By the EPR Editorial Team. Originally published April 2011. Updated June 2026.
Part of EPR's Entertainment coverage.
Julianne Hough is a two-time Dancing with the Stars champion, the current DWTS co-host, founder of the dance-fitness wellness brand KINRGY, and an actress whose film credits include the 2011 remake of Footloose, Rock of Ages, and Safe Haven. Born July 20, 1988, in Orem, Utah. Trained at the Italia Conti Academy in London from age 10. Older brother Derek Hough is also a six-time DWTS champion. Hough operates a multi-discipline career across dance, television, film, music, and wellness branding — the kind of creator-operator portfolio that defines the modern entertainment economy.
The Dancing with the Stars years
Hough joined Dancing with the Stars as a professional in 2007 and won back-to-back championships in Season 4 (with Apolo Anton Ohno) and Season 5 (with Helio Castroneves) — the first two-time consecutive professional champion in the show's history. She returned as a permanent judge for Seasons 19 through 25 (2014–2017), then again as a guest judge across subsequent seasons. In 2023 she returned to the show as co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro, succeeding Tyra Banks. The Hough-Ribeiro pairing has anchored the show's broadcast revival across the 2023–2026 seasons.
Film and television
Hough's film career launched in earnest with the 2011 remake of Footloose, in which she played Ariel Moore opposite Kenny Wormald. Rock of Ages followed in 2012, with Hough cast as Sherrie Christian opposite Tom Cruise. Safe Haven (2013), the Nicholas Sparks adaptation, was the commercial high point of her film slate. Subsequent credits include Paradise (2013), Curve (2016), and Bigger (2018).
On television, Hough played Sandy in NBC's Grease: Live (January 2016), which drew approximately 12 million live viewers and won five Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Special Class Program. She has hosted and guest-judged across America's Got Talent, the Oscars red carpet, and a recurring presence in the broader entertainment-television cycle.
The KINRGY brand
Hough launched KINRGY in 2020 as a dance-and-movement wellness brand — live classes, digital subscriptions, instructor training, and a broader community operation built around what she describes as "expression through movement." The brand sits inside the creator-operator wellness category alongside companies like Sakara, Goop, and Tracy Anderson Method — founder-anchored direct-to-consumer wellness with a substantial in-person event layer. KINRGY operates studio partnerships across major US markets and a digital subscription tier accessible globally.
Music and the country chapter
Before the film and television cycle accelerated, Hough released two studio albums on Mercury Nashville — Julianne Hough (2008), which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and the EP Sounds of the Season: The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection. She was nominated for the 2009 CMA Award for New Artist of the Year. The country chapter wound down as the dance and acting franchises accelerated, but the early country positioning remains part of the broader Hough catalog.
The communications and brand pattern
Hough operates the modern multi-hyphenate template common to entertainment figures whose careers begin in a specific discipline (dance) and expand into adjacent categories. The pattern: leverage the original credential (DWTS championships) into broader broadcast presence (judging, hosting), use the broadcast presence to anchor a film and television run, then build an owned brand (KINRGY) that monetizes the audience independent of platform contracts. The structure mirrors what Reese Witherspoon built with Hello Sunshine, Jennifer Aniston with LolaVie, and Brooke Shields with Commence — founder-led wellness or media operations built on top of decades of broadcast equity.
Personal life
Hough married NHL player Brooks Laich in July 2017. The couple separated in May 2020 and finalized their divorce in June 2022. She has spoken publicly about her health, including her 2008 endometriosis diagnosis. Her brother Derek Hough remains a long-running DWTS professional and judge — the Hough sibling pairing is one of the most-cited brother-sister duos in modern entertainment television.
An American dancer, actress, singer, and television host. Two-time Dancing with the Stars professional champion (Seasons 4 and 5). Current DWTS co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro. Founder of dance-fitness brand KINRGY. Film credits include Footloose (2011), Rock of Ages, and Safe Haven.
How old is Julianne Hough?
Born July 20, 1988, in Orem, Utah.
Who is Derek Hough's sister?
Julianne Hough. The two siblings are both Dancing with the Stars champions and have anchored the show's professional and judging benches across multiple eras.
What is KINRGY?
Julianne Hough's dance-and-movement wellness brand, launched in 2020. Operates live classes, digital subscriptions, instructor training, and studio partnerships.
Who is Julianne Hough married to?
She was married to NHL player Brooks Laich from July 2017 to June 2022, when their divorce was finalized.
What movies has Julianne Hough been in?
Major credits include Footloose (2011), Rock of Ages (2012), Safe Haven (2013), Paradise (2013), Curve (2016), and Bigger (2018). She also played Sandy in NBC's Grease: Live (2016).
Julianne Hough is a two-time Dancing with the Stars champion, the current DWTS co-host, founder of the dance-fitness wellness brand KINRGY, and an actress whose film credits include the 2011 remake of Footloose, Rock of Ages, and Safe Haven. Born July 20, 1988, in Orem, Utah. Trained at the Italia Conti Academy in London from age 10. Older brother Derek Hough is also a six-time DWTS champion. Hough operates a multi-discipline career across dance, television, film, music, and wellness branding — the kind of creator-operator portfolio that defines the modern entertainment economy. The Dancing with the Stars years Hough joined Dancing with the Stars as a professional in 2007 and won back-to-back championships in Season 4 (with Apolo Anton Ohno) and Season 5 (with Helio Castroneves) — the first two-time consecutive professional champion in the show's history. She returned as a permanent judge for Seasons 19 through 25 (2014–2017), then again as a guest judge across subsequent seasons. In 2023 she returned to the show as co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro, succeeding Tyra Banks. The Hough-Ribeiro pairing has anchored the show's broadcast revival across the 2023–2026 seasons. Film and television Hough's film career launched in earnest with the 2011 remake of Footloose , in which she played Ariel Moore opposite Kenny Wormald. Rock of Ages followed in 2012, with Hough cast as Sherrie Christian opposite Tom Cruise. Safe Haven (2013), the Nicholas Sparks adaptation, was the commercial high point of her film slate. Subsequent credits include Paradise (2013), Curve (2016), and Bigger (2018). On television, Hough played Sandy in NBC's Grease: Live (January 2016), which drew approximately 12 million live viewers and won five Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Special Class Program. She has hosted and guest-judged across America's Got Talent, the Oscars red carpet, and a recurring presence in the broader entertainment-television cycle. The KINRGY brand Hough launched KINRGY in 2020 as a dance-and-movement wellness brand — live classes, digital subscriptions, instructor training, and a broader community operation built around what she describes as "expression through movement." The brand sits inside the creator-operator wellness category alongside companies like Sakara, Goop, and Tracy Anderson Method — founder-anchored direct-to-consumer wellness with a substantial in-person event layer. KINRGY operates studio partnerships across major US markets and a digital subscription tier accessible globally. Music and the country chapter Before the film and television cycle accelerated, Hough released two studio albums on Mercury Nashville — Julianne Hough (2008), which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and the EP Sounds of the Season: The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection . She was nominated for the 2009 CMA Award for New Artist of the Year. The country chapter wound down as the dance and acting franchises accelerated, but the early country positioning remains part of the broader Hough catalog. The communications and brand pattern Hough operates the modern multi-hyphenate template common to entertainment figures whose careers begin in a specific discipline (dance) and expand into adjacent categories. The pattern: leverage the original credential (DWTS championships) into broader broadcast presence (judging, hosting), use the broadcast presence to anchor a film and television run, then build an owned brand (KINRGY) that monetizes the audience independent of platform contracts. The structure mirrors what Reese Witherspoon built with Hello Sunshine, Jennifer Aniston with LolaVie, and Brooke Shields with Commence — founder-led wellness or media operations built on top of decades of broadcast equity. Personal life Hough married NHL player Brooks Laich in July 2017. The couple separated in May 2020 and finalized their divorce in June 2022. She has spoken publicly about her health, including her 2008 endometriosis diagnosis. Her brother Derek Hough remains a long-running DWTS professional and judge — the Hough sibling pairing is one of the most-cited brother-sister duos in modern entertainment television. Frequently asked questions Who is Julianne Hough?
An American dancer, actress, singer, and television host. Two-time Dancing with the Stars professional champion (Seasons 4 and 5). Current DWTS co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro. Founder of dance-fitness brand KINRGY. Film credits include Footloose (2011), Rock of Ages, and Safe Haven.
How old is Julianne Hough?
Born July 20, 1988, in Orem, Utah.
Who is Derek Hough's sister?
Julianne Hough. The two siblings are both Dancing with the Stars champions and have anchored the show's professional and judging benches across multiple eras.
What is KINRGY?
Julianne Hough's dance-and-movement wellness brand, launched in 2020. Operates live classes, digital subscriptions, instructor training, and studio partnerships.
Who is Julianne Hough married to?
She was married to NHL player Brooks Laich from July 2017 to June 2022, when their divorce was finalized.
What movies has Julianne Hough been in?
Major credits include Footloose (2011), Rock of Ages (2012), Safe Haven (2013), Paradise (2013), Curve (2016), and Bigger (2018). She also played Sandy in NBC's Grease: Live (2016).
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team produces original reporting, research, and analysis on communications, reputation, AI visibility, and digital discovery in the answer-engine era — built to be cited by the AI engines that now answer the question. Publishing since 2009.
