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The Bobby Bones Show
BOBBYCAST - Derek Hough Talks DWTS + New Dad Life + The Stolen Mirrorball
00:43:47
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- [00:00]
Derek Hough
This is an iHeart podcast.
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Podcast Sponsor/Announcer
Guaranteed Human.
- [00:04]
Ben Higgins
You can scroll the headlines all day and still feel empty. I'm Ben Higgins, and if youf Can Hear Me is where culture meets the soul. Honest conversations about identity, loss, purpose, peace, faith, and everything in between. Celebrities, thinkers, everyday people. Some have answers. Most are still figuring it out. And if you've ever felt like there has to be more to the story, this show is for you. Listen to if youf Can Hear me on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Bobby Bones
Appreciate you coming by, man.
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Derek Hough
Thanks for having me, man.
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Bobby Bones
So here's what I say about you, because you've done my show in Nashville before. We've bumped into each other when I was on the show. Just random times. There are two people that, in my career have always been so kind. Even at times whenever you're like, oh, we were just brief, and it's you and Tim Tebow.
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Derek Hough
Really.
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Bobby Bones
The nicest people. And not nice, like, fake nice. Like, it's like people, like, who are the nicest people to you? It's like randomly Tim Tebow and Derek. So you're that.
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Derek Hough
Oh, dude, thank you.
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Bobby Bones
So when you said you would come over and do this, I was so pumped because you've always been so nice to me.
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Derek Hough
That means a lot, man. That means. Thanks so much. I'm. That's good company, too.
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Bobby Bones
Yeah. Have you ever met Tim Tebow?
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Derek Hough
Briefly. Briefly.
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Bobby Bones
Like in a mirror and you're, like, moving your hands if you're doing the same thing. Yeah. He's an awesome guy. So I just wanted to start with that. So I didn't forget to say that.
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Derek Hough
No, that makes. That means a lot to me, man. Because obviously, you know, there's. You never know. You know, sometimes you're in passing and you say hi to some people and you might not be fully present or something. And so I'm glad that, you know, that was the impression.
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Bobby Bones
How's the baby?
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Derek Hough
The baby? How's the baby? She is so good. She really is. And I feel so lucky because, you know, you hear, you know, people I work with, they're like, oh, man, you know, say goodbye to sleeping and, you know, all these things. She's a sleeper, really. Thank God. You know, she's sleeping and we're resting and. But there's big adjustments, of course, you know, in your life. It's. Everything changes, but for the better.
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Bobby Bones
And I'm asking selfishly. We're about to have our first kid.
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Derek Hough
Tell me about that.
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Bobby Bones
You know, there's nothing to tell You. Because it's still in her belly, but you are going through it right now. So, like, what. What's my expectation?
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Derek Hough
What's. That's no expectation. That's. That's the most important part. And now here's the thing. There's a. You know that great expression, right? This is a good one. It's hard to live by sometimes, but it's a good one to come back. It's just like, trade your expectation for appreciation and everything changes. That's for everything, right? Relationships and like, you know, situations, events, people, parents, loved ones. If we always have these expectations about how they should act or how they should be, we're always setting ourselves up for disappointment. So in the moment, it's always like, find yourself. Like, what can I appreciate instead of in this moment? So the reason why I say that, because even with birth, right, for instance, there's. People always give their. Express their opinions, like, this is going to happen and then you're going to feel this emotion, and then your world's going to just like explode and then this heart.
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Bobby Bones
And.
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Derek Hough
And so if something like that doesn't quite happen, you're like, oh, what's wrong? Is something wrong with me? And I'm. I'm not feeling that. And these expectations. And so I. That's my advice, honestly, is like, don't have an expectation. Just. Just appreciate whatever it is, whatever happens. And that's right. And that's the way it should be. And that's perfect.
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Bobby Bones
I was talking to my therapist and it was basically about that. And he said, you're gonna hear a lot of people say that as soon as the baby is born, you're gonna feel this euphoric feeling that has never been a feeling you've ever felt. Do not put the pressure on yourself to feel it immediately. And if you don't feel it, that's okay. You'll eventually get there. But it's completely different for everyone. But there is this societal attachment of as soon as you see this thing, you need to fall in love immediately. He said if you don't, or if it's weird or you're scared or it's a. Or it does feel like that. Like all of that's right.
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Derek Hough
Yes.
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Bobby Bones
That's what we just talked about. Yeah.
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Derek Hough
It's so true. I mean, I remember the first time I held her. First of all, they're like an animatronic. They're. They don't. It's like they're like this, like a bad animatronic. Like, you know what I Mean. And they don't look real, honestly. And she. I'm holding her and I'm like, is this like E.T. you know, because they're all wrinkly and like, crazy looking. They're like. Like, it looks like my grandpa heating. It was the first thing I said, actually, when she came out. I was like, grandpa. And. And I. I held her and I didn't quite know how to. I was scared. I was honestly scared to hold her, to. To break her because she's so fragile. And I handed her back to Haley and I kind of walked away. And I was. I kind of felt like a failure in a way in that little small moment. Like, I didn't know what to do.
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Bobby Bones
Like, it wasn't so instinctually natural.
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Derek Hough
Yeah. I was like, I should know. And I. And I didn't. And I just quietly walked away. And Haley could tell that I was just. Was a little bit, like, disappointed in myself, I guess you could say, just quietly. And she had this beautiful moment. She says, honey, you're amazing. You're doing great. Like, you know, and. And by the way, she just gave birth to this thing. And there I am.
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Bobby Bones
Like, she's coaching you during the moment.
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Derek Hough
Good job, honey. Good job. But. But again, it's that thing of, like, not putting that pressure on yourself and the timing of it all and the love of it all will happen in the. How it should be.
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Bobby Bones
Okay, so the first questions that I have for you, just generally speaking, because when I see professional dancers now, there's a new appreciation for being around them a lot. Do you feel like you could have been a professional athlete at something else as well.
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Derek Hough
In some things?
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Bobby Bones
Well, I don't. Maybe not. But you guys are such athletes.
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Derek Hough
Yeah.
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Bobby Bones
Because you're. You're. How your hand. Eye coordination, how you move your bodies. And again, I had no awareness of it until I was just dumped into it.
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Derek Hough
Yeah.
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Bobby Bones
And then when I watch you and I. I work for the NFL and I work with a lot of NFL players. It's. You're a pure athlete. So I wonder if you had pursued a different way, could you have been a professional athlete in another.
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Derek Hough
I think so. I think so. I think.
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Bobby Bones
Could you have been a gymnast?
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Derek Hough
I could have been a gymnast. I. Maybe. I. You know, it's funny. I actually went to. I wanted to go to gymnastics when I was a kid because I wanted to be a Ninja Turtle.
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Bobby Bones
I was like, same.
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Derek Hough
I want to be. Go to karate and gymnastics so I could flip around and kick some butt in the streets.
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Bobby Bones
Did you have a favorite Turtle.
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Derek Hough
It was Michelangelo growing up. Of course, you know, it was Raphael. Yeah, Raphael.
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Bobby Bones
Wise guy, you know. Yeah, the wise guy. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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Derek Hough
But I think I could have been an athlete. I don't know what sport, honestly, because here's the thing. Football. I played flag football when I was a kid. I was a great receiver. I remember going to school and I was bullied severely as a kid in different schools. And I remember going to one called Monte Vista in South Jordan, Utah, and I was like, last pick, always in the schoolyard, they've never picked me. I was this little guy. I was kind of a little runt. And I was like, okay, I gotta, like earn my stripes, you know, And. And I kept like intercepting the ball and I would go out there and then eventually I remember being like, first pick, it was me and this, you know, the quarterback in the playground. And we would always be. We'd be like unstoppable. And I remember feeling like that felt good. That felt really good to like go from here to there on the playground playing football and being a really good receiver and, you know, running around, being quick. But then, you know, I get just like tapped on the jaw and I'm. And I'm like, I have no chin whatsoever. I think I just, you know, anything contact wise, I just. I couldn't take it.
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Bobby Bones
Were you so focused on dance and music? Because I know you're super musical as well.
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Derek Hough
Well, that was actually before, honestly. In my house, would have drums and timbalis randomly.
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Bobby Bones
I don't know what a timbali is.
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Derek Hough
Timbali is like. It's like a snare without the. Without the. The metal snare parts, you know what I mean? So. And we have guitars and stuff, so I'd always be playing stuff like Beach Boys in the house. And then from there I actually got into dance. But I understand rhythm and music and that helped me take the dance a lot quicker. But dance became my sole focus. I think when I walked in and I was kind of like, I'll never forget. I didn't want to go to dance, by the way. My mom made me go. I had four sisters, they went to dance class. I was sitting in the parking lot doing nothing, sitting there twiddling my thumbs. She goes, well, why? You might as well go inside if you're not doing anything. I was like, I don't really want to go. She's like, you're going inside. I was like, no, I don't want to go. Now it's kicking and screaming and I'm like, There's dancing is for girls, and. And then I walk in the door, I'm like, there's girls in here.
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Bobby Bones
Dancing's for girls.
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Derek Hough
Okay, I like this. And I had this really great teacher named Rick Robinson who made it really cool. And then I just fell in love with the community and the music, the way it made you feel, blasting over the speakers. And then I'm like, oof. And then you start, like, syncing your body up to the music and the rhythm, and you're like, wait a minute. This is cool. I feel, like, in control of my body. I'm doing things and. And then it just. Yeah, you just fall in love with it. And then also, too. Gotta travel. You know, I'm like this kid in this little neighborhood in Utah. I get to go to la. I get to go to, you know, New York, London. I'm like, wow. Dance is, like, taking me places. And then. Yeah, and then just one thing leads to another.
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Bobby Bones
You talk about being bullied, but when you go to dance, was there acceptance? And was that part of the reason that you thrived?
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Derek Hough
100. Yeah, it was like, well, one, I had a lot of encouragement. You know, the coaches, again, like I said, the Rick Robinson and my other teachers and Kim Del Grosso, they were so kind and encouraging. Like, hey, you got a lot of talent. Like, you're really great. And I was like, am I?
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Ben Higgins
Oh, cool.
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Derek Hough
You know, and. Okay, let me keep. Let me keep going at this. And it was just an encouraging environment. And when you do certain things, you know, it was like the kids you're dancing next to, like, that's great. That's awesome. Whenever I go to school, especially in Utah, at least where I was from, it. It was just. I just didn't, like. I was just awkward, honestly, super awkward. I didn't know how to socialize. I would get the crappy anatomy. I went to, like, six different schools in, like, a very short amount of time because I kept getting beaten up. Eventually, I fought back, and I remember breaking this kid's nose. And I got expelled from school. And then my mom was proud of me, though. She was like. She's like, yeah, but, yeah, man, it was interesting. And it's interesting because when I moved to London, it was like a. It was like a safe haven because I. I. I don't know. I just feel like I'd never quite knew how to figure out the school thing. But dance always felt like home, you know? It always felt like a good place to be.
- [11:02]
Bobby Bones
And you moved to London for dance?
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Derek Hough
Yeah.
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Bobby Bones
And so when you move there. I guess the analogy that I'm going to compare it to, you can tell me if I'm wrong. It's like if you grow up and maybe your high school years were rough, but you go to college and everybody's new, it's clean slate.
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Derek Hough
Yeah.
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Bobby Bones
New culture, people do everything different. And so it almost gives you a sense to start over as well. Was London a bit like that for you?
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Derek Hough
For sure. I mean, I was so naive. I was 12 years old, so I was fully expecting like horse drawn carriages and monocles and like, hello, darling, how you doing? You know, And I get there, I'm like flying. I'm like, there's buildings and cars.
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Bobby Bones
What?
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Derek Hough
This is crazy. So naive. But it was cool too, because growing up in Utah, which was very specific kind of community and culture to then going to London, which was a microcosm of the whole world of different ethnicities and religions and beliefs. And I was like, what? And it was, it was wild. It was so great. It was such a rich environment to grow up in and to learn. Yeah, it was, it was awesome. It was great. But that's where I really honed in this, like this very kind of niche skill which was Latin and ballroom dancing.
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Bobby Bones
Yeah. Which is weird because you're not Latin at all. There's nothing about you. There's not one element.
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Derek Hough
This fake tan, fool ya. I got a spray tan two days ago and I'm like, okay.
- [12:23]
Bobby Bones
When you go to London, you only expected to go for a bit, right? But you stayed a long time. Long time.
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Derek Hough
I was going for like three months and then I just loved it. I loved it. I love the structure. I love the structure. I love the regiment. It was sort of, this is what we're doing no matter what. I don't care if you're sick, you're going. You know what I mean? I'll never forget that. I was like, sicker than a dog. And they're like, cool, you're going to school. I'm like, what? Dang. My mom would never like make me go to school, but okay. But I needed that and I loved it. I thrived off that. But yeah, London was, it was a great place to sort of ner, you know, nourish a skill and really discipline and a work ethic that, that I think I'm more thankful for than anything else, you know, about being there. It was like, it really instilled a work ethic of like, this is what it takes to be good at something. There's no shortcuts, you Got to put the hours in. You're going to stay up late, you're going to, you know, you can't go party. Your friends are all partying, you know, in college and high school and stuff. They're all doing all these cool, fun things. And I'm like, sorry, I gotta. I gotta go put a spray tan on and a rhinestone outfit and go to drive to Liverpool, you know, six hours, and then do a competition in a dusty ballroom and for, you know, 10, 12 hours. And there might be two people there, but I still have to go do it and put in the hours and then drive back again, then go to school the next day, you know, hour, you know, to get to school on a train. It was. It was not glamorous at all. It was hard. And by the way, people see Dancing with the Stars, for instance, beef 10 years before dancing with the Stars even was like a thing. That's what we're doing, you know, we're going into those ballrooms and we're putting in that work, man. It was. It was hard. It was hard.
- [14:12]
Bobby Bones
Are you still happy that you put in all that work and didn't do all the things that high school kids and college kids did? You still happy about your decision to be that dedicated?
- [14:20]
Derek Hough
Yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, in my early 20s, you know, when Dancing Stars came around and, you know, we're going on tours and we're doing things and we're in LA and there's like the clubs, the whole thing, I got. I got my time in.
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Bobby Bones
You got it in.
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Derek Hough
I got it in there. I got my early 20s where, yeah, we had it. We had a good time.
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Bobby Bones
Why did you move back to the States?
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Derek Hough
Dancing with the Stars. Dancing with Stars literally was the thing that brought me back from the States. I was. I would have stayed in London, honestly. London, I considered my home. I was doing the West End, I was doing musical theater. I did like 450 shows of this, you know, Footloose and the lead in that. And so I'm singing every night. Dancing, touring. I was in the West End and. And then Dancing with Stars happened. And it was funny as I originally was, like, I came over. Julianne joined the show first in season four. And then one of the producers said he's like, hey, man, would you like.
- [15:20]
Bobby Bones
To do the show?
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Derek Hough
You know, And I was like, because.
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Bobby Bones
It'S a BBC show and they're all brave. Everybody's brain.
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Derek Hough
Yeah, yeah. And now he's actually the head of Fox now, which is actually kind of funny. But he Was like, do you want to do this? But nah, it's not really for me, man. I'm gonna go back to England and do my thing. And then Julianne ended up winning that season, and I was like, hold on, hold on, hold on. What's this thing again? It's like, you still want me? And so I joined the next season, season five. And then Julianne won that season again too, back to back. So she beat me. And that really, it was just. Was the beginning of this really awesome experience that we could have never imagined. You know, I remember people saying back then, like, oh, this show's got like three more seasons left in it, you know, And I was like, okay, 20 years later, you know, we're still. Still kicking it, man.
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Bobby Bones
Yeah. What's crazy about the show is that it has gone definitely through cycles, but it. It doesn't die and it thrives. Like, there are times where just with culture and television and, you know, they'll put it on Disney plus and maybe that wasn't the best, but, man, it. It did awesome last year.
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Derek Hough
Oh, dude. Unbelievably, who would have thought, really, 20 years ago they would have been like, hey, there's this show. And trust me, trust me, tele going to be suffering a lot because streaming is going to come around all these different things, but trust me, this show is going to thrive in 20 years when the digital world is going to be, you know, ruling, but this show will be thriving because of that. You know, you could never have guessed that. You know, it's lightning in a bottle. It's like a perfect storm and we're just lucky. And the amount of times when we all looking around, I mean, they cut the budget like crazy a couple years ago and we're like, oh, okay, this is it, guys. You know, we're. We're coming to the end here and then here we are still kicking. It's. We always joke around. It's a little train that could, you know, we're just keep. Keep plugging along, man. It's amazing.
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Bobby Bones
How many seasons did you do as a dancer before you quit?
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Derek Hough
17 seasons. I did 17 seasons.
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Bobby Bones
Were you doing two a year at some point?
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Derek Hough
Two year? Oh, yeah, we did two a year. For most of it. It was like, you do a season, we go on tour, and you go right into another season, then you go back on tour. I mean, there was no.
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Bobby Bones
That's wild.
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Derek Hough
It was full. It was just like the whole year was packed out.
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Bobby Bones
Were you enjoying it until you weren't?
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Derek Hough
Yeah, yeah. Actually there was A time before that, with the season right before Shawn Johnson. I can't remember who I was dancing.
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Bobby Bones
Did you dance with Sean.
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Derek Hough
Sean Johnson?
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Bobby Bones
Yeah, I saw her today.
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Derek Hough
No way.
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Bobby Bones
Yeah, literally, literally, literally saw her talk to her today.
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Derek Hough
She here?
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Bobby Bones
No, no, we. We were. We were at the airport together. We lived by each other. Oh, no way. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
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Derek Hough
I love her, man. She was.
- [17:59]
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
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Derek Hough
Sean, Sean, Sean. I used to do that, actually, because she's. She's, you know, she's petite, so she'd always be here. I'm like, sean, Sean. Oh, there you are. She would hate that. I love it. But we. There's. Before that season. I remember even then feeling a little bit, like, burnt out and kind of like, I don't know what else to do. I feel a little bit like I don't. I'm not like, growing or expanding, you know? And my mom ended up going to the hospital because she hit her head and went and saw her and was with her, and then this lady next to her and she goes, oh, my gosh, I love you on the show. It means me so much joy and all these things. And. And I remember being like, oh, man, I'm. I'm thinking about myself right now. Like, I was like, I was in my. I was thinking about myself about, like, why am I not feeling this way? Why am I not getting this? And I was like, let me try this again. But let me try to, like, really not think about myself and just go on that show to, like, serve. To, like, really serve my partner, to, like, serve the show and to give it my all, but not for me, but for them. And that was my season with Shawn Johnson. And that was like, for me, that was kind of like my. My breakout season as far as feeling personally, like, unleashed. And it was awesome. It was so great. We came second that season, unfortunately. I remember we're like, Sean didn't win, dude. We. She won first with. With Mark Ballas.
- [19:24]
Bobby Bones
Oh, she came back and it was.
- [19:25]
Derek Hough
The All Star season.
- [19:26]
Bobby Bones
Got it.
- [19:27]
Derek Hough
And I'm not gonna lie, that season was one of my favorites because it was just. Every week we just did something different and we're flipping off stuff and we're falling in and I'm breaking all the rules and Lynn's yelling at me and Carrie Ann's yelling like it was. But we were just, like, going for it. It was just kind of a great, just full out thing, and we end up coming second, which I remember feeling devastated. I was so upset because we put so much into it. But then that season, man, it lit like a brand new fire. A brand new fire under me. And then the next season was with Kelly Pickler.
- [20:02]
Bobby Bones
And now you won.
- [20:03]
Derek Hough
And we won with her. And then the next season was Amber Riley and one with her from Glee. From Glee.
- [20:09]
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
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Derek Hough
And then the next you went back to back. Back to back. Yeah. And then. And then with Amy Purdy the following season.
- [20:15]
Bobby Bones
I know Amy. She finished my second or.
- [20:17]
Derek Hough
And we came second.
- [20:18]
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
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Derek Hough
So it was like that, like, run. It was like second, first, first, second. It was. And. And both of the seconds were like some of my favorite seasons. So it was a really special time. And it was this catalyst of intentionally going into it to be like, all right, I'm here to, like, give, not to like. It's not really about me. We interrupt this interview to bring you a message from our sponsor. Foreign.
- [20:45]
Ben Higgins
What do you do when the headlines don't explain what's happening inside of you? I'm Ben Higgins, and if you can hear me, is where culture meets the soul. A place for real conversation. Each episode, I sit down with people from all walks of life. Celebrities, thinkers, and everyday folks. And we go deeper than the polished story. We talk about what drives us, what shapes us, and. And what gives us hope. We get honest about the big stuff. Identity when you don't recognize yourself anymore. Loss that changes you. Purpose when success isn't enough. Peace when your mind won't slow down. Faith when it's complicated. Some guests have answers. Most are still figuring it out. If you've ever felt like there has to be more to the story, this show is for you. Listen to if youf Can Hear me on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [21:43]
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- [22:19]
Derek Hough
And we're back on the bobbycast.
- [22:22]
Bobby Bones
Some people wonder if the pros are competitive and winning or if they're just there to make their money.
- [22:29]
Derek Hough
Competitive. Competitive, very good. And actually in the earlier seasons, even more competitive, I would say, because I feel like we came out of. I don't want me to be. When I said we, I mean like the. The pros were kind of plucked out of The Latin ballroom competitive world. So we were competitors and we didn't come from like, you know, dance studios where it was like this camaraderie of like supporting your fellow dancers and classmates. We were soloists. I mean, you know, part we had partners, but it was like we were against everybody else. And that mindset of like, I'm against you, I'm against everybody, was instilled in us. So we were very, very, very competitive. And you would see it, you see it a lot, honestly, in the earlier seasons openly, you know what I mean? And so if you could see some of that openly, you can only imagine what was going on behind the scenes. But it made it fun. It made it really, like, intense. It's definitely calmed down a lot now, you know, because now there's tours and now the dancers, there's a lot more like camaraderie and a lot. It's more family orientated, I feel like. And, and a lot of these dancers, they grew up watching the show. They grew up watching and being like, I would love to be on the show one day. And now they're there. And now like, oh my gosh, like, because they're in a state of gratitude, like, they're in a place like, this is awesome. I'm so happy to be here. Which is great, Great. But with that said, there's definitely competitiveness. Oh, my goodness. For sure.
- [23:55]
Bobby Bones
Whenever you finished your run as a dancer, did you have the thought that you would come back in a capacity at all.
- [24:04]
Derek Hough
If. When I finished the run as a dancer, yeah. By the way, you asked me if I. Until it wasn't. I remember the last, my last season, there was like a moment I remember just being like, oh, I, I, yeah, I don't have that same thing anymore where I'm like, you know, it kind of went away and it was a kind of a good moment for me to like, walk away, you know, and do a different project and then miss it. You know, I really missed it. I like, love. I was like, wow, this show really is special. I love this show. And then come back in a different capacity. You know, I feel so fortunate, as if I'm so lucky and, and have to been a part of that show for so long. It's been really special.
- [24:45]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, I really liked off camera, Lynn, and they don't encourage camaraderie between the contestants and the judges. I had a slightly different lifestyle on that show where I didn't know any rules, so I didn't live by them. I wasn't breaking them. I just didn't know them any, like, from the show or dancing. And I would see Lynn out at the car. He was awesome to me until we were on camera and he had to be Lin.
- [25:16]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [25:16]
Bobby Bones
And he was the hardest on me. And people would go, lynn is such a dick to you. And I would be like, he is on camera. But, like, I loved that dude. He was so nice to me off camera.
- [25:27]
Derek Hough
You know what's funny? Like, I joke around because obviously Dance Guitars has a whole brand new, you know, audience, and it's funny all people. I'll say something like, you know, it wasn't really for me and like, oh, my gosh, Derek, you're the wor. I'm like, yo. He didn't see Lynn, guys. I don't think you quite understand. I am. If anything, I'm actually a little bit too. I'm too, too, you know, forgiving. No land is awesome. I've known him since I was 15 years old. You know, I've known him be way before Dancing with the Stars.
- [26:01]
Bobby Bones
When you were competing.
- [26:01]
Derek Hough
Yeah, I knew back in London when I lived there. So actually, when he was on Dance with the Stars, I was like, wait, Len's on that? What's Len doing up there? You know, it's so random. And getting to know Len, having our careers kind of like, just be parallel and just share the space with him in different ways was so awesome. But you're right, Len. Oh, man. There's just nobody like him. You know, he one had the gift of the gab. I always. I begged him. I said, can you write a book of just like, Lenisms? Because the things you would say, they were just so good and so funny and charming and witty and. And some. And not nice and. Yeah, but not nice. But you would be like, ah, it's Len.
- [26:47]
Bobby Bones
Cuttingly funny. He would cut you. But it was hilarious.
- [26:51]
Derek Hough
Yeah, yeah, actually, I'll take it. Yeah, but it's funny. There was a time actually to go off what you said, and I've shared this story a bunch of times, but it was with Kellie Pickler, and I saw Lynn in the hallway and he goes, oh, Derek. You know, I was like, I would love to. I was like, what dance do you have next week? I'm like, I have the pasta double. And he goes, oh, I love that dance. It's like, throw in a coup de pique into that dance, because I haven't seen one of those in a long time. And I'm like, oh, you got it, Len. You got coup de pique. I'm gonna Put two in there. You got it. You know? And so I do the pasta double. We do it. It's this trio thing. And I'm like, oh, man, we gotta end with Len. We got this unlock. We're good. We do the dance. I go up to the judge's table and I'm like, you know, looking at Kelly like, all right, we got this. And Carrie Ann was like, oh, my gosh. It was my favorite dance I've ever seen. Bruno. Oh, my God. Darling, love, I loved it. The theatrics, wonderful. Len is like, how dare you, Derek. That was an abomination. Disgraceful. You're letting your partner down. And, like, I was like, you betrayed me. What are you doing, man?
- [28:00]
Bobby Bones
It was.
- [28:00]
Derek Hough
It was such a funny thing. But then afterwards, I saw. I saw him, and he got two tens from Lennon. Sorry. From Bruno and Carrie Ann. And he gave us a six.
- [28:09]
Bobby Bones
Wow.
- [28:09]
Derek Hough
And that was in, like, the semifinals. Like, this is a big. This is important times. So. So again, when I. I saw him afterwards, and I was like, len, hey, what's happening? He goes, oh, Derek, it's a bit tv. Did you like that? I was like, ah. Oh, no, I didn't. I didn't like that. But again, it makes me laugh because, you know, again, in these seasons, like, you know, we'll have, like. We'll give, like, two eights and then a judge will give us seven. And the. The energy that is thrown at that judge for giving, you know, a seven instead of an eight is crazy. And I was like, lane gave me a six when they are giving me tens.
- [28:47]
Bobby Bones
Like, this is.
- [28:48]
Derek Hough
That was a different discrepancy. So, no, he's. He's wonderful. And it was a big shock when he passed away, honestly. We knew he was. Wasn't quite himself and he was, you know, energy wise. But I. The last season, our last season together is interesting. I felt really drawn to his trailer and going to see him and talk with him, and I've like, hey, man, let's shoot this TikTok or do something kind of fun together. And he would be open for it. You know, he'd be down. And we spent a lot more time than usual. And so at the end of that season, when he said that he was stepping away one, I couldn't believe it. I just. I was like, this is like the end of an era and we're losing the heart of Dancing with the Stars, essentially, that foundation. And then a couple months later, when we found out, we lost him completely. We had no idea it was such a Shock to us. And again, that's why I really. I genuinely don't take it lightly. You know, where I sit and being in that position, you know, when I go on my tours. I'm going out on tour this summer, and a couple years ago, when he first passed away, I did a tribute for him on my. On my tour. And even as I'm building this one, I was thinking, I was like, should I take that out now or. And I was like, no, I'm keeping that in. I'm keeping that in because it doesn't matter. I don't care if it's 10 years. I'm still keeping that in there because I think, you know, we wouldn't be here really, with him without him. He really helped build that show.
- [30:36]
Bobby Bones
And now the Mirror Ball is named after him.
- [30:38]
Derek Hough
Yeah, yeah.
- [30:38]
Bobby Bones
The Lynn Goodman mirrorball trophy. Yeah, I loved him.
- [30:41]
Derek Hough
Has a little bow tie on there. Like, it's. It's. It's amazing. Hang tight. The Bobby cast will be right back.
- [30:51]
Ben Higgins
What do you do when the headlines don't explain what's happening inside of you? I'm Ben Higgins, and if you can hear me, is where culture meets the soul. A place for real conversation. Each episode, I sit down with people from all walks of celebrities, thinkers, and everyday folks, and we go deeper than the polished story. We talk about what drives us, what shapes us, and what gives us hope. We get honest about the big stuff. Identity when you don't recognize yourself anymore. Loss that changes you. Purpose when success isn't enough. Peace when your mind won't slow down. Faith when it's complicated. Some guests have answers. Most are still figuring it out. If you've ever felt like there has to be more to the story, this show is for you. Listen to if you can hear me on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [31:55]
Derek Hough
Welcome back to the Bobbycast.
- [31:59]
Bobby Bones
Do you have. How many do you have mirror balls? 6.
- [32:02]
Derek Hough
6.
- [32:02]
Bobby Bones
Are they all neatly stacked beside each other in a no CD manner?
- [32:07]
Derek Hough
They. Where are they actually? I have no idea where they are right now, if I'm honest. I think they're in. They're like, in a road case right now somewhere, because I take them, travel with them. I take them on tour, and I put them, like, in the lobby, you know, and just for people to come. Come check them out and look at.
- [32:20]
Bobby Bones
Have you ever broken one and had to get it replaced?
- [32:22]
Derek Hough
Oh, yeah. Oh.
- [32:23]
Bobby Bones
So what do you do if that's the case?
- [32:24]
Derek Hough
Oh, no, I've. I've Lost, like, two of them.
- [32:28]
Bobby Bones
Wait.
- [32:28]
Derek Hough
Okay, I'll tell you this story. This is kind of. Kind of funny, actually. In my earlier days, when I would go out and have them have fun, I think I had three at the time. And there was somebody at my condo where I was living. I was a bachelor, you know, the whole thing. And then I woke up, you know, the next day, and I was like, where's my. Where's my trophy?
- [32:56]
Bobby Bones
No way.
- [32:57]
Derek Hough
And I was like, wait a minute. Somebody took. Somebody took my. Because I had, like, an after party at my house. There's a bunch of people there and stuff, and somebody took my trophy and. Or I think it was like. Honestly, it was. I think it was two of them because there's only one there. Like, wait, hold on. Luckily, there was, like, a card on the ground. It was like somebody's card. I don't know. I was randomized. Let me. Let me call this person.
- [33:18]
Bobby Bones
I said, hey, did you take my trophies?
- [33:20]
Derek Hough
Yeah, we. We took them. And they're in. They're in, like, Koreatown, which is nowhere near where I live. In the bush somewhere at this address. I'm like, first, why did you do that? Secondly, what. So I had to go find them, and sure enough, they were in a bush. Had to grab them, take them home.
- [33:39]
Bobby Bones
In one piece.
- [33:40]
Derek Hough
In one piece. They were fine, but I have broken them. I've lost a few. But you could get a remade. But they're like $5,000 a piece, which you're like, you know.
- [33:52]
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
- [33:53]
Derek Hough
I feel like you could just get like, I have one, actually. Wow.
- [33:56]
Bobby Bones
I did not know they were that expensive. Yeah, they're cool.
- [34:00]
Derek Hough
They're fun. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they're cool. Yeah. What happened. What happened with yours?
- [34:07]
Bobby Bones
That's not why you're here. But I'm happy. I'll talk about whatever. I. I don't want to preface it by saying this, but I must. I just had surgery, like, two days before you did. That's not an excuse.
- [34:18]
Derek Hough
Right.
- [34:18]
Bobby Bones
I was not right in my mind. So I had surgery, and they were. They. Everybody was going back to. For, like. It was the big episode where all the winner. Everybody came back. If you were on the show, you got to be a part of it.
- [34:32]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [34:32]
Bobby Bones
And I couldn't go to that. And I was just off a little. And I love and still love Tom Bergeron.
- [34:38]
Derek Hough
Yes.
- [34:38]
Bobby Bones
He was the nicest guy.
- [34:39]
Derek Hough
To me, he's the best.
- [34:40]
Bobby Bones
And so I was a little messed up on pain pills, and I felt like I got a slight from somebody. I really Admired.
- [34:46]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [34:47]
Bobby Bones
And I was like, this sucks. I get beat up by the audience all the time anyway, because I didn't. I don't. I don't know how to dance. I worked really hard.
- [34:53]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [34:53]
Bobby Bones
And we won, but I don't know how to dance. I don't claim I know how to dance. Like, I'm not fighting for my dance skills, but it really hurt my feelings, like, really bad. And so I packaged it up and mailed it back. Yeah. Because I was like, you don't want me to be a part of the show.
- [35:09]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [35:09]
Bobby Bones
I don't want this thing around me now. Clear head. I don't think I would have done that.
- [35:14]
Derek Hough
Right.
- [35:15]
Bobby Bones
And I know the head of BBC, and because I wrote for BBC for a while, I had them produce my Nat Geo show, have great relationships. And I was talking to him and I said, hey, Ryan, have you seen the trophy?
- [35:28]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [35:28]
Bobby Bones
And he was like, no, we've been looking for it. And I was like, I don't know where it is. He said, it's in a bush in Korea town.
- [35:33]
Derek Hough
I was just going to say that. I was like. I was like, it's there. It's just. It's like, all trophies go to that place.
- [35:39]
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
- [35:39]
Derek Hough
It's like a. It's like a black hole.
- [35:41]
Ben Higgins
Yeah.
- [35:41]
Bobby Bones
I mailed it back because I was upset. I was very sensitive. I love Tom. And my feelings got really hurt. And also I think I would. I just get pounded. And then I'm gonna move off me because it's not about me. But, yeah, here's the thing that hurts my feelings about that show a little bit. On my season, I wasn't the bad dancer. There were three or four bad dancers. I was never in the mix of being the bad one.
- [36:04]
Derek Hough
Right.
- [36:05]
Bobby Bones
I was. I'm the bad winner.
- [36:07]
Derek Hough
Right.
- [36:08]
Bobby Bones
Big difference.
- [36:08]
Derek Hough
Right.
- [36:09]
Bobby Bones
Because there were three or four people that lasted. People like, how are these people staying on? I was never that guy during the show.
- [36:14]
Derek Hough
Right.
- [36:15]
Bobby Bones
Because I was fine.
- [36:16]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [36:16]
Bobby Bones
But when it comes to, like, winning, I didn't have the dance skills to be a winner according to the traditional winners. So I went from the fan favorite, obviously, I won, to I'm now associated with every bad dancer on the show when I wasn't even the bad dancer on my season.
- [36:33]
Derek Hough
Right. Yeah.
- [36:34]
Bobby Bones
I have three final questions for you.
- [36:36]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [36:36]
Bobby Bones
Something that people ask me about, and I was also very uncomfortable with it when I first started the show is all the touching because how I have lived my whole life is you don't touch people. Really?
- [36:49]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [36:50]
Bobby Bones
Like, especially like that in dance, it took me a couple weeks to realize that's just a culture. That's what you have to do it in order to actually do any sort of performance.
- [36:59]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [36:59]
Bobby Bones
Like, fundamentally, your hands have to be on the other person's body, all over their body all the time. When you're learning, you're moving, it's great. My mind was blown by all of it, because here's this girl, I don't know, in small shorts and a top, and she's like, put your hands right on my butt. Put your. Touch my hips.
- [37:16]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [37:16]
Bobby Bones
And I'm like, am I. Me too. I don't want to hashtag me too.
- [37:20]
Derek Hough
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [37:22]
Bobby Bones
So that was very uncomfortable for me at first. But people all the time. Time say, man, they're all touching each other. Everybody's got to be doing it with each other. You hear that a lot, right?
- [37:32]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [37:33]
Bobby Bones
What's your response to that?
- [37:34]
Derek Hough
Most of the time, it's funny, actually, I would say this. In earlier seasons, there was a lot of. There was a lot of stuff that would, you know, go on, I feel like.
- [37:47]
Bobby Bones
But the touching is like. It's like. But they're working at a bank and taking money.
- [37:50]
Derek Hough
Like. Yeah, yeah. No, no, here's the thing. Here's. I'll say this, the dancing part of it again, for a dancer. For a dancer, it's not. It's not intimate. You know what I mean? It's not like, oh, like, this is like, get in here. It's not that at all. It's very. It's very clinical. Yeah. You know, it's like, hey, get your. Get there. No, no, that doesn't feel right. Okay, good. No, no, get that. Get that hip up in here. And you're. And, you know, for me, I'm not thinking, like, ooh. I'm thinking the mechanics of it and the. You know, anatomically. Does that make sense? Does it feel good from a balance perspective or from, you know, just that push and pull to create the speed and the dynamics? I'm thinking of the performance. You know what I mean? But I remember my first partner, Jenny Garth. You know, I was like this young kid, and I remember it's on camera, and I remember us doing ballroom, and I kind of like, all right, put your hip here. And she remember me. Like, she'd be like, whoa, hey. And again, for us, this is even like, you know, this is just what we're doing. You know, it's very clinical. It's very technical.
- [38:53]
Bobby Bones
That's what I tell people. Like, it doesn't Even, like, factor to professional dancers that there's anything romantic happening, because it's another day on the job.
- [39:02]
Derek Hough
Yeah, it is. And it's interesting, too, because I think even, like, you know, it's like in acting, you know what I mean? In. In. In film, you know, I was with Margot Robbie yesterday talking about her Weathering Heights film, and it was like all this stuff about her and Jacob Elordi. Like, oh, my gosh, this is, like, crazy. And. But again, for me, I was like, it's like dancing. It's like a dance partner, you know, It's. It's not. It. It certainly looks that way. You're like, wow, that there's something going on there. The amount of people. They thought that things were going on with a bunch of my partners and couldn't be further from the truth. Like, I was like, they're like my. My sisters, you know, like, they're like my family. And. But we could just. We could just, you know, we could just dance, you know?
- [39:46]
Bobby Bones
How's the extra job going?
- [39:47]
Derek Hough
That's good, man. Yeah, it's good. It's different. I'm. I'm. Different skill. It's a different muscle, you know, learning. Just learning those ropes, man. You know, they're doing the certain voice in the VOS and stuff, and then the interviews, and it's been great. It's been good. I call it my, like, my dad job, because it's like, I go, I have an office, and it's like, you.
- [40:06]
Bobby Bones
Have a real office, they give you an office.
- [40:07]
Derek Hough
I have an office.
- [40:08]
Bobby Bones
That's awesome.
- [40:08]
Derek Hough
It's a dope office, too. It's nice. Haley came in and she did it all up, and we did the walls and the shelves and the things, and it's a nice office. And, you know, I go from, like, 8:30 and I'm done by like, noon or 11 sometimes and go home.
- [40:22]
Bobby Bones
How many days a week?
- [40:24]
Derek Hough
Four days a week. So today I shot two shows, and, you know.
- [40:28]
Bobby Bones
Yeah.
- [40:28]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [40:28]
Bobby Bones
That's super cool. Yeah.
- [40:30]
Derek Hough
Yeah, it's fun. It's fun.
- [40:31]
Bobby Bones
If people want to see you on tour this summer.
- [40:34]
Derek Hough
Yeah. Like, what's the deal, dude? My tour? Well, first of all, performing live is, for me, number one, it's the best. You know, being on television, you know, I love that. Don't get me wrong, of course. But there's nothing like performing live in a. In, you know, in a room, having that shared experience, you know, how it feels, that instant response, that relationship. And I'm going back out on the road with the tour. That I've done before called Symphony of Dance. And it's a really special show. I'm so proud of this show. So much so that I want to do it again and go back out. We're going to change things, of course. There's going to be different songs, different pieces, different things happening in there, of course, make it different, but for the most part, it's the same show. And it's. We have a live band, live musicians, incredible cast of dancers that I hand pick that are just. They're superheroes. They can do things. I. I specifically pick dancers who do things that I would only dream of doing. I can never do what they do. And, yeah, there's music in it, singing and audience participation, but it's also very personal. It's very heartfelt. I always try to make my shows feel connected and feel like there's an emotion there. So I'm really proud of it. This is also the show that Haley, actually, a couple years ago, she ended up having, you know, a brain bleed during the show, and we had to go off the stage, and there's just something. And then she came back. She came back and it was incredible. And we were talking about what tour we wanted to go out with in the summer, and we both were like, we want to go back out with that show. That show is really special. There's something about it that's really special. And I think part of that might. Because of the experience that we had together, but also it's. We're really proud of the show. It's a good one. It's a good. The music, the energy, this rock and roll. There's ballroom, There's. There's contemporary, there's ballads. There's just a bit of everything. Tap, old Hollywood musical theater. You know, it's. It's a. It's a bit of everything in it. It's really fun.
- [42:49]
Bobby Bones
I really appreciate you coming by. This has been great.
- [42:52]
Derek Hough
Thanks, man.
- [42:52]
Bobby Bones
I. One bonus question. Do you ever have any input at all on who your next partner is going to be?
- [42:58]
Derek Hough
Do you have any input? No, you don't. You don't have any input.
- [43:05]
Bobby Bones
You answered that. A little suspect.
- [43:08]
Derek Hough
I love that so much. Sorry, I was just trying to think. I'm just trying. The only reason why I'm saying that is because of this. Because a while ago, and I'll be completely honest with you, I was doing a show. I was doing a Radio City Music Hall. I was in a show there, and I was like, I can't do Dancing the Stars. I'm gonna go do this show at Radio city. I'm doing 13 shows a week, which is insane, by the way. Three shows a day, sometimes with the rocket, some on stage. We're singing. I'm singing and dancing. There's 50,000 gallons of water falling on that stage. Like, it's incredible. Sold out shows every night, you know, 6,000 per show. And we're in rehearsals. And I kind of was like, I think I could do Dancing with Stars at the same time as this, which was crazy. And I remember calling them, saying, hey, guys, I think I can do both. I think I can fly Red Eyes and go back, do 13 shows a week, teach my partner in between shows in my dressing room.
- [44:05]
Bobby Bones
You needed someone in New York.
- [44:06]
Derek Hough
And I was like, but the person needs to be in New York. And they're like, well, okay, let me. Then they were like, well, let's think about it. And then, funny enough, Nastya Lukin was going to school in New York City. And so it just happened to work out that way. So it wasn't like I was like, hey, I. I want this partner. It was like, we could make this happen, but my partner has to be in New York. So that's.
- [44:29]
Bobby Bones
And they need to be a Olympic gymnast.
- [44:32]
Derek Hough
Yeah, it has to be Olympic.
- [44:33]
Bobby Bones
You've had two Olympic gymnasts.
- [44:35]
Derek Hough
Yeah, I did. I have. I have. I. He's gonna be Olympic gymnast and it'd be amazing. No, it wasn't that. It just was by chance and. But it was amazing. She was incredible as well. But. But yeah, there's, you know, it's interesting, of course, especially now with, like the, the energy around the show. There's a lot of, like, wanting to figure things out and, and look into things and all this stuff. It really isn't that complex, really. Honestly, it's. It's just like, hey, these guys going well together. Let's put them together. There are, of course, some times when partners, you're kind of like, man, I wish this person would, you know, have a different opportunity, you know? You know, I think. Yeah, I don't know. I'm trying to say right now, but.
- [45:21]
Bobby Bones
Yeah, there were people. I'll just keep names out. There were people on our season that really didn't like each other. Like, really like partner and that really. And I felt bad. Yeah, I felt. Because they just.
- [45:30]
Derek Hough
It just didn't mix, you know, I feel like now, I could be wrong, but I feel like we're sort of in a different time now where I think that people who come on the show now, you know, celebrities will come on the show. They want to be there. Do you know what I mean? I feel like there's going to be, like, now they want to be there. They're here. Take me. What am I. What do I got to do? Doesn't mean they're not going to have conflict. They're going to hit heads, and that's going to happen. But I think in some cases in the past, there'd be people who are there like, what. What am I doing here? Like, my agent made me be here.
- [46:02]
Bobby Bones
I've heard of those two. It's difficult for the pro as well.
- [46:05]
Derek Hough
Yeah. They're just like, come on, please come to rehearsal. You know, and you feel bad for them, and that. That's a bummer. That's bummer. But I feel like we're in a time now where it's like, there's like a. People want to be on the show, they want to be there, and you feel that.
- [46:16]
Bobby Bones
So congratulations, man.
- [46:17]
Derek Hough
Thanks, dude. Killing it.
- [46:18]
Bobby Bones
Love these. Mental. Now we're here. Big fan of your work. You filled Lynn's spot wonderfully, because you're not trying to be Lynn. You're just being you.
- [46:26]
Derek Hough
Thanks, man.
- [46:26]
Bobby Bones
And I think that is a really hard thing to do. Like, when you're coming in after somebody legendary, you think, well, I should be somewhat like this. But you've really embraced just being you, and that is probably exactly what Lynn would have wanted, too.
- [46:37]
Derek Hough
Yeah.
- [46:38]
Bobby Bones
So, Derek, good to see you, man.
- [46:39]
Derek Hough
Thanks, man. Means a lot. Thanks so much. This has been a Bobby Kast production. This is an iHeart podcast.
- [46:53]
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