Julianne Hough is reflecting on her past romance with Ryan Seacrest, shedding light on why she ultimately decided to walk away from their relationship. 

The Dancing with the Stars alum and American Idol host dated from 2010 to 2013, 

and while their romance seemed picture-perfect from the outside, Hough recently admitted that deep insecurities and differences in their levels of fame played a major role in their split.

Speaking on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Hough revealed that her relationship with Seacrest propelled her into a world she had never experienced before. 

While the opportunities that came with dating a high-profile figure were exciting, she struggled with the perception that she might be with him for the wrong reasons.

The Pressures of Dating a High-Profile Celebrity

Hough described how being with Seacrest opened doors she never imagined, but at the same time, it created a sense of insecurity.

“The rug was swept up from underneath me, and I was just flying, and I was experiencing things that I didn’t even know existed,” she told Shepard during the August 12 episode. “But then I had this insecurity that I was like, ‘I don’t ever want anybody to think that I’m with him for this reason.’”

The podcast host pointed out that public perception might have suggested she was dating Seacrest for personal gain. Hough acknowledged that Seacrest had encountered people who used him for their own benefit, which made her hyper-aware of not wanting to be seen the same way.

Losing Herself in the Relationship

In her effort to prove that she was with Seacrest for the right reasons, Hough admitted she lost a sense of herself.

“I overcompensated, was malleable to fit into exactly what somebody needed me to be for them to be happy,” she shared. “And what I’ve realized over the years is I don’t know if I’ve ever truly been in love with someone, but I have loved the feeling of being loved.”

She further explained that her desire to be loved sometimes led her to shape herself into what she thought others wanted, rather than prioritizing her own needs and feelings.

“And then because I’m so filled with love from someone, of course I love you. I love everyone. I’ve been in love with everybody I’ve ever dated, but have I?” she questioned. “I don’t want to overanalyze it because every person I’ve also dated has been a very good person.”

Why Hough Decided to End Things with Seacrest

Hough and Seacrest’s romance began after she appeared on his radio show while dating her previous boyfriend, country singer Chuck Wicks. They later started dating in the summer of 2010, but after three years together, Hough decided it was time to move on.

At the time, many people in her social circle couldn’t understand her decision.

“I remember when I decided to break things off, I had a lot of these Brentwood moms and producers in that world that were like, ‘What are you doing?’” she recalled. “And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ They’re like, ‘Your life is completely set up.’ And I was like, ‘But I didn’t build it.’”

That realization was a turning point for Hough, who felt that despite the glamorous life she had with Seacrest, it wasn’t one she had built for herself.

Life After Their Breakup

Following their split, both Hough and Seacrest moved on to new relationships. Hough married professional hockey player Brooks Laich in 2017, but their marriage ended in divorce, which was finalized in 2022. Seacrest, on the other hand, was in a long-term relationship with model Aubrey Paige, but they broke up in April 2023 after three years together.

Reconnecting with Family After Tragedy

Aside from discussing her past relationships, Hough also touched on her family dynamics, particularly with her brother, fellow Dancing with the Stars pro Derek Hough. The siblings had experienced some tension over the years, but recent events helped bring them closer.

Derek’s wife, Hayley Erbert, underwent emergency cranioplasty surgery in December following complications from a previous procedure. The experience shifted Julianne’s perspective on any lingering disagreements.

“Something happens and it just is like a clean slate,” she told People in an interview. “Especially with what just happened with Derek and Hayley, there could have been little things just kind of looming or lingering in the background, but when you’re left with life-or-death situations, nothing else matters.”

Hough explained that moments like these put everything into perspective, making any previous disagreements feel insignificant.

“Whatever little things of competition there are or whatever it might be, those things just go away,” she said.

Moving Forward

Julianne Hough’s reflections on her past relationship with Ryan Seacrest show just how much she has grown over the years. While she acknowledges the love she’s had for the people she’s dated, she also recognizes the importance of staying true to herself. As she continues to evolve both personally and professionally, Hough seems focused on forging a future that is truly her own—built on her own terms.

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