Julianne Hough Shares the Friends Who Make Her Life One Big Dance Party (Exclusive)

When looking at her life today, Julianne Hough is surrounded by opportunities and people she loves. In addition to co-hosting Dancing with the Stars week after week, the professional dancer has made it a priority to spend quality time with people who uplift and inspire her. Two of those dear friends are Mark Ballas and his wife BC Jean. 

"I've known Mark since I was eight years old," Hough exclusively shared with The Messenger while promoting Blender Bites. "He was one of my main partners that I competed with the longest in my professional career. He's like a brother to me."

After Ballas retired from the show in 2022, the mirror ball champion is now preparing to welcome a child with his wife. If you ask Hough, the couple will easily score a 10 in the parenting department. 

"I think they are some of the most loving individuals and they've always had my back and so I can't imagine how they're going to be as parents," she said. "They're just going to be the most special, consistent parents and that's all you could hope for."

Ballas and Jean aren't the only friends Hough holds close to her heart. Read on to see who the dancer enjoys making weekend memories with in The Messenger's ongoing interview series, My Ideal Weekend, where we catch up with stars about the thoughts, memories, interests and activities that help fuel (and refuel) their lives and work.

Dream dinner party guest list

This just popped into my head, but Bette Midler! I feel like that would be the greatest, honorary dinner party guest where we would just sing Broadway tunes and laugh. I think that would be so fun. I have some of the most incredible friendships. Lauren and Aaron Paul, Arielle and Matt Cutshall, Derek and Hayley Hough, Mark Ballas and BC Jean, Justin and Emily Baldoni, Malin Akerman and Jack [Donnely], Michelle Monaghan and Peter [White], my friends Chad and Tyler Lain. These are my friends that is doesn't matter how long we go of not seeing each other or what we do. When we come together, we're either dancing, playing games, having deep conversations or laughing hysterically or actually all of the above. I feel pretty lucky. 

Her perfect weekend 

I just started taking up surfing. I'm not very good, but I would say waking up and having my Frappé Blender Bites shake in the morning and then going surfing in Malibu is ideal. I'd play with my dog Sunny and just have a great afternoon and barbecue. We'll have a barbecue in my backyard with friends and play running charades. That would be my perfect weekend where I'm enjoying nature and doing something active, connecting with friends. That would be my dream. I like daytime activities because I go to bed early. I'm not a night owl anymore. 

The soundtrack to her weekend

I'm in the mood right now for anthemic soundtrack music, where it's not really words or pop songs. It's just movie soundtrack songs where it's like Tony Anderson or something. Just like music playing in the background that feels like my life is a movie. Or like Explosions in the Sky or Rüfüs Du Sol. That vibey music too would be good.

Preferred reading material

Rick Rubin's book called The Creative Act: A Way of Being. I just got that for gifts for everybody at Dancing with the Stars. It's really powerful. Some of the factors are things that I have been working on my own for a few years now of just what is creativity and how do I not put the pressure on it? It's more of an act and way of being than it is of doing. It's a really great book. It's not that hard to read. The chapters are short, but it is just profound as F.

Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. on ABC and Disney+.