Julianne Hough Biography

Date of Birth

20 December 1988, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Birth Name

Julianne Alexandra Hough

Nickname

Jules

Height

5' 3" (1.6 m)

Mini Biography

A true triple-threat, Emmy Award-winner Julianne Hough is known to audiences around the world for her success in the worlds of film, television and music. She became a household name virtually overnight as a two-time professional champion on ABC's top-rated "Dancing With the Stars," before making a seamless transition to award-winning recording artist and making her mark on the world of motion pictures, recognized by the National Association of Theatre Owners as Rising Star of the Year at the 2011 CinemaCon Conventions.

In 2013, Julianne starred opposite Josh Duhamel in Nicholas Sparks' "Safe Haven," directed by Lasse Hallstrom, which topped the box-office on its Valentine's Day opening and earned her a Teen Choice Award nomination. Prior to that, she starred opposite Russell Brand and Octavia Spencer in Diablo Cody's "Paradise," marking the Oscar-winning screenwriter's directorial debut. She starred as Sherrie Christian, the female lead in the film adaptation of the international musical sensation, "Rock of Ages," part of a superstar cast including Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand and Mary J. Blige. She made headlines by winning the coveted female lead role in Paramount's 2011 remake of the classic movie musical, "Footloose," and critics praised her performance in the film. She made her film debut in the star-studded ensemble of Screen Gems' musical "Burlesque," working alongside an all-star cast, including Cher, Christina Aguilera, Stanley Tucci, Kristen Bell and Cam Gigandet. She appeared recently in the comedy "Dirty Grandpa," opposite Robert De Niro and Zac Efron, and will next star as fitness pioneer Betty Weider in the upcoming feature "Bigger."

On January 31, 2016, Julianne fulfilled her lifelong dream of playing the role of Sandy in FOX Television's critical and ratings hit, "Grease Live!," which was nominated for 10 Emmy Awards, winning four awards including Outstanding Special Class Program. As performed by Julianne and the cast, the show-stopping "You're the One That I Want" won the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Musical Moment, beating such heavy hitters as Ariana Grande and John Legend's "Beauty and the Beast," Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling" and the Ryan Gosling-Emma Stone duet, "City of Stars" from "La La Land."

In 2014, Julianne and her brother, Derek, produced, co-directed and starred in MOVE Live on Tour, which sold out theaters across North America. They followed that success with an all-new production in Summer 2015, which featured live vocal performances by Julianne and Derek in addition to fresh, exciting choreography featuring the superstar siblings and the MOVE Company Dancers.

They hit the road again in 2017 with MOVE Beyond Live on Tour, their biggest and best show yet, with brand-new stage production inspired by the elements - earth, wind, fire, and water - which the duo have infused into fresh, high impact choreography that only they can deliver. The show brought fans on a journey of dance and music, taking inspiration directly from the four elements as an exploration of the human relationship with nature. The pair was joined by the Move Company Dancers for group performances in styles ranging from ballroom and tap to salsa and hip-hop and everything in between.

In 2015, Julianne launched her lifestyle website and blog, Jules.

A born entertainer, Julianne Hough (pronounced "Huff") always loved singing, dancing and acting. At age 10, she was presented with an opportunity to study performing arts in London, which established her fierce independence and was the beginning of a period of intense training and education. She returned to Utah at age 15 and, after graduating high school, moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams of a career in entertainment.

Quickly earning a solid reputation for her talent, discipline and professionalism, it took less than a month for Julianne to land a job as a dancer on the ABC game show, "Show Me The Money," and shortly thereafter joined the "Dancing With the Stars" tour as a company dancer before joining the cast of the hit series in the show's fourth season, where she was paired with two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner Apolo Anton Ohno. She toured with the troupe again, before returning to the hit show for seasons five through eight, pairing with Indy race champion Helio Castroneves, comedian Adam Carolla, actor Cody Linley and country singer Chuck Wicks. Hough remains the youngest dancer to have won the competition twice, with partners Ohno and Castroneves. Her skills as a choreographer also led to a collaboration with Gwen Stefani on the singer's "Wind It Up" video.

Julianne earned Emmy nominations in 2008 and 2009 for Best Choreography for her work on the show and in 2015, won the Emmy for choreographing, along with her brother Derek and Tessandra Chavez, her and Derek's memorable performance of Sia's "Elastic Heart," performed live by the singer-songwriter.

Following her departure from "Dancing With the Stars," Julianne made several appearances on the show to promote her films and as a guest judge. She thrilled fans when she returned full-time to the ballroom as a judge for three hit seasons in 2014-15 and again in Fall 2016 and Spring 2017.

Julianne's self-titled debut album, released by Universal Music Group Nashville in 2008, hit the Billboard Country charts at #1 and entered the Billboard 200 at #3, marking the highest debut for a country artist since 2006. Her first two singles from the album, "That Song in My Head" and "My Hallelujah Song," soared up the country charts and she earned her first two 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards for Top New Female Vocalist and Top New Artist.

Hitting the road for the first time as a recording artist in 2009, Julianne opened for superstar Brad Paisley and later toured with George Strait, playing over 100 shows. Her second album, The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection, became an instant holiday classic for her legions of fans, distributed exclusively at Target.

In 2009, Julianne also starred in her first fitness DVD, "Cardio Ballroom," the first in a series designed to motivate exercise novices and enthusiasts alike on the dance floor. The second, "Just Dance!," was released in 2010, also topping sales charts for months.

In 2012, she created her own shoe line, Julianne Hough for Sole Society, a collaboration with leading women's footwear designer Vince Camuto and is highly sought-after in the world of commercials and endorsements, as an international spokesperson for Proactiv Solution and previously as the official spokesperson for Venus Embrace, co-authoring their "Goddess Guide to Getting Closer" for the company's 2009 marketing campaign. She was featured in the iconic Got Milk? Campaign and sang an updated version of the Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum theme, "The Taste is Gonna Move Ya," with numerous international campaigns in the works.

Julianne has a long-term partnership with MPG Activewear, which was introduced with 12 favorite styles curated and selected by Julianne from the popular line's Spring/Summer 2016 collection and now features quarterly collections designed by Julianne. She is the face of Giorgio Beverly Hills Fragrances, celebrating the iconic brand's 35th anniversary and the recent introduction of Giorgio Beverly Hills Glam. Julianne executive produced and she and Derek hosted a family Thanksgiving special for Disney that aired on ABC in November 2016, as well as "The Disney Parks' Magical Christmas Celebration," which aired on Christmas Day and was nominated for an Emmy. In May 2017, Julianne executive produced and co-hosted The Miss USA Competition for the second time.

In addition to her performing career, Julianne is also active in a wide range of philanthropic endeavors, charities and humanitarian efforts. Julianne has joined forces with the Kind Campaign to create and host Kind Camp, empowering and encouraging girls to be confident, beautiful women and to eradicate girl against girl bullying. Her charitable affiliations range from numerous causes and organizations that serve women and girls to those that are fueled by her lifelong passion for dogs and other animals, among many others.

Trivia

Julianne is the fifth and youngest child of her parents' marriage. Her siblings, starting with the eldest, are: sisters Sharee Hough, Mara Beth Hough and Katherine Hough; brother Derek Hough, who appeared with her on Dancing with the Stars (2005). (They also have 9 stepsiblings from their parents' second marriages.) All have been active in theater arts since early childhood, inspired by their mother's enrolling them in numerous performing courses; they billed themselves as "The Blond Osmonds".

Her last name is pronounced "Huff".

Ranked #30 on Maxim magazine's Hot 100 Women of 2008 list.

Had surgery to remove her appendix on October 28, 2008.

Country music singer and professional dancer.

Ex-girlfriend of actor Kevin Connolly and singer Chuck Wicks [2008-2009]. At age 18, she was engaged to Zack Wilson in 2006.

Has 15 nieces and nephews - Paris, Willow, Skye, Star, Bronson, Max, Griffin, Evelyn, Hayden, Tyler, Latelyn, AR and Quaid Wise (from sister Sharee Hough), Aidan Poole (from sister Mara Beth Hough), Ariana Phillips (from sister Katherine Hough).

One of her idols is Dolly Parton.

Julianne was head girl at the Italia Conti Academy.

Niece of John Hough and Tina Hough, owners of the Roosevelt Hotel in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Girlfriend of Ryan Seacrest [June 2010 - March 2013].

Cousin of Lorien Hough-Cord. Second cousin of Ross Lynch, Riker Lynch, Rocky Lynch, Ryland Lynch and Rydel Lynch; their maternal grandmothers are sisters.

Daughter of Marriann Nelson and Bruce Robert Hough.

She has English, Dutch, French-Canadian, German, Swiss-German, Scots-Irish, Scottish, Danish, Swedish, and French ancestry.

Eliminated in season 6 on Dancing with the Stars (2005) with Adam Carolla. [March 2008]

She and partner Helio Castroneves were crowned the winners of Dancing with the Stars (2005) Season 5. [November 2007]

She and partner Apolo Ohno were crowned the winners of Dancing with the Stars (2005) Season 4. [May 2007]

Signed a record deal with Universal Music Group and was expected to release a country single in early 2008. [December 2007]

Was in fourth place in season 6 on Dancing with the Stars (2005) with Cody Linley. [November 2008]

Very good friends with The Vampire Diaries (2009) actress Nina Dobrev.

Engaged to Washington Capitals center, Brooks Laich [August 18, 2015].

Bought a house for 8 million in North Idaho in the summer of 2015.

(July 8, 2017) Married her boyfriend of 3 years Brooks Laich near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, following a 23-month-long engagement. The couple said their vows in front of more than 200 guests including family and close friends.

She is deathly afraid of snakes.

Suffers from endometriosis, and has undergone laser surgery to remove scar tissue from her "female areas".

Quotes

I suck at [being guarded]. I'm an open book. I have no filter. And sometimes that's a bad thing. But at least you know it's honest.

I think it's important to be happy before you can make anybody else happy.

Adrenaline is the reason I do what I do.

I had a hard time with bullying. I ate lunch in the bathroom.

I try to bring my mascara everywhere because I'm a blonde and you know blondes have really light eyelashes, you always wanna put more and more on 'til they look like spiders, that's just what I do.

I think every girl needs to love herself, regardless of anything. Like if you're having a bad day, if you don't like your hair, if you don't have the best family situation, whatever, you have to love yourself and you can't do anything until you love yourself first.

It's the oddest match: Mary J. Blige and Julianne Hough! But we became so close.

I've always wanted to sing country music.

There was a time when my mom would sew costumes for the dance studio so we could keep doing our classes because we couldn't afford them.

Sometimes, if I have a big enough purse, I'll bring my perfume or something. Right now, I really like Beaute, it's by Johan B. and it's really nice, so I like that.

I'm very blessed and I don't take anything for granted.

I've always had God, but now I want to go back to church for the sense of community and that feeling of positive thinking, a place where I can think about being a better person.

I'm so lucky that I have a great relationship.

I'm just taking it one day at a time. Actually, that's a total lie. I always think about what's in front of me.

I've grown up with country music. I love how real everybody is, not just the artists, but the fans.

There is something so rewarding about dancing. It's almost spiritual - you let loose, you feel free, you get endorphins from the exercise.

A lot of people don't know this, but when Dancing with the Stars (2005) first asked me to be on the show, I said no, because I wanted to act and to be taken seriously.

I think at the end of the day you have to find a balance with what's really important.

Acting is like free therapy! Trying to make people laugh or cry can be inspiring.

I definitely listened to country music. I don't think I listened to hair bands as much as I did Bruce Springsteen and U2 and Aerosmith.

You have to remember where you came from, and I definitely have enough brothers and sisters to kick me in the butt whenever I get out of line!

I cannot go to sleep without reading.

Dancing and acting satisfy me in different ways.

I'd get invited to parties, and instead it would be these abandoned houses.

But trust me, if I lived in the '80s, I would definitely be the one going to the record stores.

I think if you alienate people and just focus on your work then it just becomes lonely and it's not fun anymore.

If I had been living through the '80s, I probably would've gotten into a lot more trouble than my parents.

I've experienced a lot for someone my age that a lot of people will be able to relate to.

I'm a chatterbox.

My first dance ever on Dancing with the Stars (2005) was to "Let's Hear it for the Boy".

I've always wanted to be like the Hollywood Golden Age actors.

Okay, I'll say I would go back in time and bring scientists with me and create a hairspray that would not cause global warming. But it would still give us '80s hair.

Well, I was in the generation of CDs, so when I moved to L.A., I think I probably brought my Shania Twain "Come on Over" CD and that's about it.

Well, what I love about '80s rock music is the amazing, fantastic melodies.

My go-to prebikini flat-ab move is the plank, all different types.

I totally think there was a country hair phase. If you look at all the mullets, and Dolly Parton, and Reba McEntire's hair, Tim McGraw's hair, Blake Shelton's hair, they definitely had their moments.

It's very cool to be able to say that my first real film was Footloose (2011) and in my second film, I got to star alongside Tom Cruise and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

I'm real, and that what you see is what you get with me. I want people to know that I'm just Julianne. I'm not somebody that needs to be put up on a pedestal.

I knew if I stayed in London, my whole life would be dancing. I'd won almost every major title you can. I thought "This really isn't my passion. I really want to sing," and I knew I wouldn't be able to if I stayed there.