Derek Hough and wife Hayley Erbert are back on stage, and they’re better than ever!
On Wednesday, April 17, the couple took the spotlight during Hough’s Symphony of Dance Tour performance in Hollywood, Florida, showcasing their incredible chemistry in coordinated sparkly outfits. Hough, 38, wore a shimmering silver jacket over dress pants and a collared shirt, while Erbert, 29, dazzled in a short, sleeveless dress with fringe and stomach cutouts as they danced hand in hand.
Erbert made her triumphant return to the tour on Sunday, April 14, as the 2024 leg of the tour kicked off in Melbourne, Florida. Her comeback came after a four-month recovery following emergency brain surgery. On April 5, the So You Think You Can Dance alum shared with Good Morning America that she had been “cleared to rejoin” the tour, and Hough expressed their excitement, saying they couldn’t “wait to dance together again on stage and be back with all of our fans.”
Erbert, who has been sporting a buzz cut since her surgery, has received an outpouring of love from fans during her performances. After her first show back, Erbert teared up as the crowd cheered for her, sharing the emotional moment in a TikTok video.
In December 2023, Hough revealed that Erbert had been rushed to the hospital after becoming “disoriented” following a Symphony of Dance performance in Washington D.C. She was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and required an emergency craniotomy. Erbert later underwent a second surgery, a cranioplasty, which was successfully completed as planned.
Hough spoke about Erbert’s strength during a February appearance on Good Morning America, reflecting on how much he appreciated her resilience. “During that time, [I] was realizing how important she is — not just as the love of my life — just everyday things,” he said. “It was a moment [for me] to step up. I thought she was strong, and I had no idea how strong she was.”
Erbert also opened up about her healing journey, acknowledging the emotional and physical challenges she’s faced. “To this day, I still have really good days and I have really bad days, emotionally and physically,” she shared in an Instagram video update. “But I’m healing so much better every single day.”
The couple first met in 2014 when Erbert was cast as a dancer for the Move Live Tour with Derek and his sister, Julianne Hough. They began dating the following year and got engaged in June 2022.
Erbert took a moment to express her admiration for her husband’s talent after he won his 4th Emmy for Dancing With the Stars choreography in January, just a month after her surgery. “What a way to be welcomed home after such an unfathomable month. @derekhough, you continue to amaze me with your drive, brilliance, and commitment to excellence,” she wrote on Instagram. “I have loved being able to witness and be a part of your journey this far and cannot wait to see what else the future holds. I love you more than anything and am so unbelievably proud of you, today and always.”