Julianne Hough's Exes Who Have Spoken Out About Their Relationship With The Star

Like Taylor Swift, whose former partners have occasionally reflected on dating one of music's biggest stars, Julianne Hough has inspired a handful of her own exes who have spoken out about their relationship with the star after the romance ended. While the former "Dancing with the Stars" pro has generally kept her love life private, several of the men she has dated have shared candid insights into their time together. Whether speaking about heartbreak, friendship, or mutual respect, their comments offer a glimpse into Hough's life beyond the headlines.

One of Hough's most talked-about relationships was with television personality Ryan Seacrest, whom she dated from 2010 to 2013. Nearly a decade after their split, the former couple reunited on "On-Air with Ryan Seacrest" in 2022 (per Us Weekly), where they proved they had remained on good terms. "There is nothing uncomfortable about it because we remained friends for years and still are," Seacrest said, while Hough added that they still have "respect and love" for one another. Their candid exchange showed that, despite ending their romance years earlier, they successfully remained close — much like other celebrities who prove you can actually be friends with your exes.

Another ex who has reflected positively on Hough is former NHL player Brooks Laich. The couple married in 2017 and announced their separation in 2020, but before their split, Laich described the relationship as one that changed his life. Speaking to E! News, he said, "I thought I had my life figured out and then Julianne walked into my life and completely changed it, and I'm so grateful for that."

Before her marriage, Julianne Hough dated country singer Chuck Wicks after the pair met while competing on "Dancing with the Stars". Their breakup became even more complicated when they returned to perform together on the show's live tour. Wicks later admitted on his "Talk to Chuck" podcast that continuing to dance and make public appearances together after the split was "a massive facade." Recalling the aftermath of their breakup, he said, "I found myself doing a CMA red carpet and we made a pact together to basically lie, to say, 'No, we just wanted to part ways. Everything's fine.' It wasn't fine. S*** hit the fan." According to a E! News report about the podcast, the agreement forced the former couple to smile through performances and red carpet appearances even though, behind the scenes, their relationship had become incredibly strained.

Brooks Laich has also continued to speak respectfully about his relationship with Julianne Hough following their separation in 2020. In the joint statement the former couple released to People, they wrote, "We share an abundance of love and respect for one another and will continue to lead with our hearts from that place." In the years since, Laich has continued to take the high road, explaining on the "How Men Think" podcast shortly after announcing the divorce that he viewed the experience as an opportunity for personal growth (per People). He even delivered a gem that could have been added to the list of quotes from celebs about what they learned from their painful divorces. Rather than criticizing Hough publicly, he described the emotional process at the time as transformative, saying, "It's liberating to allow and give yourself the grace and the capacity to just allow that emotion to live and come out."