Derek Hough said he never expected that he and his wife, dancer Hayley Erbert Hough, would dance together again during the most frightening moments of her recovery. The couple returned to the Dancing with the Stars ballroom on October 15, 2024, nearly ten months after Hayley’s emergency brain surgery.
Hayley Erbert Hough’s emergency surgery
In December 2023, while Derek and Hayley were on their Symphony of Dance tour, Hayley was hospitalized with a cranial hematoma—blood collecting inside the skull—and underwent an emergency craniectomy, according to PEOPLE’s interview syndicated by Yahoo.
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In the October 15, 2024 Dancing with the Stars show’s introductory video package, Derek recalled being told by a doctor that Hayley had a severe brain bleed and needed surgery immediately. He said the doctor warned that she might not survive or might not be the same person. Those words are Derek’s account of the conversation, not independently verified medical documentation.
Why Derek did not think they would dance again
The couple performed together on the live show on October 15, 2024. Speaking to PEOPLE after the performance, Derek described how far away that outcome had seemed during the crisis: “I was like in those moments we never even, it was not even a thought like, ‘Oh, we’re going to dance again,’ honestly.” The exclusive interview was published October 16, 2024.
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Hayley said that watching footage of the emergency in the show’s introductory package overwhelmed her because her attention had been on making progress one day at a time. She described being back on the show as special.
How the couple approached her return to dancing
Derek said he was unusually mindful of the movements and precautions involved in dancing with Hayley, with her protection in mind. He also said that tour dancers and crew carried badges listing warning signs that should prompt them to seek medical support. Hayley described listening to her body and recognizing when a move or number did not feel right. These were practices the couple reported for their return; they are not medical guidance.
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In an Entertainment Tonight interview reported by PEOPLE on October 21, 2024, Hayley said, “I do have a medical team still around.” The remark offers a later snapshot of her support at that time, not a current update on her health. The follow-up was syndicated by AOL.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The return, in context
The October 2024 ballroom performance was a milestone after a frightening health emergency, but the couple’s own account makes clear that dancing again was not something they assumed during the crisis. Their return came alongside careful attention to Hayley’s limits and continued medical support.
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Quick Recap
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- Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC
- Language: English
- Region: Region 1 U.S. and Canada only
- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Video Run Time: 51 minutes
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