Julianne Hough Reveals Hollywood Hustle Before DWTS Fame and Personal Turmoil

Julianne Hough is sharing insights into her early days in Los Angeles prior to her involvement with the successful reality dance series, Dancing with the Stars.

"Hailing from Utah, I was the youngest of five siblings and hold the distinction of being the youngest and sole American to ever clinch the World Championship in ballroom and Latin dancing," the 37-year-old Hough revealed in an Instagram video posted on Saturday, September 20. "By the age of 15, I realized that dance wasn't my sole ambition; I aspired to act, to sing, and to make my way to Hollywood."

Consequently, Hough relocated to Los Angeles, finding an apartment to share with several aspiring models, an experience she characterized as "quite amusing" since "they'd emerge from bed in the late afternoon, receiving checks for $12,000 in the mail, while I was accumulating $33 overdraft charges and relentlessly striving, attending central casting calls and every audition imaginable."

Hough further elaborated that she encountered significant financial difficulty half a year after her move, rendering her unable to afford her rent.

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"I wondered, 'What options do I have?' Then, leveraging my background as a ballroom and Latin dancer, and with Dancing with the Stars being a new program, the show's producers inquired if I would join as a professional dancer," she recounted. "My response was affirmative. I proceeded with the show and secured victory in my initial two consecutive seasons. It felt like a chain reaction; everything seemed to fall perfectly into place."

Her professional journey rapidly accelerated, leading Hough to soon secure a recording contract as a country music artist and to feature opposite Tom Cruise in the 2012 film, Rock of Ages.

While her career reached soaring heights, her private existence away from the public eye began to unravel.

"Coyotes tragically killed my dogs. My marriage began to disintegrate, and simultaneously, my professional life, my social circle, indeed all aspects of my familiar world, began to transform dramatically," Hough articulated. "That period likely represented my most challenging moment."

Navigating those ordeals "required both time and a deliberate journey," she went on to say. "One cannot expedite emotions, nor can one accelerate the necessary period required for personal growth and understanding. However, I can affirm that I dedicated my efforts to nurturing myself. I invested my energy into activities that brought me happiness, particularly my friendships, and genuinely focused on supporting others."

Hough shared her perspective on her most effective strategies for conquering feelings of solitude.

"I believe that the instant you experience isolation or loneliness, that's precisely when you should consider assisting someone else," she further stated. "This act generates immense happiness and impetus, quite literally altering the energetic state within your entire being. Nonetheless, it's an ongoing expedition and a gradual progression; it won't manifest instantly."

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At 18 years old, Hough became a professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars during its fourth season. Presently, she serves as the program's cohost, sharing duties with Alfonso Ribiero.

Dancing with the Stars is broadcast on ABC every Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET, with streaming availability on Hulu and Disney+ the following day.