Julianne Hough is reflecting on how her path to stardom affected her older sisters in a rare comment about her family dynamic.
The 37-year-old entertainer rose to fame as a professional dancer on Dancing With the Stars, later adding singer, actress, and judge to her résumé. Alongside her brother Derek Hough, she built a career that put both siblings in the spotlight. But as Julianne revealed on the Tuesday, September 9 episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, that level of recognition wasn’t something her three older sisters experienced.
“My three older sisters, they all danced and sang and acted, and we were in a band,” Julianne explained, noting that each of them pursued creative paths. One sister chose family life early, while another chased a career in country music in Nashville and the third hoped to become an actress.
Although Julianne stressed that her sisters support her and Derek’s accomplishments, she admitted that there are complicated emotions attached to their different journeys. “There’s no jealousy, but there is, like, a sadness that maybe there wasn’t an opportunity for them to experience it. They’re so happy, so, so, so happy. And look, they have great lives, and they love their life. But, you know it’s a ‘what if.’ We had an opportunity that they didn’t have. Yeah. And it’s hard,” she said.
The conversation turned to how the fame also created distance between Julianne and her siblings. While her career gave her and Derek common ground, it sometimes left their sisters feeling left out. “That was one of my biggest things was Derek and I were always so close because we had shared experiences,” she explained. “Whereas, like, we never wanted to share because we were afraid to hurt someone’s feelings, but that just grew us further and further apart. Because we weren’t sharing. They didn’t feel included.”
Even with those challenges, Julianne emphasized that her sisters continue to be proud of her. By speaking out, she hopes to shed light on the unseen sacrifices that often accompany success in the entertainment industry.
Outside of her family life, Julianne is also in the middle of personal change. She recently said goodbye to her longtime Hollywood Hills home, where she had lived for more than a decade. Documenting the move on Instagram, Julianne shared her last day in the house — once shared with ex-husband Brooks Laich — surrounded by friends and family.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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