Did Derek Hough just let a major secret waltz right out on Dancing With the Stars?
On Tuesday (Oct. 14), the DWTS judge — who’s expecting his first child with wife Hayley Erbert — may have almost confirmed their baby’s gender during the show’s emotional “Dedication Night.”
After a moving Viennese Waltz from Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and partner Ezra Sosa (set to John Mayer’s “Daughters”), Derek offered high praise… and then seemed to catch himself mid-sentence.
“Watching you two dance really made me excited to have that own—my own moment with my…” he began, before pausing and glancing to the side. He then carefully finished: “…my own child.”
Cue raised eyebrows — and lots of rewinding. Fans were quick to wonder if Derek almost said “daughter,” especially given the context of the song and performance.
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Whether it was a slip or just a sweet coincidence, the moment clearly struck a chord with the soon-to-be dad.
“It’s so beautiful,” he added. “There’s a tenderness. It was simple. There was a care to it. It was just a really beautiful dance. And I hope you both cherish that moment.”
Baby on the Way
Derek and Hayley announced their pregnancy back in July with a dreamy video on Instagram.
“We can’t believe the biggest thing to happen to us could be so small,” they captioned the clip, which featured them embracing and showing off their sonogram photos under a golden sunset.
The couple tied the knot in August 2023 in a romantic ceremony in Monterey County, Calif., and are now preparing for parenthood.
Read More: 40 Great Father-Daughter Dance Songs for a Country Fan’s Wedding
No official baby name or gender reveal just yet — but if Derek’s almost-slip means anything, he may want to start brushing up on his daddy-daughter dance moves.
For now, we’ll just be over here rewatching that moment on loop.
P.S. Derek’s sister, Julianne Hough, is currently co-hosting Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars alongside Fresh Prince alum Alfonso Ribeiro.
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Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
