“Dancing with the Stars” judge Derek Hough is giving an update on his wife, Hayley Erbert, three months after her emergency skull surgery – and she might be returning to the stage.
Hough explained that there’s a “strong possibility” Erbert will be dancing alongside him this summer.
“There’s a chance, really,” Derek told E! News about Hayley joining his upcoming summer tour. “And we met dancing on stage on tour. Our first kiss was on stage on tour. We were touring last year as a married couple for the first time, and now with this, going back out, there’s a whole different meaning and energy.”
Hough shared with the outlet that his wife’s health journey has become a source of inspiration for many.
“I might have to rename the tour to the Miracle Tour or something,” he expressed, adding, “because if there’s a moment when she’s with us and dancing on stage, it’s going to be incredibly meaningful. I don’t even know how I’ll manage to get through it. I’m quite emotional.”
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In December, Hough disclosed on social media that Erbert needed urgent medical attention after a performance in Washington, D.C.
Erbert, a professional dancer on “DWTS,” became “disoriented” after her performance and had to be taken to the hospital. She was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma resulting from a burst blood vessel and underwent an emergency craniectomy.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “An intracranial hematoma is a collection of blood within the skull. It’s usually caused by a blood vessel that bursts in the brain.”
Just a week after Erbert’s hospitalization, Hough commended his wife for her strength and resilience.
“Hayley has always inspired me with her determination, strength, and resilience, and never more so than in the last 48 hours,” Hough wrote on Instagram at the time. “She is now on the long road to recovery. Words cannot express how grateful we are for the support and love that you have shown us.”
He added, “The kindness that has been extended to us during this incredibly difficult and life-changing time is beyond measure. The offers of help that have poured in have been so humbling and appreciated. We hope that as a family, we can somehow pay it forward.”
Hough, a three-time Emmy Award winner, holds the record for the most “DWTS” wins as a professional dancer and has collected six mirrorball trophies. He took on the role of a celebrity judge during the 29th season.
Erbert and Hough tied the knot in August before starting their “Symphony of Dance” tour.
The couple started dating in 2015 after meeting on “Dancing with the Stars.” Hough proposed to Erbert in Yosemite National Park in California in 2022.