Julianne Hough first gained widespread attention by capturing victories on two straight seasons of Dancing with the Stars, sharing those triumphs alongside Apolo Anton Ohno and Helio Castroneves, yet she also carved out a parallel path as a country performer. Born on July 20, 1988, in Salt Lake City, UT, she devoted most of her childhood to dance instruction across multiple academies before relocating to London, where she earned the Junior Blackpool World Latin Champion title along with the International Latin Youth Champion crown. After returning to the United States she enrolled at the performing arts high school Las Vegas Academy; once she completed her studies she moved to California with ambitions of building a career in entertainment, securing an early role as assistant choreographer on a Gwen Stefani video. Additional television spots followed, culminating in her appearance on Dancing with the Stars, where she claimed the 2006 season title and successfully repeated as champion the following year before embarking on numerous promotional engagements.
Hough entered the country music arena in May 2007 when her debut single, "Will You Dance with Me," reached the Billboard country Top 100 and paved the way for a contract with Universal Music Nashville. Twelve months afterward she issued her follow-up track "That Song in My Head" and revealed plans to join Brad Paisley’s summer tour. Her self-titled debut album arrived later in 2008, topping the country charts while peaking at number three on the pop side, and the subsequent Christmas EP Sounds of the Season: The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection further contributed to a profitable year.
