Julianne Hough Opens Up About Seeing Brother Derek Be a Father: ‘My Favorite Version of Who He Is’ (Exclusive)

Gabrielle Rockson, Seyanna BarrettWed, May 13, 2026 at 12:11 PM UTC

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Derek Hough with daughter Everley and Julianne Hough attends the Disney 2026 Upfront on May 12, 2026
Credit: Derek Hough/Instagram; TheStewartofNY/WireImage -

Julianne Hough has told PEOPLE watching her brother Derek Hough become a father is her "favorite version of him"

The Dancing with the Stars host spoke exclusively to PEOPLE at the Disney 2026 Upfront event in New York City on Tuesday, May 12

Derek and wife Hayley Erbert Hough welcomed their daughter Everley Capri in December 2025

Julianne Hough is proudly watching her brother in first-time fatherhood.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the Disney 2026 Upfront event in New York City on Tuesday, May 12, the Dancing with the Stars host, 37, opened up about her brother Derek Hough becoming a father.

“It's honestly my favorite version of who he is,” she tells PEOPLE. “I think I've been lucky enough to watch my brother grow into an incredible man and a husband, and now a father.”

“I think it's my favorite version," adds Julianne.

Derek, 40, and his wife Hayley Erbert Hough welcomed their daughter, Everley Capri, back in December.

Derek Hough with his daughter Everley
Credit: Derek Hough/Instagram

The pair, who tied the knot in August 2023, announced they were expecting their first baby together via a joint Instagram Reel in July 2025. "We can’t believe the biggest thing to happen to us could be so small ♥️," the post was captioned.

Last month, Derek gushed to PEOPLE about how great of an aunt his sister was to his 3-month-old daughter.

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Derek Hough and Julianne Hough at the UTA 82nd Annual Golden Globes Afterparty at Marea on January 5, 2025 in Beverly Hills
Credit: Eric Charbonneau/UTA via Getty

The professional dancer and DWTS judge said it was “amazing” watching Julianne.

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Derek Hough at the Disney 2026 Upfront in New York City
Credit: TheStewartofNY/WireImage

“I mean, she's gonna be the best aunt in the world. My girl's gonna get spoiled — that's for sure — from Aunt Julianne. That's for sure,” he told PEOPLE at Disney's Toast to Television Red Carpet in Los Angeles on April 27.

Meanwhile, in November 2025, Julianne said that watching her brother prepare for fatherhood had given her baby fever.

Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert Hough with their daughter Everley
Credit: Derek Hough/Instagram

“Okay, so I became an aunt at 11 years old because I have three older sisters and they have, you know, been having kids for a long time. But this is the first time, you know, my ovaries are screaming," she said on the The Jennifer Hudson Show.

"I'm ready to be a mom. So to be at this stage of my life while he's having a baby, I'm just seeing it through different eyes," she continued at the time.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”