Julianne Hough has had a very public career, but when it comes to love and marriage, the Dancing with the Stars judge has also experienced some very private and emotional chapters.
For several years, Brooks Laich was known as Julianne Hough’s husband. The couple had a relationship that looked full of promise from the outside. They dated for about two years, became engaged in 2015 and eventually married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony in Idaho.
Their marriage, however, did not last. Hough and Laich eventually separated, and their divorce was finalized in 2022.
Years after their relationship ended, Hough has spoken openly about what she believes went wrong. Rather than blaming one person, she has described their marriage as something that was right for a certain period of their lives, while also accepting that the ending was right for both of them.
Her comments offer a more thoughtful look at the relationship and explain why the former couple eventually decided to go their separate ways.
Who Was Julianne Hough’s Husband?
Julianne Hough’s former husband is Brooks Laich, a former professional hockey player.
Hough and Laich began dating in November 2013. Their relationship developed over the following two years, and in August 2015, they announced their engagement on Instagram.
At the time, the couple appeared excited about building a future together. Hough had already established herself as a dancer, performer and television personality, while Laich was known for his career in professional hockey.
Their relationship brought together two people from very different professional worlds, but they appeared to share a strong connection.
Their eventual wedding became another major milestone in their relationship.
Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich’s Wedding
Hough and Laich married on July 8, 2017.
The wedding took place outdoors at Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho, a location that had special meaning for Hough. She had spent summer holidays there while growing up, making the setting more personal than simply choosing a beautiful wedding venue.
Hough later explained that she introduced Laich to the lake and that he also fell in love with the location.
The couple reportedly imagined the area as a place where they could eventually raise a family and grow older together. At that point in their relationship, the lake represented more than a wedding destination. It represented the future they believed they were going to build.
For a couple who had spent years together before getting married, the ceremony appeared to be the beginning of a new chapter.
But relationships can change even when two people enter marriage with the best intentions.
What Happened to Julianne Hough’s Marriage?
The problems in Hough and Laich’s marriage became more noticeable after they spent the COVID-19 pandemic period apart.
The separation created additional pressure at a time when many couples were dealing with uncertainty and changes to their normal lives.
By May 2020, Hough and Laich announced that they had decided to separate.
Their statement was careful and respectful. They emphasized that they still had love and respect for each other and asked people to give them privacy as they moved forward.
The announcement came after growing speculation about the state of their marriage.
Although the couple had built a life together and once talked about growing old in the same place, they ultimately realized that their relationship was changing.
Julianne Hough’s Explanation of Why the Marriage Ended
Hough later offered a more personal explanation of what happened between them.
During an appearance on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, she reflected on her past relationships and her marriage to Laich.
One of the most revealing parts of her comments was that she did not describe the relationship as a simple mistake.
Instead, Hough said she felt that their relationship and marriage had been right, and that the ending was also right.
That distinction is important because it shows how she now looks back on the marriage.
She acknowledged that both of them had regrets about the relationship not working out. At the same time, she believed they did not have the maturity at that point in their lives to come together in the way they needed to.
She also described their changing directions by saying that Laich was “contracting” while she was “expanding.”
The way Hough described it suggests that they were moving emotionally in different directions. Instead of continuing to grow together, they began protecting themselves and dealing with their individual experiences separately.
They Went Into Their Own Protective Modes
Hough said that she and Laich could not find each other in the middle of those changes.
According to her explanation, both eventually went into their own protective modes.
This is one of the more human parts of their story. Not every marriage ends because of one dramatic event. Sometimes two people simply develop different needs and struggle to stay connected while those changes happen.
Hough’s later comments suggest that she does not view Laich as a bad person or blame him for the divorce.
In fact, she spoke warmly about him.
She described Laich as having one of the greatest hearts she could have had the privilege of being with.
She also said that she has dated great human beings.
That perspective has remained important in how she discusses her past relationships.
Did Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich Try to Reconcile?
The former couple did not immediately close the door on their relationship.
After announcing their separation, there were reports that they were attempting to work on their marriage.
There was even speculation about a possible reconciliation later in 2020.
However, the effort did not ultimately result in the couple getting back together permanently.
A source at the time said that Hough had realized she was happier having her freedom. Laich was reportedly trying to give her that freedom, but there were limits to what the relationship could sustain.
Eventually, the former couple moved forward with the divorce.
Hough officially filed for divorce a few months after their separation announcement.
Their divorce was finalized in June 2022.
That officially ended the marriage that had begun with their 2017 wedding in Idaho.
Julianne Hough Is No Longer Married
Today, Brooks Laich is not Julianne Hough’s husband.
The two were married for several years, but their divorce means Hough is no longer married to the former hockey player.
Her relationship status has also been a topic of interest because she has been open about being single.
Rather than describing single life as something she needs to escape, Hough has spoken positively about it.
That represents a noticeable shift from the period when she was planning a future with Laich.
She now appears more comfortable allowing her personal life to develop naturally rather than feeling pressure to be in a relationship.
Julianne Hough Says Her Heart Is Still Open
Although Hough is single, she has made it clear that she has not closed herself off from love.
In a conversation with PEOPLE, she explained that she is happy being single but remains open to finding someone special.
She said her heart is open and that she is ready for whatever feels right.
At the same time, she does not appear interested in forcing a relationship simply because she believes she should be dating.
That is an important part of her current outlook.
Hough has essentially said that she is comfortable with where she is and would welcome the right relationship if it naturally comes into her life.
For her, being single does not seem to mean giving up on romance. It means being more selective about what she wants.
Why Julianne Hough’s Relationship Story Continues to Get Attention
Hough’s relationship history continues to interest fans because her marriage to Laich was once viewed as a major part of her personal life.
The couple were together for years before their wedding and seemed to have a clear vision for their future.
Their decision to separate therefore came as a major change.
But the way Hough has discussed the breakup makes the story more nuanced.
She has not presented the marriage as something that should never have happened. Instead, she has suggested that it was meaningful and right for the people they were at that time.
People change, and relationships can change with them.
That appears to be one of the biggest lessons Hough has taken from her marriage.
Julianne Hough’s Career After Her Marriage
While her relationship life has attracted attention, Hough’s career has continued to be a major part of her identity.
She is best known for her work as a professional dancer, performer, actress and television personality. Her association with Dancing with the Stars has made her one of the familiar faces connected to the long-running dance competition.
Her professional success has continued through different stages of her personal life.
That is especially notable because Hough has gone through significant changes since her marriage ended.
Instead of allowing the divorce to define her public identity, she has continued working and developing her career.
Her comments about relationships also suggest that she has spent considerable time thinking about personal growth.
What Julianne Hough Has Learned From Her Marriage
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Hough’s comments is that she now sees relationships with more perspective.
She recognizes that two people can care deeply about each other and still discover that they are not able to build the same future.
Her comments about maturity, growth and protective behavior show that she has thought carefully about what happened.
She also appears to have accepted that the relationship ending does not erase the good parts of it.
That can be difficult after a divorce, especially when the relationship once involved plans for marriage, family and growing old together.
Hough’s current outlook seems to be based on acceptance rather than resentment.
Does Julianne Hough Want to Get Married Again?
Based on the details she has shared publicly, Hough is not saying that she wants to rush into another marriage.
Instead, she has said that her heart remains open and that she is ready for something special.
That leaves the door open to a future relationship without putting a deadline on it.
For now, her priority appears to be living her life and allowing romance to happen naturally.
Whether she eventually marries again is something only time will tell.
What is clear is that she does not seem to view being single as a problem that needs to be fixed.
Final Thoughts on Julianne Hough’s Husband
Julianne Hough’s former husband was Brooks Laich, the professional hockey player she began dating in 2013. After dating for two years, they became engaged in 2015 and married in July 2017 at Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho.
Their marriage eventually faced difficulties, particularly during the period when they were apart during the COVID-19 pandemic. They announced their separation in May 2020, and Hough later filed for divorce. Their divorce was finalized in June 2022.
Years later, Hough has looked back on the relationship with a mixture of sadness, gratitude and acceptance. She has said that the marriage was right for its time, while its ending was also right. She continues to speak warmly about Laich and the person he was during their relationship.
Today, Hough is single and says she is happy with her life. At the same time, she remains open to love and to finding someone who feels genuinely special.
Her story with Laich may have ended, but Hough’s own perspective has continued to evolve. And perhaps that is the clearest sign that she has made peace with the past while remaining open to whatever comes next.