Dancing is their love language! Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert began captivating audiences with their stage chemistry well before they started dating.
The former Dancing With the Stars pro first connected with Erbert after she was cast as one of the dancers in his and sister Julianne Hough’s Move Live Tour in 2014. By July 2015, the performers had become a couple — and one year later, Erbert made her DWTS debut as a troop dancer.
The Nashville alum has played 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 pressure 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!”
Two years later, Derek hinted 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! actor told Us in December 2019. “2020 vision, we’ll see.”
Three months later, Derek gushed over his girlfriend and how close they became amid the COVID-19 crisis.
“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 told Us 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 taking part in the coronavirus quarantine baby boom trend, however, the Emmy winner said he and Erbert weren’t ready to start 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, used their time at home to further cement their relationship. Once COVID-19 restrictions lifted in 2021, the pair took to 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.”
Scroll down to relive Derek and Erbert’s love story:
Erbert joined Derek and his sister Julianne on their Move Live Tour in both 2014 and 2015.
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The couple began dating after working together for more than one year.
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
The Kansas native was a troupe dancer on Dancing With the Stars for multiple seasons, beginning in 2016. She crossed paths with Derek on occasion and later returned to the show in October 2020 for a steamy paso doble with her love.
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The pair rescued a kitten, which they later named Palo, on their way home from an Emmys pre-show party. “Definitely a turn of events but I truly believe we were meant to save his life,” Erbert wrote in a social media post at the time. “Even if that means in a sparkly dress and heels.”
Courtesy Derek Hough/Instagram
“Happy Birthday to my love. You fill my heart with so much joy. I love our crazy adventures together or just sitting on the couch with our bodies entangled watching a movie,” the Utah native wrote via Instagram in honor of his girlfriend’s birthday. “I find myself smiling at you in random moments. Fully feeling the effect you’ve made in my life. This surprising journey fills my heart with so much gratitude. Today I celebrate and am truly thankful you were born.”
Courtesy of Derek Hough/Instagram
The lovebirds celebrated Christmas together in Park City, Utah.
Courtesy of Derek Hough/Instagram
The twosome packed on the PDA while on a trip to Paris.
Courtesy of Hayley Erbert/Instagram
“Had an amazing time in South Korea. Great people, great food, amazing experience,” Derek captioned a series of photos from the pair’s trip to Asia.
Courtesy of Derek Hough/Instagram
“Being cooped up with my girlfriend, it’s been great. It’s funny,” the former World of Dance judge exclusively told Us after being at home with Erbert for months amid the COVID-19 crisis. “[It] definitely brought us closer and it’s a beautiful thing.”
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The two dancers teamed up for Disney’s Sing-a-Along special in April 2020 as Belle and the Beast. They also performed as Mary Poppins and Bert for the May 2020 TV event.
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“Happy Birthday to my favorite person on this planet! No one can make me laugh harder, smile bigger, drive me crazier (in the best way), or love larger than you,” Erbert wrote via Instagram on Derek’s 36th birthday. “I love celebrating you, today and everyday. I am so excited to see what unfolds for you this next rotation around the sun! I love you, always in all ways ♥️♥️.”
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
“Haley’s taught me a lot about relaxing. About just sitting down and relaxing and enjoying the moment,” the DWTS judge exclusively told Us. “I’m always going to go, go, go, go, personally. Like, let’s do this. Let’s do that. Let’s do this, and I’m still like that. But, it’s a good balance. We have a great balance with that.”
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The duo jetted off to Kenya to explore the Samburu National Reserve.
Courtesy of Hayley Erbert/Instagram
Derek kicked off his No Limit Tour in Las Vegas with Erbert by his side on September 22. The show runs until late November.
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