Derek Hough Is Not Returning to Dancing with the Stars This Season

Season 22 is going to be incredibly Hough-less

Season 22 of Dancing with the Stars is going to be completely Hough-free. 

Julianne Hough already announced that she will not be a judge this season, and now E! News has confirmed that Derek Hough is also taking this season off. 

The DWTS pro originally joined the show full-time in season five, and has led his partner to victory a total of six times. He took home his latest mirrorball trophy with partner Bindi Irwin during season 21. 

So while we're totally bummed about this news, Hough's fellow professional dancers are probably looking forward to a season without Derek as competition.

Hough took season 12 off to film a the movie Make Your Move 3D, and had previously announced he was taking some time off for season 20, but then ended up competing anyway, paired with Nastia Liukin. 

Perhaps the reason for this time off is that Hough was cast in the Gene Kelly role in the new Broadway production of Singin' In the Rain.  That production opens next January, which doesn't bode well for future seasons of Dancing with the Stars, either, but we'll take it one season at a time and keep our fingers crossed. 

Other than the total lack of Hough involvement, not a lot has been announced so far about season 22. Len Goodman will be returning to the judge's table, and so far, only ANTM winner Nyle Dimarco is officially competing, as E! News reported. Jodie Sweetin has also addressed rumors that she will be joining the show. 

Season 22 of Dancing with the Stars premieres Monday, March 21 at 8 p.m. on ABC.