DANCING WITH THE STARS’ Derek Hough ‘Very Proud’ of Latest Accomplishment
By Movieguide® Contributor
Celebrity choreographer Derek Hough recently shared why his Emmy nomination for his dance to Michael Bublè’s “Higher” is so special to him.
“There were so many things about this piece that were special for me as far as Michael, who I love adore, dancing with my beautiful fiancée, who is incredible, and sharing the stage with these incredible dancers, who I’ve known for years and years and years. It was like a big reunion,” Hough explained.
“I’m very, very proud of this piece,” he continued. “There are some pieces, you know, you get nominated, and you love, and you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s cool.” There are some pieces that you’re like, ‘You know what? I love this piece so much.’ And I really love this piece. I watched it back after I got nominated, and I was like, ‘Oh, Ok! Ok, that happened.’ I was proud of it.”
“Higher” is Hough’s thirteen Emmy nomination, and he surpassed Debbie Allen as the most nominated choreographer in Emmy history. He has been performing on DANCING WITH THE STARS since 2007 and became a judge on the show in 2020.
Hough was inspired to choreograph a dance for “Higher” because Bublè was a guest judge on an episode last season.
“His music is so important to us that it makes sense that he was there,” Hough said. “When I heard ‘Higher,’ I was like, ‘This song is like a mini musical.’ It really has so many elements. It has cha-cha, it has the tango feel, it has that drama. It has all these different elements that call for a big performance, that call for a production essentially. So for me, I was like, ‘I’d love to do that song.’”
Since becoming a judge in 2020, Hough has taken the stage every season to showcase his incredible talent, though he is unsure if he will create a piece for the next season. However, Hough wants to honor the late Len Goodman, who retired as head judge at the end of last season and passed away from bone cancer in April.
“The one thing in my mind I’m thinking right now that I would want to do that feels appropriate and feels right is I would love [to] do something to honor Len, just something classic and reverent and appropriate,” Hough shared. “It’s up to the show and whatever they feel is right. But I know for me, when I think about something that motivates me or inspires me, last year it was Michael Bublè because I was working with him and that song really inspired me. But for this season, at least for me, the thing that inspires me is Len.”
Movieguide® previously reported:
Len Goodman, longtime judge on the hit competition show DANCING WITH THE STARS, died on April 22, 2023. He was 78.
Goodman, who started his career as a professional ballroom dancer, joined BBC’s STRICTLY COME DANCING in 2004 and DANCING WITH THE STARS in 2005.
Several former stars of the show shared tributes to Goodman and his legacy on the TV series.
“Heart broken my dear friend and partner for 19 years the one and only ballroom legend #lengoodman passed away I will treasure the memory of our incredible adventures and hundreds of shows we did together @bbcstrictly @dancingwiththestars they will never be anyone like you we will miss you,” Co-judge Bruno Tonioli wrote on Instagram.
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