Julianne Hough’s life has experienced some significant highs and lows since she suddenly rose to popularity 18 years ago. At only 19, she became the youngest professional dancer to win on “Dancing With the Stars.” The following year, she won again. The young star seemed unstoppable and was soon acting alongside Cher in “Burlesque” and Tom Cruise in “Rock of Ages.”
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesHowever, in the midst of her upward trajectory, everything suddenly came to a screeching halt. In a conversation with film producer Dhar Mann, Hough recalled what led to her falling into depression and how she got out of it.
Overdraft Fees to Stardom: How Julianne Hough Found Her Place
“I grew up in Utah. I’m the baby of five, and actually became the youngest and only American to ever win the world championship in ballroom and Latin dancing,” Hough told Dhar Mann.
Hough loved dancing, but she aspired to be a singer and actress. She moved to Los Angeles and found roommates, but quickly realized her life was much different than theirs.
“I lived with a bunch of models, which was really fun because they would wake up at 4:00 in the afternoon and get $12,000 checks in the mail,” she said. “And I was getting $33 overdraft fees and like, hustling my butt. Just trying to go to Central casting and go on every audition that I could think of.”
She did what she could, including becoming a Million Dollar Dancer for the game show “Show Me the Money.” But it wasn’t enough.
“I actually remember, it was six months into me living in L.A. that I couldn’t pay my rent anymore,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘What am I gonna do?’ And then, because of my experience as a ballroom and Latin dancer, ‘Dancing With the Stars’ was a new show, the producers of the show asked me if I would be a dancer on the actual TV show. I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll do it.'”
Charley Gallay/Getty ImagesHer star continued to rise for the next decade, until two events caused her world to come crashing down.
“My dogs were killed by coyotes. My marriage started unraveling,” she explained. “But, you know, my career and my friend group, everything that I had known really started taking a different shape. That was very much, like, probably the darkest time.”
Julianne Hough’s Inspiring Advice for Navigating Tough Times
In 2024, Hough appeared on “The Jamie Kern Lima Show” and detailed that awful period in her life. She had asked then-husband, Brooks Laich, for a separation. Ten days later, she lost her dogs. She also had split with her longtime assistant, and was starting the dance and fitness platform, Kinrgy.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images“I’m about to start this company, which is all about helping people connect to themselves and living their most expanded, free self. My assistant and I are breaking up. My husband at the time, I’m asking for a separation because something’s not working. My dogs, who represented unconditional love and safety, gone. I’m like, ‘What am I doing? I’m blowing up my life.’”
Hough’s advice for anyone struggling is to invest in others and not rush the healing process.
“I think that the minute you feel isolated or lonely, the minute you can think about serving someone else, it brings you so much joy and momentum,” she told Dhar Mann.
“Surround yourself with good people,” she continued. “Be in proximity or read the content that inspires you and brings you joy instead of comparison. I think sometimes when we look at so many other people’s stuff, we feel like we have to be like them. But your uniqueness is so beautiful, and you are one of one.”
