Julianne Hough is currently co-hosting Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars alongside Alfonso Ribeiro. The new season premiered on September 15–16, 2026, on ABC and Disney+, with new episodes continuing on Tuesdays.

Hough has also attracted attention for comments about her personal life. During the 2026 Emmy Awards on September 14, she told E! that she “might not be single,” but she did not publicly identify a new partner, so reports about a specific boyfriend remain unconfirmed.

Julianne Hough Is Back in the Spotlight With DWTS Season 35

Julianne Hough is once again at the center of Dancing with the Stars as the ABC competition enters its 35th season.

The Emmy Award-winning dancer, actress, singer and television host returned as co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro for the 2026 season. The new season began with a special two-night premiere on September 15 and 16, with the show airing live on ABC and Disney+ and becoming available on Hulu the following day.

Hough’s return is notable because Dancing with the Stars has been a major part of her career since she first became known to a national television audience through the show.

But her professional work is not the only reason Julianne Hough has been attracting attention in September 2026.

At the 2026 Emmy Awards on September 14, Hough made a playful but cryptic comment about her relationship status, telling E! that she “might not be single” and adding that there was “a lot to discuss off-camera.” She did not name a partner or publicly confirm a new relationship.

That comment has led to renewed interest in searches such as Julianne Hough boyfriend, Julianne Hough husband, and who is Julianne Hough dating.

For now, however, the confirmed information is more limited than some online speculation suggests.

Who Is Julianne Hough?

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

She was born on July 20, 1988, in Utah. As of September 2026, she is 38 years old. Hough’s official biography describes dance as her first love and notes that she won two championships during her time competing professionally on Dancing with the Stars.

Her career later expanded well beyond competitive ballroom dancing.

She has worked in:

Television
Film
Music
Broadway
Choreography
Dance and wellness
Television production
Entrepreneurship

Her acting credits include Footloose, Rock of Ages, Safe Haven, Burlesque and Grease Live! ABC also identifies her as an Emmy Award winner and notes her Broadway debut in POTUS in 2022.

This combination of dance, acting and television experience has made Hough one of the most recognizable personalities associated with Dancing with the Stars.

Julianne Hough and Dancing with the Stars in 2026

The biggest current development in Hough’s professional life is her return as co-host of Dancing with the Stars Season 35.

ABC officially announced the 2026 cast and hosting lineup in September. Hough returned alongside Alfonso Ribeiro, while her brother Derek Hough remained on the judging panel with Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.

The 2026 season features 16 celebrity contestants, including:

Giada De Laurentiis
Jenna Dewan
Julia Stiles
Harry Shum Jr.
Tatyana Ali
Taylor Hanson
Tyler Cameron
Amber Glenn
Ezra Frech
Maura Higgins
Ciara Miller
Guillermo Rodriguez

ABC’s official announcement confirmed Hough and Ribeiro as the season’s co-hosts.

The season opened with a two-night premiere, with the male celebrities performing on the first night and the female celebrities making their competition debut on the second.

What Julianne Hough Said About the New DWTS Season

Before Season 35 premiered, Hough discussed the new cast and the energy surrounding the competition.

During an ABC News interview in September, Hough described the upcoming season as an energized version of the show and said the cast and professional dancers had significant momentum.

She also spoke about the contestants during the Emmy weekend.

In an interview with Us Weekly, Hough said she did not want to officially choose a frontrunner because of her role as a host. Instead, she suggested that the season would contain several “dark horses” and emphasized that Dancing with the Stars is about more than technical dancing.

She pointed to vulnerability, connection and the contestants’ individual journeys as important parts of the competition.

Hough also told E! that she had already noticed several strong performers during rehearsals, including Jenna Dewan, Harry Shum Jr., Amber Glenn, Taylor Hanson and Tatyana Ali.

Why Julianne Hough’s Personal Life Is Trending Again

The renewed interest in Julianne Hough’s personal life comes partly from her appearance at the 2026 Emmy Awards.

During an E! interview on September 14, Hough was asked about her relationship status. Instead of directly confirming that she was single, she teased that she “might not be single.”

She did not identify a boyfriend, fiancé or new husband.

That distinction is important because social media and celebrity-search headlines can quickly turn a playful comment into a claim that someone is officially dating a particular person.

As of the latest reliable reporting available in September 2026, Julianne Hough has not publicly identified a new romantic partner in connection with that comment. E!’s report confirms what she said but does not identify a new boyfriend.

Therefore, claims naming a specific new partner should be treated as unconfirmed unless Hough herself or another reliable source provides confirmation.

Is Julianne Hough Married?

No. Julianne Hough is not currently known to be married.

Her former husband was professional hockey player Brooks Laich.

Hough and Laich married in July 2017 after several years together. They announced their separation in May 2020 and subsequently moved toward divorce. Hough filed for divorce later in 2020, and their divorce was finalized in June 2022.

The end of their marriage remains an important part of Hough’s relationship history because it is the only publicly confirmed marriage associated with her.

There is currently no reliable confirmation that she has remarried.

Who Was Julianne Hough’s Husband, Brooks Laich?

Brooks Laich is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the NHL.

He and Hough began dating in 2014, became engaged in 2015 and married in 2017.

Their relationship received significant media attention because both were established public figures in different entertainment and sports industries.

In May 2020, the couple announced that they were separating.

Their joint statement at the time emphasized their continuing love and respect for each other while asking for privacy. The divorce process continued into 2022, when their marriage was legally dissolved.

Hough later discussed the relationship publicly, including in a 2024 appearance on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast.

People reported that Hough said both she and Laich had regrets that the marriage did not work out. She also reflected on differences in their personal growth and described Laich positively despite the end of the marriage.

Julianne Hough’s Relationship Status in 2026

The most accurate way to describe Hough’s current relationship status is that she has hinted that her situation may have changed, but she has not publicly confirmed the identity of a new partner.

This is different from saying that she has a confirmed boyfriend or husband.

The timeline is:

2017: Julianne Hough married Brooks Laich.
May 2020: Hough and Laich announced their separation.
November 2020: Hough filed for divorce.
June 2022: Their divorce was finalized.
2024: Hough discussed the marriage and its ending during an interview on Armchair Expert.
September 2026: Hough teased that she “might not be single” during an Emmy Awards interview.

The September 2026 comment is the latest significant public development regarding her dating life found in reliable reporting.

Julianne Hough’s Career Before DWTS

Although many people now know Hough primarily as a Dancing with the Stars host, her career has covered several entertainment fields.

Professional dancer

Hough became widely recognized after joining Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer.

She won the competition twice, establishing herself as one of the show’s most successful early professional dancers. Her official website describes those two championship victories as a major part of her career.

Actress

Hough subsequently moved into film and television acting.

Her credits include Footloose, Rock of Ages, Safe Haven, Burlesque and Grease Live! ABC lists several of these projects in her official biography.

Singer

Hough also developed a career as a recording artist.

Her self-titled debut album was released in 2008 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart, helping establish her as a performer beyond dance.

Broadway

In 2022, Hough made her Broadway debut in POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive.

She also participated in the 2026 Tony Awards, where she was among the performers taking part in a special celebration of Chicago‘s 30th anniversary on Broadway. CBS’s official press release confirmed her participation in the performance.

Hough also teased a possible return to Broadway during the 2026 Tony Awards period, although a specific new Broadway production had not been confirmed in the reporting reviewed for this article.

Julianne Hough’s Role as a DWTS Host

Hough’s relationship with Dancing with the Stars has evolved considerably over the years.

She first became famous through the show as a professional dancer. She later returned as a judge before taking on her current role as co-host.

ABC’s official biography describes her as a former two-time champion, former judge and current host of the series.

Her background gives her a unique connection to the contestants.

Unlike a conventional television presenter, Hough understands the physical demands of ballroom competition because she experienced the process herself as a professional dancer.

She also understands the emotional side of the competition, including the pressure of performing live, learning choreography quickly and receiving feedback from judges.

That background has become part of her identity on the current version of the show.

Key Details About Julianne Hough

Here are the most important verified facts readers should know:

Full name: Julianne Alexandra Hough
Born: July 20, 1988
Birthplace: Utah
Age: 38 as of September 2026
Profession: Dancer, actress, singer, television host and entrepreneur
Known for: Dancing with the Stars
DWTS achievement: Two-time professional champion
Current DWTS role: Co-host
Current co-host: Alfonso Ribeiro
Brother: Derek Hough
Former husband: Brooks Laich
Marriage: 2017
Divorce finalized: June 2022
Broadway debut: POTUS in 2022
Current DWTS season: Season 35 in 2026

Her official website confirms her July 20, 1988 birth date, Utah roots and two Dancing with the Stars championship wins. ABC confirms her current role as host.

What Officials and Organizations Said

ABC has officially confirmed Hough’s role as co-host for Season 35.

The network’s September 2026 announcement listed Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro as the hosts, with Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli serving as judges.

ABC’s official Dancing with the Stars page also lists Julianne Hough as a host and identifies her as an Emmy Award winner with a background in dance, acting, music and Broadway.

On the personal side, there has been no comparable official announcement confirming a new relationship.

The latest confirmed information is Hough’s own playful statement to E! that she “might not be single.” Because she did not identify another person, it would be premature to report a specific new relationship as fact.

Why Julianne Hough Matters to DWTS

Hough’s importance to Dancing with the Stars goes beyond her current hosting duties.

She is part of the show’s history.

She entered the franchise as a professional dancer, won two championships and later became a judge. Her move into the hosting role represents another stage in a long relationship with the program.

That history also helps explain why she remains a familiar face to longtime viewers.

Season 35 is particularly significant for the franchise because the show continues to combine established television personalities, actors, athletes, musicians and other public figures in a live dance competition.

The 2026 season also represents another opportunity for Hough to combine her performance background with her television-presenting experience. ABC and BBC Studios continue to position the program around celebrity contestants, professional dancers and live ballroom performances.

What Happens Next for Julianne Hough?

The immediate confirmed priority for Hough is Dancing with the Stars Season 35.

The series continues with new episodes on Tuesdays, with ABC and Disney+ carrying the live broadcasts and Hulu providing next-day streaming.

Beyond DWTS, Hough has continued to maintain interests in acting, Broadway, dance, wellness and entrepreneurship.

ABC’s biography says she has several dance-focused projects in development and is returning to film in 2026 in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Bride.

A possible Broadway return has also been discussed, but no specific new Broadway production should be treated as confirmed unless an official announcement is made.

As for her love life, the next confirmed development would need to come from Hough herself or a reliable report identifying and independently confirming a relationship.

The Bottom Line on Julianne Hough in 2026

Julianne Hough is currently balancing several parts of her career.

She remains closely associated with Dancing with the Stars, where she is now co-hosting Season 35 with Alfonso Ribeiro. At the same time, her history as a professional dancer, actress, singer and Broadway performer continues to shape her public profile.

Her personal life has also become a talking point after she suggested at the 2026 Emmys that she “might not be single.”

However, there is an important difference between a hint and a confirmed relationship.

As of September 23, 2026, there is no reliable public confirmation identifying a new husband or officially naming a new boyfriend for Julianne Hough. Her former husband is Brooks Laich, and their divorce was finalized in June 2022.

For readers searching for the latest Julianne Hough news, her return to Dancing with the Stars and her recent comments about her personal life are the two developments most relevant to her current public profile.

FAQs

1. Who is Julianne Hough?

Julianne Hough is an American dancer, actress, singer, television host and entrepreneur. She became widely known through Dancing with the Stars, where she won two championships as a professional dancer before later serving as a judge and host.

2. How old is Julianne Hough?

Julianne Hough was born on July 20, 1988. She is 38 years old as of September 2026.

3. Who is Julianne Hough’s husband?

Julianne Hough’s former husband is Brooks Laich, a former professional hockey player. They married in 2017 and finalized their divorce in June 2022.

4. Is Julianne Hough married in 2026?

No current marriage has been publicly confirmed. Her divorce from Brooks Laich was finalized in June 2022. In September 2026, Hough hinted that she “might not be single,” but she did not announce a new marriage.

5. Does Julianne Hough have a boyfriend?

Hough recently suggested that she might not be single during an E! interview at the 2026 Emmy Awards. However, she did not publicly identify a new boyfriend, so the identity of any current partner remains unconfirmed.

6. Is Julianne Hough still on Dancing with the Stars?

Yes. Julianne Hough is a co-host of Dancing with the Stars Season 35 alongside Alfonso Ribeiro. The 2026 season premiered on September 15 and 16.

7. Is Derek Hough related to Julianne Hough?

Yes. Derek Hough is Julianne Hough’s brother. He is also a Dancing with the Stars judge, while Julianne currently serves as one of the show’s hosts.

8. Has Julianne Hough been on Broadway?

Yes. Hough made her Broadway debut in 2022 in POTUS. She also participated in the 2026 Tony Awards’ special celebration of Chicago‘s 30th anniversary.