Julianne Hough: Dancing With Derek

By Julianne Hough
Special to Fancast.com

I just got out of rehearsal. Jennifer Hudson is performing tonight on the results show, and Derek and I are performing to it. The other day he was so cute. We were practicing for it and he started walking away. He turned around and said, “Hey Julianne.” I said, “What?” He said, “I love dancing with you.” I was like ohhhhh. I got a tear.

Derek and I have such a great connection when we dance. Everything’s in synch and it feels comfortable and natural. I think I was seven or eight years old the first time we danced together. We didn’t do it often. I remember dancing at my sister’s wedding. And my dad’s. I’m trying to remember. Hmmm. We never competed together or partnered on any shows until we were on DWTS and then they seemed to have us dance together quite often, which is fun.

It really is. Both of us boss each other around. I’ll tell him that he needs to lead me into the right position and he’ll tell me I’m going too fast. In our rehearsals, there’s always back and forth. Then we fix it and go, “That was awesome.” We both have moments where we’re a little bossy. He freaks out a little bit more, but we’re both a little Type A personality. I love him. Tonight’s performance is going to be really fun. Rehearsal was great.

While we’re on the topic, let me respond to Charlie, who wrote into Fancast the other day to say his six year old daughter has her first crush on Derek. My response? Ahhhhhh. She has good taste. Charlie wanted to know if there’s any chance Derek and I will be performing “Dreaming Under the Same Moon.” I don’t think so. I’m just going to be performing “My Hallelujah Song.”

But get this. Derek and his band – the one he has with Mark Ballas – just got signed to Hollywood Records, so they’re going to be working on their album and maybe next season he’ll be performing on the show. For everyone who doesn’t know, Mark and Derek are in a band and were in a band for seven years and before that all three of us were in a little pop group. So they just got signed. They’re more like an alternative kind of rock band. It’s very cool. I’m so proud of him.

After last night’s show, a lot of people have asked if I cut my hair. No, I haven’t cut it. Last night’s wig was so good it looked like my real hair. It was exactly like my hair color. I actually had that kind of short hair when I was 15 and in dance competitions. In competitions, I’d dance against 30 year old women and I didn’t want to look like a little girl, so I cut my hair and it made me look a little older. But I’ve been growing it out ever since. I’m definitely keeping it long – though who can keep track what my real hair looks like since it’s all about extensions.

Cody and I were at Miley Cyrus’ birthday party on Sunday and signing autographs for some of the fans. I turned around and somebody grabbed my hair. I was like, “No, don’t pull on that. It will come out. You really will take my hair because it’s all fake.” My real hair – I look like I have a mullet. It’s hilarious.

As for last night’s performance, those judges annoy me sometimes. That’s all I’m going to say. You see other couples sometimes and they do well and then you look at your partner who also did well, maybe even better than some, but the judges are so picky and they were last night when it came to our performance. I thought Cody was really focused last night on trying to be polished and full of finesse and in control, which was their biggest complain the past couple of weeks. In fact, he was so focused he kind of forgot what he was doing and started to count. But he started out really strong and overall I was so impressed and happy for him. Especially considering how busy the last couple of days were for us. I think he has more talent than he realizes.

Before I go take Lexi out for a walk, let me answer a couple more questions from you guys.

Jess wanted to know when my new video will premiere. I just looked at the rough cut again. It should be out in the next week or so.

Bev wondered if I stiffen up if I’m not dancing or working out all the time. I haven’t been working out as much as I should because I’ve been so busy. It’s hard to find even an hour to work out, which isn’t good. I can tell when I’m not fully in shape.

Sunia wants to know if I’m going on the DWTS tour this year. I may go out on a couple of dates, but I’m also going to be writing for my next album and I have the Christmas album for Target that comes out October 14, and I’ll be promoting that. I’m going to light the tree at Rockefeller Center and do a bunch of Christmas stuff this winter. Ocne January comes around, I’ll be touring on my own. So it’s busy.

OK everyone. Thanks for checking in on this blog. I can’t wait for you to see the video to “My Hallelujah Song.” And let me know what you think of tonight’s show.

Julianne