The October 15 episode of “Dancing With the Stars” featured “Dedication Night,” which set an emotional tone for the evening. The highlight of the night was a heartfelt routine by judge Derek Hough and his wife, Hayley Erbert, set to “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone. This performance marked Erbert’s return to the ballroom following a serious health crisis that required an emergency craniectomy.
In a touching pre-performance segment, Hough shared the harrowing experience they faced just three months after their wedding in August 2023. While on tour for their Symphony of Dance, Erbert suffered a life-threatening medical emergency backstage. Hough recounted the moment he learned she was having seizures and was in grave danger, explaining the fear that engulfed him as a stage manager informed him that she would not be coming on stage.
Erbert was quickly taken to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with a severe brain bleed that required immediate surgery. Hough described the moment he was informed that she might not survive and that even if she did, she might be permanently changed. The anguish of that moment is still vivid for him as he recalled lying on the hospital floor, pleading for her to pull through.
The following morning, after surgery, Hough found Erbert “unrecognizable” and missing 40% of her skull. Despite her condition, she remembered their time spent dancing before the incident, a moment that filled him with relief knowing she was still there with him.
During their performance on “DWTS,” Hough revealed that they had previously danced in front of her doctors and nurses in Washington, D.C. after her recovery. The doctors expressed amazement at her progress, calling it a miracle. Reflecting on her strength and resilience, Hough praised Erbert, highlighting her determination and spirit that continue to inspire him.