This week, Derek Hough made a triumphant return to the “Dancing With the Stars” stage alongside his wife, Hayley Erbert, marking a moment he never thought would be possible again. After a harrowing experience last year, where Erbert underwent emergency brain surgery following a collapse during a performance, both Hough and Erbert faced uncertainty about their future in dance. The couple's heartfelt reunion on stage has been a testament to their strength and resilience in the face of overwhelming challenges.
Their story takes a deeper turn when you consider that just a year ago, doctors informed Hough that his beloved wife might not survive her severe medical crisis. In an emotional interview, Hough expressed how unbelievable it feels to dance with her again, underscoring the miraculous nature of their journey. The couple's recent performance to Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things (Acoustic)” was not just a dance; it was an emotional release that left the audience roaring with applause.
Reflecting on the journey, Hough reminisced about the dark moments during the previous December when their lives changed dramatically. While performing, he received news that Erbert was having seizures and was in critical condition. This traumatic event led to a series of medical procedures that tested not only their physical limits but also their emotional fortitude. Watching their story unfold is a reminder of the power of love and the human spirit's ability to overcome adversity.
This week, Derek Hough took the “Dancing With the Stars” stage with his wife Hayley Erbert — something he thought he’d never do again.
Last year, Erbert underwent emergency brain surgery after collapsing backstage while touring with Hough. That night at the hospital, doctors told the six-time “DWTS” champion that his wife, as he knew her, was gone.
“It was not even a thought like, ‘Oh, we’re going to dance again,’ honestly,” Hough said in an interview published Wednesday with People magazine. “And then to be here, it’s unbelievable. It’s just hard to put it into words.”
Hough and Erbert’s routine to Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things (Acoustic)” featured moments of technical precision as well as emotional catharsis. At its close, the couple shared a kiss before Hough stepped back, leaving Erbert to bask in the spotlight — and roaring applause. Clutching her heart, she took a bow.
Before the performance Tuesday night, the show aired a segment during which Hough looked back on the nightmare that unfolded last December.
Xochitl Gomez had just taken home the mirrorball trophy, and newlyweds Hough and Erbert were midway through their Symphony of Dance tour when their lives “came to a screeching halt in the most devastating way,” he said.
“I was on stage,
