⁠How long did Julianne Hough and Ryan Seacrest date? Dancing With the Stars alum opens up about split from the American Idol host

Julianne Hough made an appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast on Monday, August 12, 2024, and spoke to Dax Shepard about why she broke up with Ryan Seacrest. Stating how the two were in a steady relationship from 2010 to 2013, Julianne Hough, best known for her work in Dancing with the Stars, stated that at the time when they started dating, Hough was rising to fame, while Seacrest was already well-established.

Julianne Hough stated:

“The rug was swept up from underneath me, and I was just flying, and I was experiencing things that I didn't even know existed. But then I had this insecurity that I was like, I don't ever want anybody to think that I'm with him for this reason.”

Calling the American Idol host a “lovely guy,” Hough stated that, in the past, he had many experiences when he felt that people used him, and so she wanted to make sure that she doesn’t do the same to him. She stated:

“I overcompensated, was malleable to fit into exactly what somebody needed me to be for them to be happy. And what I've realized over the years is I don't know if I've ever truly been in love with someone, but I have loved the feeling of being loved. And so let me be what that needs to be so that I can be loved.”

Julianne Hough and Ryan Seacrest dated for three years before splitting in 2013. According to Fox News, Hough and Seacrest met when she was a guest on the latter’s radio show. However, at the time, she was in a relationship with someone else. The two maintained their friendship until 2010 when they started dating each other.

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Details explored as Julianne Hough talks about people not agreeing to her decision to break up with Ryan Seacrest

During her podcast interview, Julianne Hough spoke up about how she wanted to make a name for herself and stated that it was imperative for her to do it herself, and not let people think that she climbed to success only because of her partner. The Dancing with the Stars alum also recalled the time when she and Seacrest decided to break up in 2013 and said that many were deeply upset with her decision.

She said:

“I remember when I decided to break things off, I had a lot of these Brentwood moms and producers in that world that were like, ‘What are you doing?’” she recalled. “And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ They're like, ‘Your life is completely set up.’ And I was, like, ‘But I didn't build it.’”

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After Julianne broke up with Ryan, she started dating NHL player, Brooks Laich, whom she went on to marry in 2017. However, the couple separated in 2020, and their divorce was finalized in February 2022. On the other hand, Seacrest has never been married, however, he was in a relationship with popular model Shayna Taylor for 3 years, from 2017 to 2020.