Julianne Hough Celebrates the DWTS Season & Robert & Witney’s Win | The Morning After (Show)

Julianne Hough Celebrates the DWTS Season & Robert & Witney’s Win | The Morning After (Show)

Thanks to Arra Colostrum for sponsoring this video. It is oh the morning after. The morning after Dancing with the Stars. It is the end of the season. Congratulations to Robert and Whitney. Honestly, this season I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus in the best way. I feel like it has been the biggest season like ever. Um, but I will say it has this like nostalgic feeling of when I started back in season 4 where it was the biggest show on television. 20 million viewers were watching every single week. And now, you know, society and culture has changed so much. So, it’s not that, but it’s even more because it’s all funneled through social media and the social ratings and everybody commentating on this show. I mean, it has had a resurgence that nobody was expecting. Um, but we’re also grateful for because honestly, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say I think Dancing with the Stars is the show that is healing America. And I mean that as a joke, but I also mean it for real because it’s the show that brings everybody together. It’s not political. It is about growth. It is about progress. It is about following people’s journeys of self-discovery and rooting for each other. And I think what it does is it actually shows that we’re more similar and unified than we are separated and different. I’ve always felt that way about this show, but this season specifically. I also like read somewhere where it’s like Gen Z are actually coming together and hanging out in person to have watch parties, which you know there’s all this talk and statistics about how like people are just on their phones and disconnected and isolated and lonely. And with Dancing with the Stars, it has really become this cultural phenomenon 20 years after it started that is bringing people together. And it like literally makes me so emotional thinking about because it’s like doing some really good things for America right now. Just saying. Hold for a sec. All right. So, I guess it’s just me interviewing myself or Sunny interviewing me for my last morning after show interview. I mean, you’re not alone. You have all of this attention talking about this on social. Do you remember the shift on set? It’s not even the show. It’s like just just culturally and society. Like I remember concerts. You weren’t supposed to post things or like movies or anything. You weren’t supposed to tease anything because you wanted people to come and see the the movie or the show or whatever it is. Now you’re like posting so much about what’s already going to be seen that that was like a complete reverse thought in anybody’s head. And now it’s like the more you show show the more people want to see more of it. So now you go on set um you know I don’t know I think this probably shifted maybe five or six years ago but really in the last three years since I’ve been hosting I noticed a huge shift from my first season to this season and like now you go on set and there’s no dead space. like everybody is shooting content, everybody is making Tik Toks and not just the celebrities and the pros, but the judges, the hosts, the crew members. I mean, it’s it is a it’s like seven different shows within one show. And and again, I’m not complaining at all because it’s unbelievable. And it it’s like creativity breeds creativity, motivation breeds motivation, but at the same time, I’ve never been this exhausted um doing this show. and I just have to be there two days a week, not you know the pros seven days a week going hard and the celebrities you know so like I I think you can feel it energetically even if you’re not online socially yourself you can just feel the magnitude of how intense and how impactful this show is with all of the fans around it. So yes, like thank you so much for being a part of this. It’s actually given me a lot of compassion for big artists that blow up that always have that polarity of like I love her or I hate her. I love him or I hate him. It’s like there’s kind of this no and be between place, but that’s why they’re as big as they are because they have such polarizing views. And I think that’s what’s happening with the show. It’s weird, but I will say it’s much more on the positive side. I mean, polarization is a great word. to talk about your wardrobe this season and address all of the fan chatter. Would you like to address that now? Yeah, sure. My style, I’m not going to lie, I think it has elevated the show and educated people on what fashion is. Even if they did call one of my outfits curtains, but if you can’t laugh at yourself, then you’re going to just cry. So um but yeah like the fact that people are again commenting on wardrobe or comments or the questions that I ask I’m very grateful for it because it allows people one to be expressed. Everybody is allowed to have their own thoughts and opinions and whether you agree with them or not great. How am I responding? Am I responding through a playful lens that is like maybe I don’t agree with you, but I can laugh at it and see your point of view or am I going to be defensive and upset about it? And I think I think it like you go through a journey. You’re like, oh my gosh, what is this triggering within me? Am I not good enough? And then you realize, oh my gosh, like you’re not going to please everybody. Are you happy with the choice? If you even playfully snapped back to a viewer on TikTok when they were kind of poking fun, taking the out of you questions. Why did you do that? Okay, so there’s a difference. I poked back at the person who made fun of me who was also quite loving. If you really listen to what she says when she’s asking these questions after the dances, I’d say a solid 60% of the time it is nonsense. And let me be so clear, I love it. I love her as the host. I do not want them to replace her because number one, it shows how live the show truly is. She was kind in the way that she made fun of me. If there was somebody coming at me that was just mean, I would not give them the energy or the fuel because there was nothing kind about it. This girl was awesome. like the fact that she like was able to take my julianisms and the chaos that sometimes I am um and playfully and lovingly call me out for it I thought was amazing and I think that’s part of what makes me unique and nobody can do it like I do it doesn’t mean it’s better or worse but that is my unique thing I’m going to say some stupid I’m going going to hear somebody in my ear and black out before I have the conversation and like figure out what I’m trying to say. Tell me about that. Like like the viewers right now that don’t understand that you’re actually wearing an earpiece. I’ve got the earpiece. You’re also in a very very loud room where people are talking and screaming like cheering, but then there’s also the cameras and the people moving around and pulling people. the Tik Tok live is happening. you’ve got um you know the the other contestants up on the skybox who are like talking about their performance that they just had and how you know I’m listening to them and they’re like getting emotional and so there’s so many things happening and I’m trying to stay focused on the moment for when they’re about to come up and while I’m getting that information Alfonso is talking they’re coming up he’s throwing to me I have to I have to do a line that’s in teleprompter that now I get like I black out because I’m like what was I just told to say? Here’s the question. Ha, where do I go with this? So, it’s it there’s a lot happening and I will say not to like toot my own horn at all, but like that’s that is the hardest job and Alfonso said it. I mean, any of the other um uh co-hosts, the female co-hosts who have done the Skybox um role, they would always get blasted, too, because it is the hardest thing to think on the spot and have all the things, you know, going on at the same time. I’m not trying to defend myself at all. I’m just acknowledging that yes, sometimes it is chaotic and sometimes it is wild and sometimes I say stuff that like like I think there was one thing that I got called out for with um with Andy about like well you didn’t have a heart attack and and at first he even was like well what what do you mean like but it was but it was the conversation in context that I had with the producers the day before about the package that was the question. And so it’s all like tied to these different things. And then I remember Andy like looked at the package afterward. He’s like, “Oh, I said it in the package.” I’m like, “Yeah, I wouldn’t have said that.” Like I didn’t. Anyway, so there’s a lot there’s a lot that goes to it. It’s live TV and you were just saying like you have a split second to make a decision of what question you’re going to ask, which is basically how we ended up hearing you say, “Do you have scoliosis?” Oh my gosh. I didn’t say, “Do you have scoliosis?” I said, “What did I say, you guys?” So strange. You can’t even remember. I can’t even remember. But it was because it was in his package and he talked about how this this competition and dancing has actually helped his scoliosis. So part of what is hard on my end too is like I would love to ask that question. you have been saying that dance has helped your scoliosis, but my producers, they’re like, “Don’t give them the answer. Set them up so that they can give the answer.” And I’m like, “So, how’s the scoliosis going for you, dude?” So that he can then say, “Dance has helped me with my scoliosis.” That’s like how the process went. Um, but yeah, I watched that back. I was like, “What in the heck with no context? That makes no sense.” and came out of nowhere. So the the actual quote word for word word for word tell me please. Do you have scoliosis? What does this experience mean to you? Guys, it’s awful. So basically what you’re admitting to right now is that Julian Huff has rhythm, just not rhythm to put the question together. Correct. By the way, words are not my forte. I talk with my body. Okay. So, I’m hot. Oh, you’re making me uncomfortable in the best way. We got introduced to you uh 18 years ago on Dancing with the Stars. So, compare what you’re doing now as a host to what those first few seasons were like as a pro on a show. Well, have you ever seen the that came out of my mouth when I was a pro at 18? Just look up those clips. like what was I saying then? Nothing has changed. I don’t think anything any of us were saying four years ago is remotely acceptable now. So yeah, I don’t know. I think I think the thing that has changed the most is my growth and maturity as a woman in the sense that when I was 18, I was fully in competition mode. I was in work mode and I was like ready to do whatever it took to win. And I was so naive in the best way. I wasn’t going out. I wasn’t like, you know, flirting with my partners. Like there was there was nothing. I had blinders on and I was just there to do the work and do the best job that I could possibly do. And it was about me and my partner and that was like that was it. I wasn’t focused on the other dancers, nothing. It was just what is the body of work that I can create and do the best job moving forward. Judging it was it was the maturity and the progression then as a as a growth of a woman. And it was like instead of it now being about me and my partner, it was how can I now look at the contestants as a whole and give some sort of advice or or feedback that if the any of these people were my partners, I would give to them. So it it became like solo to then like group and like giving advice, right? as a host. Now, I feel like my job is to I don’t want to be cliche and like totally on the nose of like holding space, you know, but it it is it’s to hold space for everyone on the show, whether it’s the contestants, the celebrities, the pros, the judges, the anybody, for them to feel like they can come and ask me anything, talk to me about anything that they now get to trust that I’ve got their back um as a whole, not just giving them advice, but like I’ve got them. And I think that’s the that’s the growth and the maturity of how my roles have changed throughout this 18-year experience for me. Sometimes you’re the first person they see when they get off of that ballroom. Sometimes you’re the last person they see at the night. Almost at a mentor situation in a way, right? I would say that. And and I think that’s been the hardest part for me is to actually lean in and own that role because I still feel like I’m 18 and a kid. Um and yet I have had life experience and I actually can be a bit of a mentor in the sense that I have I have the experience in every single role and position. And now it’s it’s about like I got you. What do you need from me? and like I’ll do my best to give an honest, authentic, you know, answer or feedback for you with no agenda whatsoever. And like I like that role. When you leave the skybox Yeah. and you go to the floor, the cameras are off, the show is over, and you’re hanging out with the troop with the stars. What is that experience like? Well, that’s why I don’t feel like a mentor because I just like go right back into like my 18-year-old self with the troop, with the dancers, even though I’m in this like other role when I’m around the dancers. Once a dancer, always a dancer. You know, you can’t help but like get into that mode when you’re on the dance floor. So, let’s just talk about some of those cast members just briefly, like some of your favorite memories from the season. I’ll first and foremost talk about Elaine because she was one of the first people that I met before the show even started when we like did a cast party and she’s just freaking awesome and I talk about power and presence and clearly she’s like she’s done a lot of work on herself as as an entertainer and balancing those two worlds, you know. So Elaine I just am obsessed with. we’re already like exchanging dates for when we can hang out after the season. Um, and just seeing her resilience and and how hard the competition has been and physically and emotionally and I think she was really homesick the last few weeks with like not having her dogs and um it takes a lot of sacrifice to be on this show and so I just I love Elaine. Um, let’s talk about Lauren. She made an impact. Lauren Lauren was amazing. Like obviously we were all shocked that she left the the show so early, but even with the short, you know, time that she was on the show, her energy and her presence was so powerful and strong and um made such impact that and what’s cool about Lauren is like we actually started at similar times and with the same management company. So, we’ve we’ve had a lot of crossovers where there’s almost just like a a secret code of like I know you, you know, and like that’s how I always felt with Lauren. And you have a strange connection to Corey Felman, too, right? Corey Feldman. This is the best one that nobody knows is uh my sister actually used to nanny for his son. And so, my sister knows Corey very well. And and it was funny because I was trying to place it and I I was like, “Why do I know Corey? Why do I know Corey?” And then he actually came up to me at that cast party and was like, “How’s your sister?” I was like, “That’s it.” Um, so yeah, that was a very, very funny connection. And then there’s another one degree of separation when it comes to Dylan Efron because she started a movie alongside Zach, right? Yes. Yeah. We, Zach, Ever and I, we um we started Dirty Grandpa together. And I don’t know, he’s just been like in the orbit for so many years and within friend groups and stuff, but I had never met Dylan. And what’s cool about Dylan is like Dylan and I really bond over our like joyful adrenaline and nature and um just adventure and trying new things. And so it was cool to be able to get to know Dylan in like a totally different capacity than I know his brother. Has there been anyone on the cast that has just like surprised you with how much that you are connecting with them? I think to be honest like Whitney at the very beginning of the season. I was like people have her wrong for sure and that show has definitely like painted her as the villain cuz my my experience with her is she’s just been lovely, right? And then watching her throughout the the season, I just I just saw and felt for her in a way that like she’s ambitious. She’s looking for opportunity to follow her dreams. And for anybody who is knocking on that, like I feel bad because I’m like I’m ambitious. I’m always looking for opportunities to follow my dreams. And so I almost took it personally, you know, like like is that a bad thing? That’s not a bad thing at all. I think Whitney’s a star and I think that this is her moment and this is her opportunity and and I’ve not once seen anything other than just grace and hard work and um she’s yeah, she’s trying to she’s trying to do what she loves and in a world where people want to tear you down for it. I know that so many people on this show, this season were able to fill their dreams, to get to the finale, to make it this far. And just to like cap it off, I will just say that it’s not common to be on a show for 18 years and have it be this monumental after a 20 year run. And I will be forever grateful for it. And I I just hope that I’m a part of this show forever. I mean, it has completely changed my life and transformed it and given me every opportunity I’ve ever had. And then obviously to the fans, thank you so much for just loving our show. And I’m down to poke back at all of your comments as long as they’re loving and playful, too. So, let’s go. We’ve worked out a special offer for my audience. receive 15% off of your first order and go to arm.com/julianne or enter the code julianne to get 15% off your first order. That’s a r a.com/julan.

Julianne Hough sits down on The Morning After (Show) to celebrate Robert Irwin & Witney Carson’s big DWTS win and look back on a season filled with joy, growth, and unforgettable moments. 🪩

With 18 years of Dancing with the Stars memories, Julianne reflects on everything from the magic of the finale to the behind-the-scenes moments fans never saw. She also shares some playful laughs about viewers’ commentary on her skybox questions, her now-iconic dresses, and how much she loves connecting with the audience every week.

#JulianneHough #DWTS #RobertIrwin #WitneyCarson #DancingWithTheStars