Julianne Hough will not return to be a judge on "Dancing with the Stars" for Season 25. The ABC show premieres its milestone season on Monday, September 18, 2017. The announcement was made on Wednesday, September 13. However, no reason was given for her decision not to return.
There will be only three judges most of the time except when guest judges will work along with head judge Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli. Julianne has left before and returned. The news today said she will not return for Season 25. It did not say that she will never return.
No Hough in the ballroom
This means that for the first time in most of the 25 seasons, there will not be a Hough in the ballroom. Her brother, Derek Hough, isn't returning either. However, Mark Ballas will return after being away for two seasons. Mark isn't a family member, but all three of them grew up together. In fact, when Julianne was only ten years old, her parents sent her and Derek to London to live with and be coached by Mark's parents, Corky and Shirley Ballas.
Mark, Derek, and Julianne became very close while they were being coached together. All three of them have won the Mirrorball trophy. Mark is a two-time champion after being a coach for 19 seasons. Derek has appeared in 17 seasons and won six times.
Julianne danced for five seasons and won twice before she became a judge in 2014.
Judge will be missed
Fans will miss the 29-year-old judge known for her bubbly personality while judging some of the same professional dancers that she once competed against. She gave dancers constructive criticisms to help them improve. She didn't mind disagreeing with Goodman about how a dance was performed.
The judges' table will definitely look a lot different from what it did for the last five seasons.
Fans react
Hough's fans are in shock. They said the news did not get a score of "10" as far as they are concerned. They are guessing that with her new marriage and touring with her brother might have contributed to her decision not to return.
They are hoping there is the possibility that she will return after she takes a season off to enjoy her new husband and become adjusted to being married.
Julianne married professional hockey player Brooks Laich on July 8 in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. The couple loves kids, and they want to start a family soon. The new Mrs. Laich posted on her Instagram page that her husband is training with the L.A. Kings, and he is so much in love with hockey.
Watch the premiere of "Dancing With The Stars" Season 25 on Monday, September 18 at 8 p.m. on ABC.