On February 2, the day after the 2026 Grammys, Derek Hough opened up to his fans about why he skipped the event.
The “Dancing With the Stars” judge, who has won the Mirror Ball Trophy a record six times, looked ready to grace the red carpet as he posed by his piano in a sleek black suit. However, he revealed he never actually ended up leaving his house.
Derek wrote, “About to walk out the door and hit the Grammys last night. Picked up my girl to say goodbye, and then never walked out the door. The heart had other plans that night.”
Derek Hough’s Friens & costars Support his Decision to Skip the Grammys
“Jane the Virgin” star Gina Rodriguez hit up the comments to express that she totally understood Derek’s choice to stay home with his new baby girl, Everley Capri, whom he welcomed with wife Hayley Erbert on December 29, 2025.
The actress simply wrote, “Yup,” before leaving a heart eyes emoji.
Shirley Ballas, the mother of Derek’s longtime “DWTS” comrade Mark Ballas, also chimed in, encouraging Derek to “enjoy every second” before adding, “Time goes by so fast. You cannot replace time.”
Derek’s costar Val Chmerkovskiy, who shares a 2-year-old with wife and fellow “DWTS” pro Jenna Johnson, commented, “Yep. Check out brother.” Val’s brother, former pro Maksim, wrote, “Exactly how this works” before leaving a smiley face.
Derek Recently Shared a Sentimental Note for His Longtime Dog, Romie
Around January 2, the dance star wrote a heartwarming message to his dog Romie, whom he rescued over a decade ago. He reflected, “This morning I caught my boy gazing into the distance and it hit me how much time has passed, how his hearing’s faded, how it’s harder for him to rise, and yet how he still lights up with bursts of joy. I know the inevitable is creeping closer, and sometimes that uncertainty brings me to tears.”
Derek went on, “So I thank him, every day, for the love he’s given me, for all the moments we’ve shared.
Each time I leave, I grab his face and whisper, “Thank you, Thank you, I love you.” Because I know one day, whether I’m ready or not, I’ll have to say goodbye. But until then, I’ll cherish every glance, every tail wag, and every bit of love he’s given me. Fourteen years with my boy, my constant companion, my little shadow.”
Hayley replied to his post, writing, “Our sweet, stinky, perfect boy. I’m so happy he is around to watch his sister be born. Grateful he gets to be even a small part of Everley’s life.”
