Derek and Hayley Hough, best known for their roles on Dancing with the Stars, have welcomed their first child, their rainbow baby, Everley. The Hough’s story is a powerful reminder of the beauty of Life, the resilience of parents, and the hope that follows even the deepest loss.
In a culture that often treats children as obstacles to success, it is refreshing to see a high-profile couple openly value parenthood.
Derek and Hayley have consistently spoken about their desire for children, even as they navigated demanding careers, serious medical trauma, and a heartbreaking miscarriage. Their journey reflects a Pro-Life truth that every child is worth hoping for, protecting, and celebrating, no matter the circumstances.
Hayley’s path to motherhood was especially difficult. She was rushed to the hospital mid-performance during their Symphony of Dance tour and nearly lost her life after a burst blood vessel caused a brain bleed, about three years ago. Doctors were forced to remove about 40 percent of her skull to relieve pressure on her brain. She later underwent a second surgery for a skull implant. Around that same time, the following year, Hayley miscarried their first precious baby.
Despite the physical pain and emotional grief, the desire to become a mother never left her heart.
Story continues below.
Don’t miss important Pro-Life stories like this.
>> Get the Pro-Life Weekly Highlight just once a week:
“She’s been through so much,” Derek told PEOPLE, tears welling up in his eyes. “To see her go from where she was to now, giving birth, is amazing. My daughter has a great example here.”
That example is one of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering love for Life.
Derek has embraced fatherhood with tenderness and joy. When he attended the Golden Globes on January 11, his first event since becoming a dad, “everybody was asking me, ‘You going to the afterparties?’” recalls the Dancing with the Stars judge and Extra host. “I remember saying it out loud for the first time: ‘No, no. I’m going straight home to my daughter…and now I got to go because I’m about to cry.’”
With Everley’s birth, Derek and Hayley say they are able to “rewrite the story of this time of year,” so it is defined not by tragedy, but by gratitude and new life.
“We’ve had so many moments in Life that are not as great,” Hayley says. “So she’s our rainbow after the storm.”
“She’s literally this beautiful ray of light,” Derek added.
Derek has also spoken honestly about the awe and humility that comes with welcoming a precious baby.
“There are so many times where I’m just quietly looking at her and tearing up. I said this to my family: ‘Hayley was meant for this.’ She is such a natural mother.”
One of the most striking moments of their entire story came when Hayley woke up after her life-saving skull surgery.
“One of the first things Hayley said when she came to after her surgery — missing half of her skull, face swollen — was not, ‘Am I going to be able to dance again?’ It was, ‘Am I able to have children in the future?’ The doctor was like, ‘Yes, of course.’ And here we are.”
Even in the face of pain, fear, and uncertainty, her heart was focused on Life.
Everley’s story is a testimony to hope after loss and to the strength of parents who choose love, even when it is costly. In a world that often minimizes the value of children, Derek and Hayley’s journey boldly affirms a Pro-Life truth: every baby is a gift, and every Life is worth celebrating.
Thank you for reading this story! If you support our Pro-Life ministry, chip in with a life-saving contribution today!
