Julianne Hough came to national prominence as the two-time professional dance champion on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, but she says her ultimate goal is a career in country music. Growing up one of five Utah-born siblings, Hough says her family was sometimes referred to as the “blonde Osmonds.” At age 10, she immersed herself in dancing after her parents separated. After spending five years studying performing arts in London, she moved to Los Angeles to earn a living as a dancer while pursuing her musical dreams. She started making regular trips to Nashville while working on Dancing with the Stars. Her connections in Los Angeles and Nashville resulted in Hough being introduced to producer David Malloy, a Nashville producer who has worked with Eddie Rabbitt and Reba McEntire, among others. The two teamed to record “Will You Dance With Me,” an American Red Cross fundraising project that benefited Kansas tornado victims. The success of the single’s digital download led to a meeting with executives at the Universal Music Group Nashville. She was signed to the company’s Mercury Nashville label. Recorded in Nashville and produced by Malloy, Hough’s self-titled debut album was released in May 2008. It contains the single “That Song in My Head.” Hough continues to act, dance and record. Most recently in 2016, she contributed vocals to Grease Live (Music From the Television Event). Julianne Hough brings the house down wherever she performs.
