Why Derek Hough Is Enjoying Even the S--ttiest Parts of Fatherhood

Derek Hough Reveals His "Massive" Personal Gift for Hayley Erbert on Mother's Day

For Derek Hough, parenting is truly filled with s--ts and giggles.

And, no, he doesn't give a you-know-what about having to deal with the messier parts of fatherhood. Take 5-month-old daughter Everley's first flight, tagging along as mom Hayley Erbert and Dad flew to New York City for the June 7 premiere of their Symphony of Dance documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival.

"She was great until we landed," the Dancing With the Stars judge told E! News in an exclusive interview, "and then I had a nice surprise on my chest."

As in, a code brown. Erbert chiming in, "a.k.a. blowout."

Not that the mess put the 41-year-old in a foul mood.

"It's one of those things, again, whatever you focus on is what you feel," he explained of his urge to dance for joy at each one of his daughter's milestones. "I was like, 'You know, what, I'm lucky that I get to have this on my chest right now.'"

Because it's not as if all his parenting moments are full of crap.

"I mean, she's giggling, she's smiling, grabbing her toes, she's in happy baby position," marveled Hough, celebrating his first Father's Day June 21. "Every day is something different, something new. It's been incredible."

Hayley Erbert/Instagram

And getting to experience life as a trio is that much sweeter considering everything they've been through.

More than two years after undergoing emergency brain surgery, suffering a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel during the couple's December 2023 Symphony of Dance tour performance in Washington, D.C, "I'm doing great now," Erbert, 31, raved to E! News. "I feel really strong, really healthy. I welcomed a beautiful baby girl into this world five months ago, so I feel, I feel really, really amazing."

Hough is feeling equally on top of his game as he waltzes into his new role as a dad.

"I grew up in Utah where you get married at 19, you have kids at 20, 21," he told E! News weeks after her January arrival, "so it's crazy that I'm 40 years old and I'm just now entering into this chapter."

Thankfully, he's a quicky study.

"I've had such a full and rich life," noted the four-time Emmy winner. "I was like, 'Wow, I've done so much in my life already, and now I get to start over.' It's all brand new. I get to do this whole life thing, but in a totally different way now, and it has a lot more meaning and fulfillment and excitement."

And that's certainly cause for celebration.

As Hough revels in his first Father's Day, we're running back all the moves that led him and Erbert to this moment.