Julianne Hough

Julianne Hough, born on July 20, 1988, is a multifaceted American talent known for her prowess as a professional ballroom dancer, country music vocalist, and actress. She gained significant fame as a two-time champion on ABC's popular competition series, Dancing with the Stars, where her exceptional skills earned her a nomination for a Creative Arts Primetime Emmy in choreography in 2007. Hough was lauded by ABC's 20/20 as one of the "very best dancers on the planet," solidifying her reputation in the entertainment industry.

Her family ties to dance are notable, as her brother, Derek Hough, is also a prominent figure on the show and a three-time winner. In addition to her dance career, Hough ventured into music when she signed with Mercury Nashville Records in December 2007. Her debut album, released on May 20, 2008, quickly ascended to the top of the Billboard Country Album chart and reached #3 on the Billboard 200, selling 67,000 copies in its opening week and surpassing 320,000 in total sales. Following this success, she released a holiday album, Sounds of the Season: The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection, on October 12, 2008, which sold 157,000 copies by early January 2009, further establishing her as a versatile performer in both dance and music.