Julianne Hough, Bio, Pictures, Dancing with the Stars, Music Career

MAIN Pop Culture Country Music Julianne Hough

Blond, blue-eyed and multi-talented, Julianne Hough is on the road to earning the title of America's sweetheart as a professional dancer and its newest country music star.

She has been most recently in the spotlight as a featured dancer (the youngest ever) in the ABC hit Dancing with the Stars who coupled with former Olympic star Apolo Anton Ono to win the competition in 2007. The following season, she took the trophy again when she was paired with Indy 500 star racer Helio Castroneves.

September 2008 was supposed to mark her last season with the show as she paired up with Hannah Montana star actor Cody Linley. However, to the delight of her fans she returned in 2009, dancing with none other than her then romantic interest, country star Chuck Wicks (they couple later split in November of the same year.)

Early Career

Born July 20, 1988 in Salt Lake City into a family of professional ballroom dancers, Hough began her dance career as a child partnering with older brother Derek Hough in local competitions. The two siblings later traveled to London to study at the prestigious Italia Conti Performing Arts School where they were trained in all forms of dance including tap and ballet. By the time she was 12, Julianne was already performing in dance competitions in the U.K as well as the United States.

After spending five years in London, she returned home to her native Utah and eventually made her way to Los Angeles to pursue her triple-threat career as a dancer, singer and actress.

Julianne Hough
"That Song in My Head"

Julianne Hough: All Dancing, All Singing

Following stints in commercials and TV drama series, Hough was shining in the national spotlight as a featured dancer in Dancing with the Stars and went on to win back-to-back victories coupled with sports stars Apolo Anton Ano (Season 4) and Helio Castroneves (Season 5).

Following her early elimination (partnering with radio star Adam Carolla) during the 2008 season Hough's country music singing career was launched with her self-titled album and debut single "That Song in My Head" in May 2008. By early June, the album quickly jumped to the top of the country music charts.

Hough was chosen to sing the national anthem to open the 2008 edition of Indy 500 and toured with country music superstar Brad Paisley over the summer. Later in the year, after several seasons with Dancing with the Stars, she announced her departure from Dancing with the Stars to pursue a full-time singing career.

Offstage, Hough has been romantically linked to fellow professional dancer and "Dance War" winner Zack Wilson. (with whom she reportedly broke off a wedding engagement in 2008), and dated fellow country star Chuck Wicks for a year before their split in November 2009.

More about Julianne Hough around the Web:

Julianne Hough.com - The official site with the latest news & tour dates, photo gallery, video clips, blog updates.

Julianne Hough Fan Site - Community forum, photo galleries, streaming videos, clips, bio, photo galleries, event calendar.

MySpace.com - Julianne Hough - Featured videos and complete tour date schedule.

Julianne Hough : News - Bio, ringtones, music videos, photos, video interviews, tour dates.

Julianne Hough - TV.com - Profile and vital stats, most recent TV appearances, photo gallery, related quotes, trivia & fun facts.

Super Rare Photos of Julianne Hough - Pictures from her childhood, with brother Derek, mom and dad, teenage friends, via YouTube.

also see -> Trace Adkins | Big & Rich | Clint Black | Garth Brooks