Winner of Season 7 – Derek Hough

Name: Derek Hough
Born: May 17, 1985, Salt Lake City, Utah
Occupation: dancer, actor, singer, musician, choreographer, director

Derek Hough is an American dancer and choreographer. A former world champion in Latin American Dance, he appeared on the fifth season of the ABC television series

Dancing with the Stars
with actress Jennie Garth (earning fourth place in the competition), and was eliminated during the seventh week of the sixth season, earning sixth place with actress Shannon Elizabeth. He returned for the seventh season, this time partnered with Brooke Burke, and won the competition. He returned for the eighth season, earning fifth place with rapper Lil’ Kim. For season 9, Hough was partnered with model Joanna Krupa. They were eliminated during week 9, the semi-finals, on November 17, 2009. Hough also sang a duet, “Dreaming Under The Same Moon”, with his sister, Julianne Hough, on her self-titled debut album. Julianne Hough is also a professional dancer and a two-time winner of Dancing with the Stars.

Hough was born in 1985 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to a Mormon family. In 1998, he and his sister, Julianne Hough, moved to London to further their dance training with world renowned dancing couple, Corky and Shirley Ballas.

He (with sister Julianne and friend Mark Ballas) was in a pop singing trio called “2B1G”(“2 Boys 1 Girl”) in his younger years. In season 9 of Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series), they performed a song on the final show of the season.

Hough joined Season 5 of Dancing With The Stars and was paired with Jennie Garth. Hough and Garth competed in the semi-finals and were the ninth couple eliminated from the competition. He competed in Season 6 of Dancing With The Stars, this time paired with actress Shannon Elizabeth. For Season 7, Hough was partnered with model/TV host Brooke Burke. In rehearsal on October 4, 2008, Hough tripped and fell, hitting his head on the floor and momentarily blacked out. He was sent to the hospital, but sustained no injuries. Hough and Burke earned the mirror ball trophy and won Season 7.

The cast of season 8 of Dancing With the Stars was announced in February 2009, and Hough was paired with rapper Lil’ Kim. In week 9, they were eliminated from the show despite high scores from the judges.

For Season 9, Hough was partnered with model Joanna Krupa. They were eliminated during week 9, the semi-finals, on November 17, 2009, finishing fourth.

For Season 10, Hough is partnered with Nicole Scherzinger from the singing group Pussycat Dolls.

Hough’s current DWTS pro average is 25.88. Joanna Krupa’s Argentine Tango is not included in his average.