50 Facts About Julianne Hough

Julianne Alexandra Hough is an American dancer, singer, actress and television personality.

Julianne Hough received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work on the series, winning once in 2015 with her brother, Derek Hough.

Julianne Hough portrayed Sandy in the 2016 live Fox television production of Grease.

Julianne Hough served as a judge on America's Got Talent for its 14th season.

In 2023, Julianne Hough returned to Dancing with the Stars as co-host, alongside main host Alfonso Ribeiro.

Julianne Hough was born in Orem, Utah, the youngest of five children in a Mormon family.

Julianne Hough's parents are Bruce and Marianne Hough; her father was twice chairman of the Utah Republican Party and ran for Utah's 2nd congressional district in 2023.

Julianne Hough is a second cousin of musicians Riker, Rydel, Rocky, and Ross Lynch from the band R5, their maternal grandmothers are sisters.

When Julianne Hough was 12, the three children formed their own pop music trio 2B1G.

At 15, Julianne Hough became the youngest dancer, and the only American, to win both Junior World Latin Champion and International Latin Youth Champion at the Blackpool Dance Festival.

Julianne Hough was one of the Million Dollar Dancers in the 2006 ABC game show called Show Me the Money.

Julianne Hough won season four of the US edition of Dancing with the Stars with her partner, Olympic gold medal-winning speed skater Apolo Ohno, making Hough the youngest professional dancer to win on the program.

In July 2008, Julianne Hough was nominated at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in the category of "Outstanding Choreography" for her mambo "Para Los Rumberos" on Dancing with the Stars.

Julianne Hough felt abdominal pains during their jitterbug performance on October 21,2008, and she was immediately rushed to a hospital 40 minutes after the encore performance.

Julianne Hough subsequently had surgery to have her appendix removed after being diagnosed with endometriosis, causing her to miss several performances, Edyta Sliwinska stood in for her.

Julianne Hough returned to the show, although the pair was ultimately eliminated in the semi-finals.

On November 20,2008, Julianne Hough was on Ryan Seacrest's radio show, On Air with Ryan Seacrest.

Julianne Hough announced that, in order to further her music career, she would not be returning to Dancing with the Stars for the foreseeable future.

On October 11,2011, Julianne Hough returned to Dancing with the Stars and danced with her Footloose co-star Kenny Wormald twice, and with her brother.

Julianne Hough returned again on May 15,2012, in a dance performance to promote her film Rock of Ages.

Julianne Hough returned to the show as a guest judge in 2021, filling in for her brother Derek.

On March 20,2023, it was announced that Julianne Hough would join Dancing with the Stars as the new co-host, following Tyra Banks's departure, and that previous co-host Alfonso Ribeiro would assume Banks's old role as emcee.

Julianne Hough later signed with Universal Music Group Nashville's Mercury Nashville division.

Julianne Hough's 2008 self-titled debut album was recorded in Nashville and produced by David Malloy, who has worked with Reba McEntire and Eddie Rabbitt, among others.

Julianne Hough joined Brad Paisley's 2008 Tour, along with Jewel and Chuck Wicks.

Julianne Hough performed her second single "My Hallelujah Song" on Dancing With the Stars on November 18,2008, with her brother Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, and Lacey Schwimmer dancing.

Julianne Hough was nominated for the Top New Female Vocalist award, a fan-voted award, which she subsequently won.

Julianne Hough won the Top New Artist award at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 5,2009, and released a single, "Is That So Wrong", to country radio on June 21,2010.

Julianne Hough does intend to resume focusing on her music career at some point, though: "I feel like when I have the time to focus on it, and when I feel like it is the right time, [I'll return to] my music," she said.

Julianne Hough's first acting role was in the 2001 feature film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, in an uncredited role as a "Hogwarts schoolgirl".

Julianne Hough appeared in the 2010 musical Burlesque, starring Cher and Christina Aguilera.

Julianne Hough's first leading role was as Ariel Moore in the 2011 remake of the Paramount film Footloose, opposite Kenny Wormald as Ren McCormack.

Julianne Hough played the role of Sherrie Christian in the 2012 film adaptation of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages, alongside Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Malin Akerman.

Julianne Hough starred in the comedy-drama Paradise as Lamb Mannerheim, which was released on October 18,2013.

Julianne Hough starred alongside Russell Brand, who had previously co-starred with Hough in Rock of Ages.

Julianne Hough starred as protagonist Mallory Rutledge in the 2015 thriller film Curve opposite Teddy Sears.

Julianne Hough returned to musical performances portraying the role of Sandy Young for Fox's live television presentation of the musical Grease on January 31,2016.

The Julianne Hough siblings introduced performances by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood and Kelly Clarkson.

On February 11,2019, it was announced that Julianne Hough had joined the NBC talent competition series America's Got Talent.

In 2020, Julianne Hough partnered with entertainment company Meet Cute for a three-part Transformation podcast series.

Julianne Hough made her Broadway debut as Dusty in Selina Fillinger's comedic play POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.

Julianne Hough hosted the first hour of the 75th Tony Awards alongside Darren Criss which was aired on Paramount+.

Julianne Hough presented Best Book of a Musical on the main telecast which aired on CBS.

Julianne Hough has since returned hosting the "Act One" Pre-Show Tony Awards in 2023 with Skylar Astin and in 2024 with Utkarsh Ambudkar.

In October 2013, Julianne Hough told the New York Post that although she was no longer a practicing Mormon, she was glad that she was raised in the church.

Julianne Hough dated fellow country singer Chuck Wicks from August 2008 to November 2009; when the two had a mutual break-up, it inspired Julianne Hough's song "Is That So Wrong".

Julianne Hough dated Ryan Seacrest from April 2010 to March 2013.

Julianne Hough filed for divorce on November 2,2020; the divorce was finalised on February 22,2022.

Julianne Hough attracted controversy in October 2013 when she donned blackface as part of a Halloween costume depicting Uzo Aduba's character Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren from the Netflix comedy-drama Orange Is the New Black.

Julianne Hough was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2008, and went public with it to help de-stigmatize the conditions surrounding the disease.