Julianne Hough reveals how Hayley Erbert's 'tragic' health scare affected her family

Julianne Hough knows that despite all the family disputes, the Houghs always support each other when it matters most.

Speaking to People magazine ahead of the release of her upcoming novel, Everything We Never Knew, the Dancing with the Stars pro and current co-host revealed how her family came back together after her sister-in-law Hayley Erbert's health issues late last year.

Julianne Hough's older brother, 39-year-old professional dancer Derek Hough, married 29-year-old Erbert in August 2023. In December, Derek Hough announced that his wife had undergone emergency surgery for a cranial hematoma following a performance on her Symphony of Dance tour. After several surgeries and a recovery process he described as “nothing short of a miracle,” the couple resumed the tour, which had been postponed due to Erbert's health issues, in the spring.

“When something tragic happens, especially what just happened with Derek and Haley, little things can be lurking in the background or looming, but it was just a blank slate,” Julianne Hough, 36, told People.

“Whatever strangeness may have been going on around us, we really care and people want to help. … When you're in a life-or-death situation, nothing else matters.”

Julianne Hough is “blessed” with her family even though they don't have “the same beliefs”

Derek and Julianne Hough grew up in a Mormon family with their siblings Sharee, Marabeth and Katherine and spent their early years in Utah before training as professional dancers in England.

Julianne Hough spoke to People about her current family dynamic, saying, “I'm so lucky to have the family that I have, even though we're not all on the same wavelength and sometimes we don't have the same beliefs or views on things.

“Our deepest desire is to connect with one another. So what hurts most is when we are not connected.”

She added: “Sometimes you do the thing that hurts the most: you withdraw because you're trying to protect yourself. So our family is like any other family. We have our situations… but our deepest desire is to connect. And I think we all really have a strong desire to make that happen.”

When her brother posted about Erbert's hospitalization on December 7, Hough reposted his Instagram statement to her Instagram story, writing, “Please pray and send all your love, healing and light to Hayley and Derek.” She added, “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts (from the hearts of our families)!”

On April 5, Erbert shared her feelings on Instagram about being able to dance again.

“What a blessing (and surprise) it is to be able to dance on stage with my loved one again after such a crazy last four months. My healing process has been nothing short of extraordinary and being able to dance again ignites my soul in every way and accelerates my recovery even more,” she wrote under a video of the tour rehearsals.

She added: “I am so grateful to the doctors who supported me in my decision to return to dancing and to my team of specialists assembled to ensure my health and safety are their top priority. I can't wait for you all to see this show! It was so meaningful when we opened last year and now, after everything that has happened, it is truly even more special.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Julianne Hough discusses Hayley Erbert's health issues