Relationships in Hollywood are basically a game of "how long can this actually last under a microscope?" When Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich tied the knot back in 2017, it looked like the ultimate fairy tale. You had the Dancing With the Stars powerhouse and the professional hockey player, getting married in a stunning outdoor ceremony in Idaho. It was Pinterest-perfect.
But then, the world stopped in 2020.
While most couples were forced into cramped apartments together, Julianne and Brooks spent the pandemic hundreds of miles apart. She was in Los Angeles. He was at their property in Idaho. Honestly, that was the first red flag that everyone noticed. By the time the Julianne Hough divorce was finalized in 2022, it became clear that this wasn't just a "quarantine casualty." It was a slow unraveling of two people who simply stopped growing in the same direction.
The Breaking Point Nobody Saw Coming
It’s easy to look back now and see the cracks, but at the time, the split felt jarring. Julianne has been pretty candid lately about how 2019 was her "darkest year." Not only was her marriage hit by a rough patch, but she tragically lost her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Lexi and Harley, to coyotes. That kind of trauma changes a person.
She started expanding. Brooks, by her own admission in a 2024 interview on the Armchair Expert podcast, was "contracting."
👉 See also: Is John Candy Still Alive? What Really Happened to the Comedy Legend
Basically, Julianne was going through a massive internal shift. She publicly came out as "not straight" in a Women’s Health interview while they were still married, which she admitted was a terrifying conversation to have with Brooks. While he was reportedly supportive, the two were living entirely different lives. He wanted the quiet, traditional life in the mountains. She wanted the high-energy, "city girl" Hollywood existence and was diving deep into her Kinrgy fitness brand and personal discovery.
Why the long distance didn't work
- The Idaho vs. L.A. Divide: Brooks felt most at home in nature; Julianne needed the pulse of the industry.
- Vision for the Future: Sources close to the couple mentioned they had different ideas about starting a family. Julianne had frozen her eggs due to endometriosis but wasn't ready to jump into motherhood on someone else's timeline.
- The "Maturity" Factor: Julianne recently noted that they likely lacked the maturity at the time to bridge the gap between their changing identities.
The Paperwork and the "Iron-Clad" Prenup
When Julianne finally filed for divorce in November 2020, people expected a messy legal battle. Usually, celebrity splits involve fighting over mansions and residuals. Not this one.
📖 Related: Travis Barker Ex: What Most People Get Wrong About His Past Marriages
The Julianne Hough divorce was surprisingly clean because of a rock-solid prenuptial agreement. They had no children, and they both walked away with what they brought in. Julianne actually waived her right to spousal support entirely. It was a "what's mine is mine, what's yours is yours" situation that made the legal finalization in February 2022 more of a formality than a fight.
Where Are They Now? (It's Surprisingly Wholesome)
Fast forward to early 2026, and the vibe is... shockingly friendly?
Brooks moved on with CrossFit star Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir. They got engaged in late 2024 and welcomed a baby girl, Emberly, in October 2025. You might expect some bitterness from an ex-wife, but Julianne has been their biggest cheerleader. She’s been spotted hanging out with the couple on lake days and even posted a photo pointing at Katrín’s baby bump with the caption "special day."
🔗 Read more: Meghan Markle Latest News: Why the 2026 Reset Actually Matters
It’s rare to see a Hollywood divorce end in a genuine "three's company" friendship, but they seem to have pulled it off. Julianne is currently single and living her best life with her dog, Sunny. She’s back as the co-host of Dancing With the Stars and just filmed a role in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s movie The Bride! ### Actionable Takeaways from the Hough-Laich Split
If there’s anything to learn from the Julianne Hough divorce, it’s that "growing apart" isn't a failure—it's often just a different stage of life.
- Prenups save friendships. Having the financial stuff settled beforehand kept their split from turning toxic.
- Honesty is a requirement, even if it’s painful. Julianne’s decision to be open about her sexuality and her need for "expansion" was the catalyst for her finding her true self, even if it meant losing the marriage.
- Co-parenting... a friendship? If you can get past the ego, it’s possible to remain "family" with an ex. Julianne and Brooks prove that you don't have to erase someone from your life just because the romantic contract ended.
The reality is that Julianne and Brooks are just two people who realized they were better as friends than as life partners. In the world of celebrity gossip, that’s probably the best-case scenario.