Julianne Hough Reveals What She’s Looking for in Future Relationship

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It takes two to tango—and Julianne Hough is ready to be part of a winning pair.

The cohost of Dancing With the Stars shared what she hopes to find in a relationship as the new year approaches, saying she’s open-minded about who she dates.

She explained to Daryn Carp from TopMob News that she focuses on energy and connection when it comes to who she dates. ‘I don’t really have a type,’ she said, ahead of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026. ‘It’s more about a connection, and that’s all that matters.’

Julianne Hough, who was married to Brooks Laich from 2017 until their divorce in 2022, is now open to exploring any kind of relationship that comes along.

I’m constantly seeking connection, both romantically and through friendships,” she shared. “It’s something I’m always striving for.

Julianne is getting ready to cohost ABC’s New Year’s Eve countdown with Rob Gronkowski! The live show airs December 31st at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and will be available to stream on Hulu the next day. Expect a lot of exciting entertainment from Las Vegas!

She said, “Nothing feels more exciting and celebratory than Las Vegas!” She described it as incredible, highlighting the amazing shows and performers as truly spectacular.

The Emmy-winning actress is excited to team up with the four-time Super Bowl champion for the upcoming TV special, and she hopes it won’t be the only time they work together.

She playfully mentioned to him that she thought they should make some fun dance videos for TikTok. She’s also hoping to convince him to join Dancing with the Stars, saying it would be a lot of fun.

I’m actually hoping to get Gronk, who’s 36, a little head start with some dance training whenever we have a break from our cohosting work. I think a little practice will really help him when the competition comes around!

Oh my gosh, she was totally joking, but she said she could teach him to dance for a whole season! And then – get this – she said it would take some tequila and popping bottles in Vegas for New Year’s Rockin’ Eve! I’m already picturing it, it would be AMAZING. Seriously, I need this to happen!

Julianne is known for being incredibly open and honest. Keep reading to hear more of her candid thoughts.

Julianne Hough revealed she’s considering a big life change: moving to the Himalayas and getting a completely new hairstyle.

She shared on a podcast in September 2025 that she planned to travel to Bhutan and have a monk shave her head. She even called her hairstylist, Riawna, and asked her to create a wig that perfectly matched her current hairstyle. Her reasoning was that she wanted to be able to shave her head for the trip and then easily have her normal look back for work.

She explained that her work is a way of showing the world what she’s feeling inside. After a period of significant personal change and self-discovery, she feels ready to share everything openly.

Julianne Hough recently shared her experience with egg freezing, hoping to offer support to others going through the same thing. In a June 2025 Instagram post, she explained that while it’s a difficult topic to discuss, she believes it’s important to be open about it. She noted that many women are making personal and courageous decisions about their reproductive health, often privately. Julianne described the process as physically, emotionally, and hormonally challenging. Ultimately, she felt compelled to share her story if it could help even one person feel less isolated or encourage them to learn more about their options.

Julianne publicly shared her endometriosis diagnosis in 2008 and has since worked to raise awareness about the painful condition, openly discussing her experiences and surgeries. In 2018, she told the Endometriosis Foundation of America, ‘Endometriosis is a part of me, but I don’t let it define me.’ She focuses on staying active and exercising, finding that movement helps her feel better, while also prioritizing rest when needed. By 2020, she told Women’s Health that she hadn’t experienced the same endometriosis symptoms as before, indicating she’s managing the condition effectively.

As Dancing With the Stars celebrates its 20th anniversary, Julianne Hough has been reminiscing about how her journey began—including a surprising health issue that occurred during an episode. In a June 2025 Instagram post, the mirrorball champion recalled joining the show at age 18, fresh from Utah with just $2000 after years of training in London. She never imagined she’d win her first two seasons, experience a cyst bursting on live television, seek comfort from Dr. Drew, or dance with a unicycle—the first prop used on the show besides a chair. She also cherished judging alongside friends Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and the legendary Len Goodman. Now, 20 years later, she’s co-hosting the show that she feels truly raised her, having experienced almost every role it has to offer and learned something new from each one.

I was absolutely heartbroken when Julianne announced that her sweet dogs, Lexi and Harley, had passed away back in September 2019. She always talked about ‘my girls’ like they were her whole world, so it was devastating news. For a long time, she just shared her grief online, posting a beautiful message about how much she loved them and how much she missed them. It wasn’t until five years later that she finally revealed the tragic truth: they were killed by coyotes. She described waking up with a terrible feeling before she even got the call, and hearing her assistant’s distress on the phone. It was just awful. She said she had gates and had never seen coyotes around her property before. She did find some comfort in the fact that they went together, and that it was quick, and she was able to bring them home. This all happened during a really tough time for her – she was separating from Brooks Laich, dealing with changes with her assistant, and getting ready for her KINRGY brand to tour with Oprah. While Lexi and Harley will always hold a special place in her heart, it’s been so lovely to see her open her heart again. She welcomed Sunny into her life in 2023, and she believes Lexi and Harley sent Sunny to her when she was ready to love again. It’s clear Sunny has brought so much joy back into her life.

Julianne and Brooks announced their separation in May 2020 and finalized their divorce less than two years later, but Julianne explained they had been struggling for some time. She shared on The Jamie Kern Lima Show that they had been questioning whether the relationship was working, and ultimately realized they were growing apart.

They first sparked romance rumors in 2014 and married three years after that. Julianne described diving fully into the relationship, saying it was a wonderful experience that helped her reconnect with her childhood self. She needed a sense of safety and a stable, father-like figure, and Brooks provided that for her.

This dynamic was ultimately healing for Julianne, allowing her to grow and become more self-aware. As she worked through her personal journey, she began to listen to her own voice, rather than the subconscious needs of her younger self. This led her to question her beliefs and evolve as a person.

Despite the divorce, Julianne and Brooks have remained friendly, even spending a day at the lake with Brooks’s new fiancée, Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir.

Julianne Hough once told her then-partner Brooks Laich that she wasn’t straight. She recalled telling him, “You know I’m not straight, right?” and his surprised reaction. However, she emphasized that she chooses to be with him despite not identifying with a specific sexual orientation.

Julianne doesn’t focus on labels, believing that “coming out” is a powerful act of vulnerability. She explained that her journey is about understanding love itself, saying she’s learning to love people without needing to define how she’s attracted to them, and simply choosing the person she’s with.

As she continued to explore her feelings, Julianne realized she was connecting with others on a deeper level. She found freedom in this newfound openness, feeling she could shed layers of self-protection and truly see people for who they are. This allowed her to experience a beautiful revelation: she simply loves people, regardless of whether it’s sexual or otherwise, and appreciates their inner beauty and essence.

Julianne Hough doesn’t believe Bobby Bones deserved to win season 27 of Dancing with the Stars. During an August 2024 appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, she agreed with guest Mickey Guyton’s opinion that Bones’ win in 2018 with partner Sharna Burgess was questionable.

Julianne explained that fan voting is key on the show, and Bobby wasn’t the most skilled dancer.

Bobby himself acknowledged Julianne’s point, playfully admitting in an Instagram video that he was the worst dancer on the show, despite giving it his all. He said he’s proud of how hard he tried, but dancing simply wasn’t his strength.

When Julianne began dating Ryan Seacrest in 2010, she was suddenly exposed to a lavish lifestyle filled with luxurious vacations, courtside seats at Lakers games, and glamorous dates. She described feeling swept away by it all, telling Dax Shepard on his podcast, Armchair Expert, that she was experiencing things she’d never imagined. However, this new world also brought insecurity. She worried people would assume she was with him for the perks, so she started to downplay her own personality and interests.

Julianne realized she was changing, constantly trying to be what others wanted her to be to earn their affection. She’s come to believe she may have never truly been in love, but she has loved feeling loved. This led her to mold herself to fit what she thought others needed, hoping to receive love in return. She admits to feeling love for everyone she’s dated, but now questions if it was genuine. She doesn’t want to overthink it, especially since everyone she’s dated has been a good person.

After Julianne and Ryan broke up in 2013, she said many people—including some moms in her neighborhood and people in the entertainment industry—questioned her decision. They couldn’t understand why she would give up such a comfortable life. Julianne explained that she hadn’t built that life herself and felt a competitive need to create something she could be proud of and truly call her own.

Julianne’s career in country music got off to a fantastic start. In 2007, she released her single “Will You Dance With Me,” followed by her debut album in 2008. The album reached number one on Billboard’s Top Country Album chart and included the hit song “That Song In My Head.” She even had the opportunity to tour with Brad Paisley and won awards for Top New Artist and Top New Female Vocalist at the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards.

In 2010, she released another single, “Is That So Wrong,” but a second album never materialized.

Looking back, Julianne realized her intense drive for success ultimately led her to step away from music. In an August 2024 interview on On Air With Ryan Seacrest, she explained, “I thought if I wasn’t number one, I was failing.” She admitted her competitive nature led her to pursue a career in movies instead, a decision she now regrets.

You might remember a video that went viral in 2020, showing Julianne Hough seemingly overwhelmed during an energy session at the World Economic Forum. Four years later, she finally addressed the moment. On the August 2024 episode of Kaitlyn Bristowe’s podcast, Off the Vine, Julianne explained that she’s experienced similar things before, and people reacted strongly. She recalled some online comments suggesting she was having a breakdown or even an exorcism! Julianne noted that at the time, energy work wasn’t widely understood, but now, nearly five years later, it’s much more accepted and people recognize the power of energy.

Julianne Hough recently shared that her first experience with inappropriate behavior happened when she was around four years old, involving a neighbor. She admitted she’d never spoken about it publicly before. Growing up in a strict Mormon community, there was pressure to appear perfect, and the incident didn’t result in any consequences for the perpetrator.

Hough didn’t tell her parents about it for many years, and eventually, other difficult experiences occurred during her childhood. Around age fifteen, she began to open up to her parents about what had happened, though she had initially forgotten about the incident with the neighbor. She realized she had blocked out the first ten years of her life, essentially dissociating from the trauma.

In the dedication of her book, Everything We Never Knew, she honors her younger self for doing whatever was necessary to survive and protect herself, ultimately leading her to where she is today.

She told Jamie Kern that many people simply do what’s necessary to get by, and we should appreciate that resilience within ourselves. It’s important to recognize that part of who we are and remember we’re not alone in facing challenges, especially as adults.

Julianne Moore is confident in her body now, but remembers a time when she faced harsh criticism during a movie shoot. She explained in an interview that she was self-assured growing up, but that changed in middle school when she started comparing herself to others. The film experience was particularly difficult, as she was constantly told she was overweight even though she was very thin. Now, when she feels self-conscious, she does something silly or unexpected to shift her focus and remember the carefree feeling she had as a child.

Julianne prioritizes her own feelings about her body and tries not to let outside opinions affect her. She acknowledges it’s challenging to ignore negative comments, but she focuses on making positive choices and being happy with herself. Ultimately, she believes that her own well-being and positivity are what truly matter.

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2025-12-26 17:21