family in our lives.

In the challenging year of 2019, Julianne found herself separated from not only her estranged husband, Brooks Laich, but also her beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels during this trying period.

She recalled that she had requested a separation, followed by a tragic incident ten days later where her dogs were attacked and killed by coyotes. This was shared during her appearance in August on The Jamie Kern Lima Show.

She awoke well before her phone called, and instinctively understood. Picking up the device, her then-assistant reacted with shock, almost shouting.

However, despite this, the co-host of Dancing with the Stars made an effort to maintain a positive outlook, feeling grateful that her beloved pets hadn’t endured any distress during their final moments.

The individual expressed their gratitude for going together, stating “I’m thankful they went together.” Furthermore, they were appreciative of the swiftness in which it occurred and obtaining their bodies. However, at that moment, they felt a sense of disillusionment about the once perceived impenetrable bond of unconditional love.

For over a decade, I’ve been privileged to call not one, but two wonderful canine companions my children,” she explained. “They’ve been an integral part of my life for eleven years, and for the last eight, they’ve been my constant companions, my heartbeat, and my everything.

With the company of her dear ones, Julianne wasn’t on her own during her moments of mourning. Moreover, she has lately revealed that the idea of soul splitting proved beneficial in helping her achieve tranquility following the demise of her cherished pets.

On an episode of The Jamie Kern Lima Show in September, she expressed that when something deeply unfortunate takes place, a part of one’s spirit seems to shatter and becomes associated with the event.

Since she believed that her spirit was shattered when her dogs passed away, leaving a part of herself with them, she chose to perform a ritual of “reuniting my spirit and returning the remaining portion of them to their spirits as well.

She acknowledged, “I see now that I’ve been hindering them,” as they should have the freedom to progress and let go of the past.

For more confessions from Julianne, keep reading…

When it came to Julianne Hough’s dogs Lexi and Harley, it was undeniable that she adored them deeply, stating, “I love my girls more than anything on this planet!” Unfortunately, these Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tragically passed away in September 2019. However, Julianne only expressed her sorrow.

Despite announcing their separation in May 2020 and finalizing their divorce shortly thereafter, Julianne hinted that she and Brooks had been encountering difficulties for some time. In an interview on The Jamie Kern Lima Show, she explained, “We spent a long time questioning if this relationship was working or not. We’re moving in different directions.

Reflecting on my past, I shared with Brooks, “You must realize I’m not strictly heterosexual, right?” This is what I recounted to Women’s Health in 2019. His response was one of surprise, “I’m sorry, what?” To which I responded, “I’m not straight, but I choose you.

In a 2024 episode of “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen”, the host of “Dancing With the Stars” agreed with Mickey Guyton when she expressed her disagreement about Bobby Bones winning season 27 in 2018. Julianne Hough stated, “I actually agree with you, and I think it’s because the fan base played a significant role on that show. He was not the best dancer.” Despite this remark, Bobby Bones made it clear he wasn’t offended by her comment. In an Instagram video later that month, he acknowledged, “I was the worst dancer. I take pride in that. Now, I tried as hard as anyone in the history of the show, but I can’t dance now, couldn’t dance then.” This implies that she wouldn’t award the mirrorball trophy to Bobby Bones again because he wasn’t the best dancer on the show.

In 2010, Julianne began dating Ryan Seacrest, which introduced her to an entirely new realm—one filled with opulent vacations, courtside Lakers seats, and glamorous evenings out. As she put it on an episode of Dax Shepard’s podcast “Armchair Expert” in August 2024, “The rug was swept from under me, and I was just soaring. I was experiencing things I didn’t know existed. But then I had this insecurity that I didn’t want anyone to think I was with him for the wrong reasons, so I started playing down my role.

Julianne’s music career in country genre kicked off successfully. In 2007, she launched her debut single “Will You Dance With Me” which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Album chart. The following year, her self-titled album was released, containing the popular hit “That Song In My Head.” She also toured with Brad Paisley and won awards for Top New Artist and Top New Female Vocalist at the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards. However, after releasing another single in 2010, there were discussions about a second album but it didn’t materialize.

In 2020, a viral video surfaced showing Julianne experiencing an intense moment during an energy session at the World Economic Forum. Four years later, in an episode of “Off the Vine With Kaitlyn Bristowe” in August 2024, Julianne spoke about that incident. She explained, “I’ve had some unusual spiritual encounters and people have criticized me, saying I’ve ‘lost it.’ Regarding the viral energy work session, people speculated that I was possessed or exorcising demons. Thankfully, nowadays, more people understand these experiences, and they recognize the importance of energy.

In an interview on The Jamie Kern Lima Show, I shared a deeply personal experience that I’ve never spoken about before – my first encounter, around the age of 4, was with a neighbor in our cul-de-sac. Growing up Mormon, I was expected to maintain an image of perfection, and this event was very confusing for me. I suppressed it for many years, only bringing it up to my parents much later during my teenage years. Other events from my childhood further contributed to my silence, until I started delving into this journey in the recent past. This is why I believe I blocked out memories from birth to about 10 years old – I completely dissociated from that experience ever happening. In the beginning of my book, Everything We Never Knew, I dedicated it to my younger self who did whatever was necessary to survive and reach where I am today.

She explained to Jamie Kern, ‘There are countless individuals who merely do what they must to live. It’s crucial to appreciate this aspect and this version of them, and as adults, we should recognize that ‘I see you now, and you’re not alone.’

Despite always appreciating her own body, Julianne can’t forget the criticism she faced while working on a film. In a 2017 interview with Redbook, she admitted to comparing herself to others during middle school and later in a movie where she was constantly told she was too fat, despite being at her skinniest. To overcome self-consciousness, she does something outrageous or silly to distract herself and remember the freedom she felt as a child before the criticism started. Julianne focuses more on her personal relationship with her body rather than what others say about it. In the public eye, it’s harder not to be hard on oneself when facing negative comments, but Julianne strives to be happy, positive, and feel good, which is all that truly matters in the end.

2024-12-20 19:48

How Derek Hough Supported Sister Julianne Hough After Dogs’ Death

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