Ari Perilstein/Getty Images for FIJI WaterDerek Hough is leaving Dancing With the Stars—at least just for the upcoming spring season, the show's 20th. Hough will play the male lead in the New York Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, E! News has confirmed. Hough will star opposite Laura Benanti.
The seven-week show also features the Rockettes the voices of Whoopi Goldberg and Bella Thorne and more celebrity cameos.
"I am ecstatic that I'll able to extend my passion for performing to the Great Stage of Radio City Music Hall in New York Spring Spectacular," Hough said in a statement. "Performing at Radio City Music Hall in a show that celebrates everything that is beloved about New York City is a dream. I can't wait to show fans this production...it's going to be like nothing they've seen me in before."
This isn't the first time Hough has sat out a season, he didn't participate in the show's 12th season. Hough, who has won the series five times, joined the show fulltime in its fifth season. He also recurs on ABC's Nashville.
Hough won't be the only familiar face missing from the dance floor. Cheryl Burke will star in a new NBC series that's still in early development. Meanwhile, longtime judge Len Goodman announced he will depart the American version of the international hit series after the upcoming 20th season.
"Dancing with the Stars—next year is their 10th year, it's the 20th series of the show. So I think that's a nice place to stop," Goodman said.
The judging panel on Dancing With the Stars also includes Hough's sisters Julianne Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tunioli. A source told E! News that Julianne Hough was brought in knowing Goodman was on his way out the door. He'll still judge the UK version of the series, Strictly Come Dancing.
People first reported Hough's upcoming DWTS exit.