It’s been quite the transformative year for Julianne Hough.
In addition to releasing her new single, “Transform,” the star has also become all about living her most authentic life.
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A big part of this, though, meant coming out to not only her husband but to the whole world that she’s not straight.
Coming out has been one of the most transformative things Julianne Hough has ever done.
That’s because the TV star/singer/dancer/amazing-at-everything-she-does woman is finally able to live her most authentic life.
It was during her cover story for “Women’s Health” that the star revealed the news of her sexuality.
But first, she broke the news to her husband, retired hockey player, Brooks Laich.
“I was connecting to the woman inside that doesn’t need anything, versus the little girl that looked to him to protect me,” she said.
“I was like, ‘Is he going to love this version of me?’”
Thankfully, their story had a great outcome:
“But the more I dropped into my most authentic self, the more attracted he was to me. Now we have a more intimate relationship.”
Part of vulnerability meant sharing the truths about her that he didn’t know.
Like her not being straight.
“I [told him], ‘You know I’m not straight, right?’ And he was like, ‘I’m sorry, what?’ I was like, ‘I’m not. But I choose to be with you,’” she said.
Being honest even strengthened their relationship.
“I think there’s a safety with my husband now that I’m unpacking all of this, and there’s no fear of voicing things that I’ve been afraid to admit or that I’ve had shame or guilt about because of what I’ve been told or how I was raised.”
The couple have been married since July 2017.
Hough’s in great company of other celebs who have also been open about their sexuality.
This includes Miley Cyrus, Halsey, Bella Thorne, and more.
It was a mutual friend who hooked them up after Brooks began crushing on the “America’s Got Talent” judge after he saw her in a Juicy Fruit commercial.
So cute!
Before Brooks, Hough had dated Ryan Seacrest for several years.
They broke up in March 2013 after three years of dating. The reason came down to conflicting schedules.
When speaking about her pervious relationships to “Redbook” magazine, she didn’t hold back.
“Every relationship, there was nothing wrong or bad, but there was nothing right,” she said.
“I had one foot out because I didn’t want to get hurt,” she said.
“And I didn’t say what was on my mind because I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers. I needed to be perfect.”
When she married to Brooks, Ryan even had the sweetest thing to say about his ex!
While on his show, Live with Kelly and Ryan , he showed images from Hough’s wedding and said, “she looks stunning.”
Aww! He also had sweet things to say about her family.
“And there’s also a photo of her father, Bruce,” he continued. “I know this family and they are terrific people … super talented, she is, so congratulations, Julianne! Happy to see you happy.”
She even admitted that at 31, she’s at her most comfortable.
“I love being 31,” she said.
“So the last few years have been about me picking up all parts of who I am and the parts that I’ve suppressed over probably 25 years.”
We’re so proud of how far she’s come!
After having such a transformative year, it’s no wonder that Hough titled her first single in almost a decade (!!) “Transform.”
She had made it big in 2008 when her debut album landed number one on the country charts.
But because the first single off her second album wasn’t that well received, she quit music.
“I gave up because of my fear of failure,” she told Women’s Health .
Now, she’s facing up to her creative fears with this new album.
“Every song has been about transformation,” she said. “It’s so where I’m at. Being able to move stuck energy, I let down my walls.”
She spoke to “People” recently about what this fresh start at a music career means to her.
“This is the first time I feel like I’m not just trying to push it or perform it,” she said backstage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas.
“I have never felt more like a woman in my life, and I’ve always been the girl next door, all-American sweetheart.”
“And that’s a version and a part of me, but it’s not all of who I am, and I didn’t even know that about me.”
“It’s like, no, this is just for me and this is my voice and my truth, and I’m so excited to just speak from that place.”
“And if people like it and resonate with it, then that’s a bonus. But this felt so good, to just like let it out and be me.”
Showing her real, authentic self to the world certainly isn’t easy, but it has been worth it.
She said that it’s “so liberating to come out the other side and know that like, this is who I am and I’m so freaking proud of who I am.”