Derek Hough Praises 'Incredible' Wife Hayley Erbert for Making Dancing with the Stars Return After Emergency Surgery: 'A Miracle'

On the Oct. 15 episode of Dancing with the Stars, Erbert Hough was joined by husband and DWTS judge Derek Hough for her first time back in the ballroom after her emergency craniectomy in December 2023. They danced to Benson Boone's "Beautiful Things" on "Dedication" night.

Before the pair took the stage together, the audience watched Hough recall the tough day where everything changed for him and Erbert Hough. The newlyweds were on the final leg of their Symphony of Dance tour after wrapping season 32 of DWTS when everything "came to a screeching halt in the most devastating way."

"I was on stage, and she's supposed to come out," he began. "The stage manager walked out and just said, 'Hey, she's not coming on stage.' She was on the side of the stage having full seizures and, essentially, dying. It's really hard to even put into words other than just pure fear."

"We rush her to the hospital, she's still in her costume, and the doctor came to me and he said that, 'She has a severe brain bleed, so we have to operate right now,'" Hough continued. "He said that she might not make it and that even if she does make it, she won't be the same person."

Hough recalled the moment when Erbert Hough woke up. "She goes, 'What happened? Weren't we just dancing?'" Hough said. "I can't even tell you, just knowing that she was there, she was in there, the relief I felt. She was Hayley. She was my wife. And then the journey began."

He detailed her recovery which including learning how to walk again and wearing a helmet as her skull recovered. "I was struggling," Hough said. "I was just so impressed by her strength. She's my beautiful miracle."

Then, Erbert Hough joined her husband in the preview clip before their dance and said when she woke up she was told medical professionals that they weren't sure if she'd walk.

They joined hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Hough's sister, Julianne Hough, where Derek gushed about his wife. "For me, this dance is just a moment for us to be together again on stage, doing what we love," Derek said. "The fact that were able to dance again is nothing short of a miracle."

"You really felt the weight of how remarkable this woman is," he said. "You inspire me so much. She's incredible."

Julianne recalled visiting her sister-in-law at the hospital and remarked, "Wow, what a difference from then and now."

Erbert Hough also reflected on the moment. "Obviously this was the most challenging thing I've been through in my entire life," she said. "You never know what you're capable of until something like this, so I'm really proud of myself. I'm really proud of my body and how I came through this."

After her surgery, Hough announced that Erbert Hough, who was previously in the DWTS dance troupe, had a cranial hematoma that led to blood collecting in her skull.

“At the end of last night’s tour performance in Washington, D.C., my wife Hayley became disoriented and was taken to the hospital,” Hough wrote in an Instagram post at the time. “She was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and required an emergency craniectomy. She is in stable condition.”

As Erbert Hough healed from her surgery, the two celebrated milestones together, like their first wedding anniversary on Aug. 26. 

“1-year ago today I married my beautiful wife @hayley.erbert,” Hough said in the caption of a joint Instagram post with his wife. “This past year has been a journey filled with so many challenges, blessings, difficulties and triumphs. Through it all, your grace and beauty have shone brightly, reminding me every day of how blessed I am to walk this path with you.”

“But above all, this year has been a testament to the power of love—our love. Love truly conquers all,” it continued. “Here’s to many more years of facing life together, with love leading the way. I love you more than words can express. Happy Anniversary ❤️”