Julianne Hough Explains ‘Weird’ Comment During ‘DWTS’ Premiere

Dancing with the Starsis officially back for its 34th season — and last night’s premiere already proved that it’s going to be an incredible competition this year.

Hosts Julianne Hough and Alfonso Ribeiro kicked off the show on Tuesday night (Sept. 17) along with 14 new celebrities and their pro dancer partners, who brought the energy for their very first live performance.

But as with all live shows, there are sometimes a few hiccups, like Carrie Ann Inaba‘s last minute absence due to illness. Even Hough admits she may have had a few slip ups, including a comment she worried was a little bit “weird.”

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During a commercial break, Hough took to her Instagram stories to poke fun at herself after having to intercept a message from producers while talking live on air.

“Okay so, I just got off air. Was it weird that I said I had a thing come through my ear?” Hough asked, pointing to her hidden earpiece.

As for exactly what that meant, Hough went on to explain how an earpiece works, noting just how complicated hosting live can be.

“I’ve got an earpiece in and I have people talking in my ear while I’m trying to ask a question, while I’m trying to read the teleprompter, while I’m trying to remember questions, while I’m trying to stay live, tippy toes on my toes!” Hough revealed.

While it’s clear it can be pretty tricky to keep the show moving while taking feedback from producers, Hough couldn’t be more thrilled to be taking the stage with Ribeiro once again.

“I will say I love working with Alfonso,” she told TV Insider earlier this year. “Not many hosts on TV shows get to host, perform, and interact with the competitors the way we get to. I feel like Alfonso and I are a winning duo.”

Dancing with the Stars Season 34 airs on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.