Derek Hough and Wife Hayley Erbert Celebrate the Arrival of Their Miracle Baby Daughter

5 January 2026

Derek Hough, the beloved Dancing With the Stars judge and professional dancer, and his wife, fellow DWTS pro Hayley Erbert, are celebrating one of the most meaningful moments of their lives with the arrival of their first child, a daughter named Everley Capri Hough, born on December 29, 2025. The announcement brought an outpouring of love from fans and fellow performers alike and marked a deeply emotional milestone in a journey that has included joy, heartbreak and a remarkable story of recovery and resilience. The couple shared the news in early January with a touching social media post featuring a black-and-white image of the newborn’s tiny feet cradled by their hands, accompanied by a simple but heartfelt message about how Everley has changed their world forever.

The story of Everley’s arrival is more than just a celebrity baby announcement. It reflects the couple’s long-standing bond and the challenges they have overcome together. Hough and Erbert’s relationship stretches back to 2014, when Erbert was hired for the Move Live Tour with Derek and his sister Julianne Hough. The two began dating shortly thereafter, a connection that evolved from friendship into one of Hollywood’s most admired dance partnerships. They eventually married in August 2023 in a ceremony in Carmel, California, surrounded by close friends and loved ones.

Yet the road to parenthood was not without its difficulties. Just months after their wedding, Erbert faced a frightening health crisis in December 2023 when she suffered a cranial hematoma, a life-threatening condition caused by a burst blood vessel in her brain. The diagnosis led to an emergency craniectomy, a major surgical intervention where part of her skull was temporarily removed to relieve pressure and save her life. For many couples, such an ordeal could have upended plans for the future, but Erbert’s strength and determination became a defining part of their shared narrative. Her recovery was long and demanding, and even returning to dance was once uncertain. Yet she persevered, making a remarkable comeback that culminated in performances alongside Hough in the following years.

Against that backdrop of triumph over adversity, the pregnancy that the couple announced in July 2025 took on a deeper significance. In a sweet Instagram video posted that summer, they shared the news they were expecting, expressing disbelief that “the biggest thing to happen to us could be so small,” and inviting fans into a moment of vulnerability and joy. The pregnancy came after the couple publicly opened up about a previous pregnancy loss during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October 2025, sharing their heartbreak and honoring the child they lost. They spoke candidly about the emotional complexity of grief and hope, and how those experiences shaped their appreciation for the journey toward becoming parents.

Everley’s birth, therefore, was not merely a celebratory announcement; it was the culmination of a story defined by resilience, healing and the profound mystery of life itself. In their Instagram announcement, the couple wrote, “Every step of our lives has led us to you. Our hearts have been cracked wide open and our world is forever changed,” words that resonated deeply with many who have followed their journey and understood the gravity of what they had endured and embraced. Family members, friends and fellow dancers quickly filled the comments with warmth and admiration. Derek’s sister, Julianne Hough, welcomed Everley to the world with love, calling her “sweet angel Everley,” while other colleagues expressed heartfelt congratulations and excitement for the new parents.

For Hough, who has spent much of his public life dancing, choreographing and judging on one of television’s most popular competition shows, fatherhood represents an entirely new dimension of personal growth and transformation. In interviews earlier in 2025, he had spoken with earnest anticipation about becoming a father, describing the emotional impact of feeling his child move for the first time and the wonder of stepping into a role that felt both unfamiliar and exhilarating. He spoke about how every kick and movement made the reality of parenthood more vivid, and how much he looked forward to the experiences that lay ahead. His genuine joy and vulnerability in those moments foreshadowed the deep connection he now enjoys with his daughter.

As 2026 begins, Everley’s arrival stands as a poignant testament to the couple’s endurance through life’s peaks and valleys. Their story has drawn admiration not only for its joyful outcome but for the courage and openness with which they have shared their personal struggles and triumphs with the public. In an age where so much of celebrity life is curated and polished, Hough and Erbert’s transparency about loss, health scares and emotional resilience has struck a chord with fans who see in their narrative a reflection of the messy, beautiful, unpredictable nature of real life.

With Everley Capri Hough now at the center of their world, the couple is poised to embark on a new chapter defined by parenthood, love and the kinds of everyday miracles that literature and song have long tried to capture. For a couple whose lives have been lived in bright lights and public stages, the quiet moments of holding a newborn, feeling awe at tiny fingers and contemplating the unfurling path of a child’s life may prove to be the most meaningful performance yet.