"Send them the emmy nomination" — Dancing with the Stars fans react to Derek and Hayley's performance

Season 33 of Dancing with the Stars released its latest episode on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. The segment, titled Dedication Night, saw Judge Derek Hough deliver an emotional performance alongside his wife, Hayley Erbert, who returned to the ballroom, nearly a year after undergoing an emergency surgery.

Hayley was rushed to the hospital in December 2023 after she started having seizures due to a burst blood vessel. Before the couple stepped onto the stage to commemorate Hayley's return, the viewers were shown a pre-recorded segment in which Derek opened up about the near-fatal incident, detailing how difficult it was for him and his wife to survive the challenging time.

Derek and Hayley danced to Benson Boone's Beautiful Things to honor their resilience and mark Hayley's first time back following her emergency craniectomy. Dancing with the Stars fans took to X to comment on Derek's performance with his wife, calling it one of the most emotional routines of the night.

A fan commented on Hayley and Derek's story (Image via X/@softxlumax)

"This Derek and Hayley story omg. send them the emmy nomination i don’t even need to see the dance," a fan wrote.

"How am I supposed to watch the rest of the show after sobbing from Derek and Hayley’s dance?? that was beautiful," another fan commented.

"No words no words just tears," a netizen tweeted.

Derek and Hayley's tear-jerking dance routine moved the Dancing with the Stars fans. Meanwhile, many netizens complimented the choreography.

"BREAKING NEWS: Derek and Hayley’s dance just received a standing ovation from me in my living room," a user reacted.

"I'm sobbing that was so beautiful i love derek and hayley. i love the song choice. i just love it all," another fan wrote.

"Derek Hough & Hayley Erbert Hough dance is one of the most powerful & most emotional dances that I have ever seen on Dancing With The Stars! She’s a walking miracle as she’s a fighter! She’s a survivor being told that she may never walk again & then making a full recovery!" one user tweeted.

At the same time, many Dancing with the Stars fans were touched by how Derek complimented Hayley, calling her his "beautiful miracle."

"Derek calling Hayley his beautiful miracle OH I AM FINISHED," a person reacted.

"The way Derek held Hayley at the end. I'm actually never going to recover," another netizen commented.

"Me for the rest of my life thinking about that dance between Derek and Haley," a person wrote.

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"I was like, please don't go" — Dancing with the Stars judge Derek Hough recalls Hayley's Erbert's emergency surgery

Dancing with the Stars judge Derek Hough and his wife Hayley Erbert took the dance floor on Tuesday's episode. The couple performed barefoot, donning rose pink outfits while dancing to Benson Boone's Beautiful Things. They concluded their performance with a kiss and an embrace.

Before taking on the stage, Derek revealed that just three months after their marriage in August 2023, their lives came to a "screeching halt in the most devastating way." Hayley suffered a life-threatening cranial hematoma while the couple was on their Symphony of Dance tour.

The Dancing with the Stars judge recalled that Hayley was supposed to join him on stage but could not because she was "having full seizures" and was "essentially, dying." He added that what he felt then was "pure fear."

After Hayley was rushed into emergency brain surgery, the doctors informed Derek that her chances of survival were slim and that even if she did make it, she would not be the same person.

"I just remember laying on the hospital floor begging. I was like, please don't go," Derek said.

The pro-dancer revealed that Hayley was "unrecognizable" post-surgery with 40% of her skull missing. However, he was relieved that her memories were intact. The doctors were surprised by Hayley's speedy recovery as she did not take much time to get back on her feet. "This is a miracle," they told Derek.

Although doctors told Hayley she may never be able to walk again let alone dance, Hayley confessed in the Dancing with the Stars video that she was "stubborn" and "determined" to push her limits. She thanked Derek for being her "rock" throughout her recovery and eventual return to the dance floor.

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Dancing with the Stars airs every Tuesday at 8 pm ET on ABC.