How DWTS’ Derek Hough Chose Song for Emotional Dance With Wife Hayley

Derek Hough broke down the thought and care that went into choosing the song for his and wife Hayley Erbert‘s Dancing With the Stars performance.

“It’s funny because when I was trying to think of a song, I was actually kind of struggling, to be honest with you. Then I heard this rendition,” Hough, 39, exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, October 15, about choosing Benson Boone‘s “Beautiful Things” track. “It was a very stripped down version.”

Hough recalled his initial reaction to the song, adding, “I was like, ‘Wait, I feel like I’m hearing the song for the first time.’ I’ve heard this song so many times — it is almost overplayed. But it’s a great song and then I heard this. I was like, ‘Wait, I’m actually hearing the lyrics and the lyrics are kind of telling the story so beautifully.’ So then I added strings and violins and cellos to add a little bit more emotion in there.”

The music “really helped tell the narrative” as Hough and Erbert, 29, performed for the first time since her brain surgery.

“It’s always so special to be back in the ballroom but especially tonight after such a crazy year,” Erbert noted. “Being here last year for the finale and it all happening the day after, it feels truly like a full circle moment. It was just beautiful to feel the energy. And a lot of people supported us throughout this entire journey so I’m just grateful always.”

In a video packaged played ahead of their performance, Hough recalled seeing Erbert “having full seizures and essentially dying” backstage at his Symphony of Dance Tour in December 2023. She was rushed to the hospital where she underwent a procedure.

“It was kind of a crazy moment just watching that package back and looking at some of the footage that we shared tonight. We haven’t really shared those photos or images before. So it was the beginning of telling the full story,” Hough shared with Us. “There’s still so much more to tell. But seeing those images and then thinking like, ‘Oh wow, we’re here in the ballroom and we’re here about to do a dance performance.’”

He continued: “In those moments, we didn’t think it would be possible. So fast forward to the present here, and it was just incredible. The journey that has taken to get to this point, it’s unbelievable. The struggles, the highs, the lows and to see her walk through it with such grace has been remarkable.”

After their emotional dance, the couple reflected on how the health scare “changed so many things” in their relationship.

“I will say one of the biggest things throughout the entire recovery process was just being grateful for everything in our lives. In such a difficult time, you can still be grateful for so many beautiful things that we have. And we were truly focusing on that,” Erbert explained. “This all made us stronger as a couple. To see him in a nurturing role, it was so beautiful, and he truly was the reason why I got through all of this. He was my rock throughout it all. I’m grateful and It made me love him even more. It made me appreciate him more and I’m just grateful for him.”

Hough, meanwhile, revealed his new outlook on life, adding, “Not waiting for things [is something I have leaned to do]. Even just recently, it was her 30th birthday and she’s always wanted to go somewhere. We’re in the middle of creating a brand new tour and we’re in the middle of a DWTS season. You could not pick a worse time to try to take her on a trip and surprise her. … [But] we’re going away [for] four days to celebrate her 30th birthday and celebrate life because we truly are not promised tomorrow. For me, that was a big moment because I’ve always been kind of like, ‘Oh, we’ll do it another time.’ It’s like, ‘No, if this is something we’re doing then we’re doing it now because you just never know.’”

Dancing With the Stars airs simultaneously on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Episodes are available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ the next day.

With reporting by Carly Konsker