Julianne Alexandra Hough; born July 20, 1988) is an American dancer, actress, singer and songwriter. In 2007, she joined the cast of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars as a professional dancer, winning two seasons with her celebrity partners. After leaving the show in 2009, she returned in 2014 to serve as a permanent judge on Dancing with the Stars, a position she held until 2017. Hough made her acting debut in the 2010 film Burlesque, which was followed by leading roles in Footloose, Rock of Ages, and Safe Haven.