Beloved “Dancing with the Stars” judge and six-time Mirrorball champ Derek Hough announced the birth of his and wife, Hayley Erbert’s first child on Monday, January 5. Ahead of the birth announcement, fans were invested in Baby Hough.
The couple gave a glimpse into their journey into parenthood and Erbert’s pregnancy, but they chose not to share some details. But that didn’t stop fans searching for answers!
A Proud Declaration of Fatherhood
When Hough and Erbert posted a black-and-white picture of their daughter’s feet, cradled in their hands, they also included details such as her name and date of birth. “December 29, 2025. Everley Capri Hough,” they wrote on Instagram. “Every step of our lives has led us to you. Our hearts have been cracked wide open, and our world is forever changed.”
Fans had been convinced that Hough and Erbert would be having a girl for months, when he appeared to slip up during a live show on DWTS Season 34, commenting on Jordan Chiles’ dance with her father for Dedication Night. Their followers have also been incredible at finding clues about Baby Hough, and they missed very little.
Hough’s Instagram bio has changed twice within the last few days. A day ago, the dancer’s bio had his daughter’s initials first, hinting at her arrival before the official announcement. Hough’s Instagram bio read, “ECH, 4 X Emmy Award Winner, 6 X DWTS Champion, NYT Best Selling Author, LIVE ON TOUR.” It has changed again, removing ECH and making a very proud declaration: “Girl dad,” followed by a pink heart.
Subtle Baby Hough Clues
When Hough included his daughter’s initials, he removed the sentence “soon to be Daddy.” He has been giving subtle clues, and fans have been eating them up. Erbert has been doing the same. On Sunday, January 4, the day before the big announcement, she posted a video on Instagram. It is filled with clips from 2025. Each clip is only seconds long, but the second-to-last one shows Hough from behind, and he appears to be cradling a baby while looking out at a rainbow.
“2025 It didn’t feel right to post anything about the new year without acknowledging and honoring the last one that changed me,” Erbert wrote in the caption. She discusses all the good things that life has brought her and Hough. The message ends with what she has learned.
“Thank you, 2025, for the wisdom, the growth, and the love,” she wrote. “And most importantly, the reminders to trust that everything will unfold the way it’s supposed to. Cheers to new beginnings and to a new year filled with even more magic.”
