Derek Hough Returns to DWTS Judges’ Panel as Season 34 Premieres

Dancing with the Stars judge Derek Hough returned to the ballroom Monday night for the Season 34 premiere, marking his debut as host of entertainment show Extra.

The 40-year-old Emmy winner took his place at the judges’ table alongside Bruno Tonioli for the September 16 premiere, with Carrie Ann Inaba missing the episode due to illness. The absence of Inaba left only two judges evaluating the 14 celebrity contestants on their opening night performances.

New Role as Extra Host

Hough’s return to DWTS comes as he simultaneously launches his new career as host of the entertainment news program Extra, which premiered its 32nd season on September 8. The four-time Emmy Award winner replaced Billy Bush in the hosting role, calling it “an exciting new spotlight” in his career.

“The ballroom has been my stage, my home, and my launchpad. Now, I’m stepping into an exciting new spotlight as the host of Extra,” Hough stated when the appointment was announced. His first major assignment was covering the Emmy Awards red carpet on September 14-15, where he conducted celebrity interviews alongside co-host Mona Kosar Abdi.

Season 34 Premiere Highlights

The DWTS Season 34 premiere featured several standout performances, with contestants scored out of 20 points instead of the usual 30 due to the missing judge. Robert Irwin and Whitney Leavitt topped the leaderboard with 15 points each, while Corey Feldman received the lowest score of 9 points.

During the broadcast, Hough praised several performances while providing constructive criticism. He told Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles to “keep the integrity of the dance” after her energetic salsa routine. For influencer Dylan Efron’s cha-cha performance, Hough noted it was “a nice surprise for the dance itself, but work on the content and being a leading man”.

Personal Life Updates

Beyond his professional commitments, Hough continues to share updates about his personal life with wife Hayley Erbert, who is expecting their first child. On September 15, he posted intimate photos of Erbert’s growing baby bump, captioning the images “That’s my babies”. The couple announced their pregnancy in July 2025, nearly two years after their marriage and following Erbert’s recovery from emergency brain surgery in December 2023.

Speaking to People at the Emmy Awards celebration, Hough expressed excitement about becoming a father and his commitment to being present during this time. “Being present with my wife, during this time, and then, now, being a father in a couple months, that’s my number one, always,” he shared.