How Old Is Derek Hough Dancing With The Stars

So, you’re sitting on the couch, maybe with a bowl of popcorn that’s already half-gone, and you catch a glimpse of Derek Hough spinning some celebrity around like they’re a human top. You lean over to your partner and ask, “Wait, how old is that guy? He’s been doing this since I was in high school.” It’s a fair question, because Derek has that weird, timeless energy—like a golden retriever who also happens to be a professional athlete.

The Quick Math of a Dancing Legend

Derek Hough was born on May 17, 1985, in Salt Lake City, Utah. That makes him 39 years old as of 2025, which in normal people years means you’re finally understanding your lower back pain. But in dancer years, that’s practically ancient, like finding a flip phone that still works.

He started on Dancing with the Stars as a pro in season five, back when the show’s biggest drama was whether someone could remember the paso doble. That was 2007—the same year the first iPhone came out, and we all thought texting with a touchscreen was magic.

To put it in perspective, Derek was 22 years old when he first cha-cha’d onto our screens. That’s the age when most of us are eating ramen and figuring out how to do taxes, not leading a celebrity through a rumba.

The “Wait, He’s Still Doing This?” Factor

You know that friend who is absurdly good at karaoke, even after three beers? That’s Derek Hough, but with dance shoes and a six-pack that looks like it was laser-engraved. At 39, he’s now the wise old wizard of the ballroom, with over 20 seasons under his belt and six mirrorball trophies on his mantel.

It’s like watching your favorite athlete from the early 2000s still dunking on kids half his age. Except Derek’s sport requires him to wear sequins and smile while being dipped backward by a retired football player.

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He’s also survived a few seasons as a judge, which is honestly harder than dancing. You have to critique someone’s foxtrot while they’re crying, which is like telling your grandma her meatloaf is dry—nobody wants to do that.

The Secret Sauce of His Agelessness

If you look at Derek’s Instagram, you’d think he’s been preserved in a jar of protein shakes and good vibes. He’s still doing backflips on boats and hanging out with his wife, Hayley Erbert, who he’s clearly been dating since the dawn of time (it’s actually since 2015, but you get the vibe).

How does he stay so spry? Well, he’s a professional dancer, so his idea of a “rest day” is probably a light jog through a hurricane. Meanwhile, the rest of us consider walking to the fridge a legitimate cardio workout.

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There’s also the fact that he’s basically a cyborg built for rhythm. He toured with a band, played drums, and even acted on Broadway. Most of us can’t even clap on beat at a wedding without looking like a confused baby giraffe.

The Anecdote You’ve Lived Yourself

Remember that time you tried to learn the salsa from a YouTube video at 2 a.m.? You ended up kicking your coffee table and pulling a muscle you didn’t know existed. That’s the opposite of Derek Hough.

He once danced a jive on national television with a broken toe and didn’t even flinch. Meanwhile, I once stubbed my pinky toe on the sofa and had to lie down for an hour with a cold compress. We are not the same.

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So when you ask “How old is Derek Hough on Dancing with the Stars?” the real answer is: old enough to be a veteran, but young enough to make you feel like you need to stretch before watching him. He’s the guy who makes turning 40 look like a standing ovation, not a midlife crisis.

The Final Shrug

In the end, Derek Hough is 39, which in human years is “just old enough to buy a sports car but wise enough to buy a hybrid.” On Dancing with the Stars, he’s the dance equivalent of a grandmaster chess player—except his moves involve a lot more glitter and less sitting down.

So next time you see him spinning a contestant into a pretzel, just nod and say, “Good for him, still killing it.” And maybe, just maybe, do a shoulder roll to remind yourself that you too can be flexible at 39. Or, you know, just finish your popcorn. One of those is way easier.