Julianne Hough is feeling more prepared than ever for motherhood. The “Dancing with the Stars” co-host recently opened up about how her brother Derek Hough expecting his first child with wife Hayley Erbert has shifted her perspective and amplified her desire to start a family of her own.
During an appearance on “The Jennifer Hudson Show”, Julianne, 37, admitted she has felt a noticeable change as Derek enters this next chapter. “My ovaries are screaming,” she joked, adding that this is the first time she is viewing motherhood “through different eyes” as she watches her brother prepare for fatherhood.
Julianne shared that while she’s been an aunt since she was 11, this milestone feels different. She called Derek and Hayley “a beautiful couple” and believes their baby will be “creative” and “talented.” She also said she’s fully ready for her new role as “Aunt Juju,” though she laughed that she still needs to “find a love first” before her own motherhood journey begins.
Derek and Hayley, who married in 2023, announced their pregnancy in July with a sweet Instagram video showing sonogram photos. Derek previously told E! News that they always envisioned having children and were excited for “little dancing children running around.”
She Says Seeing Derek’s Baby on the Way Helped Her Envision Her Own Future
While Julianne is excited to welcome a new niece or nephew, she’s also been reflecting on what she wants next for herself. On the show, she said she feels ready for motherhood in a way she never has before, crediting Derek’s pregnancy news for helping her imagine her own future family.
Earlier this month, she also celebrated Hayley’s baby shower, which she co-hosted alongside DWTS pros Britt Stewart and Jessica Gee. In a video posted to Instagram, Julianne shared moments from the celebration and wrote, “Aunt JuJu could not love you more.” According to People, Derek surprised Hayley by showing up at the event, and Julianne joked that she wasn’t sure who was more excited for the baby — the parents or herself.
Hayley, glowing in a yellow maxi dress, celebrated with friends and DWTS family members including Sasha Farber, Mark Ballas, BC Jean and Angela Ribeiro.
Julianne Has Been Preparing for Motherhood, Including Freezing Her Eggs
Julianne’s growing readiness for motherhood also connects to a step she took earlier this year. In July 2025, she revealed to People that she had completed her third round of egg freezing as part of taking control of her fertility.
Diagnosed with endometriosis at 19, Julianne said the process helped free her from the “psychological fear” of a ticking biological clock. She described this most recent round as empowering, explaining that she administered the injections herself and leaned on friends who had been through it.
Julianne said sharing her journey publicly wasn’t originally planned, but she realized how important it was to others. “If sharing just a small piece of my journey helps someone feel less alone,” she said, “then I feel like it’s worth it.”
