Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert are among the favorite duos to have come out of Dancing with the Stars.
The Amazing dancers have been in a joyful relationship since 2015. They always please their fans with their stunning performances and a hint of romance during the performance.
Their YouTube channel is proof, which they launched during the height of the pandemic.
The former Dancing With the Stars pro first linked with Erbert after being cast as one of the dancers in his and sister Julianne Hough’s Move Live Tour in 2014.
By July 2015, the entertainers had become partners — and one year later, Erbert made her DWTS debut as a troop dancer.
The Nashville alum has recreated coy about his plans to propose to the So You Think You Can Dance alum for years, telling Us Weekly exclusively in December 2017 that he felt no force to walk down the aisle from his family.
“Oh, no. If anything, [we have] a lot of [family], there’s like 55 nieces and nephews,” he said after Julianne married Brooks Laich. “We got plenty, we’re fine!”
After two years, Derek revealed that an engagement could be close while attending the 87th Annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center in New York City.
“Who knows. You never know. It’s the end of a decade, sorry, it’s the beginning of a new decade!” the Hairspray Live! the actor, interviewed in December 2019. “2020 vision, we’ll see.“
After three months, Derek gushed over his girlfriend and how near they became amid the COVID-19 situation.
“We have been having date nights, which has been nice. We’re getting ready, we’re going to go out to Club Living Room,” he jokingly responded to a question in March 2020.
“We’re going to Chateau Kitchen and, yeah, we’ve been cooking together, which has been really, really nice and it’s been good.“
When it came to participate in the coronavirus quarantine baby boom trend, however, the Emmy winner said he and Erbert weren’t ready to begin a family just yet.
“Who knows? Probably not,” he said. “[Erbert has] been trying to get a new puppy here [though].“
The couple, who share four rescue animals, utilized their time at home to further strengthen their relationship. Once COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in 2021, the pair took the road to perform alongside one another as part of Derek’s two-month residency at the Venetian in Las Vegas.
During one of their first shows in September 2021, Derek joked about getting married at one of the city’s famous little white wedding chapels.
“Honestly all jokes aside, we’re just playing up here,” he told the crowd after dropping to one knee to tie his shoe alongside Erbert. “But it really is really special to be able to do something that you love on the stage with somebody that you love so much. It really is special.“
The Ted 2 dancer agreed, saying, “Speaking of love though, I just absolutely love when he jokes around with me, like that little proposal shenanigan. Funny, wasn’t it?“
Erbert then poked fun at her love, adding, “Yeah, so because of that I have a little surprise for him. … If I’m not going to wear a ring, he’s not going to wear his pants! Let’s see how this goes.“
Hayley Erbert has been Dancing Since She was Three Years Old
Hayley Erbert is from Topeka, Kansas, and has been dancing since she was three years old. She is trained in all dance styles, and while she was still in high school, she contested in season ten of So You Think You Can Dance and made it among the top three females.
Hayley has performed in numerous award shows and films, dancing alongside Carrie Underwood, Pitbull, and Paula Abdul.
Hayley also placed second for Miss Kansas in the 2013 Miss Teen USA pageant as a dancer and a qualified gymnast.
Hayley was a troupe dancer in six seasons of Dancing with the Stars before announcing in 2019 that she would not be returning to the show.
When did Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert meet?
Derek and Hayley first met after she was hired as one of the dancers in his and sister Julianne Hough’s Move Live Tour in 2014.
During this time, she was spotted by a DWTS producer who cast her as a troupe dancer on the show, and by 2015, Derek and Hayley were romantically attached.
The pair live together in California with their four rescue animals and often share loved-up posts on social media, giving fans an insight into their relationship.
Gushing over his other half in an interview with ET in 2018, Derek said of Hayley: “She’s grounded. She’s really, really grounded – just really down to earth, and just has a good heart and a beautiful soul.”
Reason of Hayley Erbert leaving DWTS
In 2019, Hayley shared the heartbreaking news that she was out from the 28th season of the show. Sharing a post on Instagram, she wrote at the time: “As some of you may already know, I unfortunately will not be a part of DWTS this season. The past 3.5 years have been the most incredible journey for me.
“To have been a part of this show for 7 seasons, 4 tours, and a mentor on DWTS Juniors is beyond anything I could have imagined. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years, I adore you all and would not be where I am without your love.
“I want to wish everyone in my dancing fam the best of luck this season! They all will kill it as usual! As sad as I am to not be a part of this season, life has decided to guide me in a different direction, and I am excited to see where it will take me. Much love.”
She has since returned to the show to perform with Derek for their extraordinary performances, the most recent being a thrilling Tango on Horror the 30th season’s Horror Night.
