Search for Julianne Hough and you get a mess of half-true headlines: wrong ages, stale marriage news, rumors passed off as facts. That leaves you unsure what to believe. This guide fixes it. It pulls her age, films, marriage, and her own words about her identity into one page, checked against September 2026 reporting.
Julianne Hough at a Glance
Start here for the short version. Each row is expanded below.
| Fact | Answer |
| Born | July 20, 1988, Orem, Utah |
| Age | 38 (September 2026) |
| Known for | Dancing With the Stars pro, judge, and co-host; film and TV actor |
| Brother | Derek Hough, dancer and DWTS judge |
| Ex-husband | Brooks Laich, former NHL player |
| Marital status | Divorced (final in 2022); no confirmed partner |
| Current role | Co-host, Dancing With the Stars Season 35 |
How Old Is Julianne Hough?
Julianne Hough was born on July 20, 1988, in Orem, Utah. She is 38 years old. aol
Her brother Derek, born in 1985, is about three years older. The two grew up dancing and still work together on the same show. Wikipedia
Early Life and Training
At age 10, Hough moved to London to train at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, where Derek also studied. She left home for years of ballet, jazz, and ballroom classes.
That early discipline shaped everything that followed. It explains why her dance work looks so polished on live television.
Dancing Career: From Ballroom Pro to Show Host
Hough joined Dancing With the Stars as a professional dancer and won the mirrorball trophy twice. Her winning partners were Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno and racing driver Hélio Castroneves. She later sat at the judges’ table and served as a judge on America’s Got Talent.
She now co-hosts the show with Alfonso Ribeiro for a fourth straight season, while Derek judges alongside Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. Season 35 premiered on ABC and Disney+ on September 15, 2026. yahooWikipedia
Julianne Hough Movies and TV Roles
Hough’s screen work runs from big-screen musicals to live television events. The table lists her main credits by year.
| Year | Title | Role | Notable co-stars |
| 2010 | Burlesque | Georgia | Cher, Christina Aguilera |
| 2011 | Footloose | Ariel Moore | Kenny Wormald, Dennis Quaid |
| 2012 | Rock of Ages | Sherrie Christian | Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise |
| 2013 | Safe Haven | Katie | Josh Duhamel, Cobie Smulders |
| 2016 | Grease: Live (TV) | Sandy Olsson | Aaron Tveit, Vanessa Hudgens |
| 2017 | Dirty Dancing (TV) | Penny Johnson | Abigail Breslin, Colt Prattes |
| 2026 | The Bride! | Appears in a film within the film | Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale |
Her early film roles leaned on her dance and singing skills. Burlesque and Rock of Ages placed her in musical settings, while Safe Haven gave her a romantic drama.
Julianne Hough in Footloose
Footloose made Hough a film lead. She played Ariel Moore, the minister’s daughter, in the 2011 remake directed by Craig Brewer. Kenny Wormald played Ren McCormack, the newcomer who challenges the town’s dance ban.
The story updates the 1984 original with new music and sharper choreography. It was her first lead role in a feature film.
The Bride!: Her Return to the Big Screen
In March 2026, Hough returned to movies after about eight years away. She appears in a movie-within-the-movie in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride! The film opened in theaters on March 6, 2026. yahooparade
She told Deadline that no other project could have brought her back, and she credited Gyllenhaal’s vision for the pull. yahoo
Julianne Hough’s Husband: Who Is Brooks Laich?
Hough has no husband today. Her ex-husband, Brooks Laich, is a former NHL player. The two have stayed friendly since the split. Fox News
Key dates in the marriage:
- 2015: The couple announced their engagement. today
- June 2017: They married. The wedding took place in Idaho.
- May 2020: They announced their separation. Fox News
- November 2020: Hough filed for divorce. aol
- June 2022: The divorce became final. aol
- August 2026: Laich married CrossFit champion Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. E! News
Is Julianne Hough Married Now?
No. She is divorced and has confirmed no new partner.
On the 2026 Emmys red carpet, she teased that she “might not be single” and said there was a lot to discuss off camera. She named no one. Treat that as a teaser, not news, until she confirms it herself. aol
Is Julianne Hough Gay? What She Has Said
Hough has answered this question in her own words, so this section sticks to them.
In a 2019 Women’s Health interview, she recalled telling her then-husband, “You know I’m not straight, right?” In 2024, on The Jamie Kern Lima Show, she said labels matter less to her than “learning what love is.”
She has not attached a more specific label since. This guide does not guess beyond what she has said.
How This Guide Was Checked
Every date here was cross-checked against news coverage on September 24, 2026. Relationship status changes fast, so the marriage and current-status sections carry the most recent reporting.
Her direct quotes come from these primary sources:
- Women’s Health, September 2019 issue (her interview)
- The Jamie Kern Lima Show, August 27, 2024 episode
- ABC’s official Dancing With the Stars page (Season 35)
We label unconfirmed news as unconfirmed and skip rumors about private people.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Julianne Hough?
She is 38. She was born on July 20, 1988.
Who is Julianne Hough’s husband?
She has no husband now. She was married to former NHL player Brooks Laich from 2017 until their divorce became final in 2022.
Is Julianne Hough married?
No. She is divorced and has not confirmed a new partner.
What movies has Julianne Hough been in?
Her credits include Burlesque, Footloose, Rock of Ages, Safe Haven, and The Bride! She also starred in the TV productions Grease: Live and Dirty Dancing.
What role did Julianne Hough play in Footloose?
She played Ariel Moore, the minister’s daughter, opposite Kenny Wormald’s Ren McCormack in the 2011 remake.
Is Julianne Hough gay?
She has said she is not straight and has chosen no more specific label. She describes her own focus as learning to love people.
Your Next Step
You now have the full picture of Julianne Hough: her age, her films, her marriage, and what she has said about her identity. Bookmark this page, because her story moves fast and this guide gets updated when it does.