Tanner Courtad Confirms Brief Romance With DWTS Co-Host Julianne Hough Following 2024 Los Angeles Date

The intersection of reality television and mainstream entertainment frequently yields unexpected personal connections, and few franchises generate quite as much speculation as ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and Bachelor Nation. Nearly two years after media outlets first captured them together in Los Angeles, Bachelor in Paradise alum Tanner Courtad has officially broken his silence regarding a brief, previously undisclosed romance with Dancing with the Stars co-host Julianne Hough. The revelation sheds light on an unexpected matchmaking effort orchestrated from the ballroom floor, providing a rare glimpse into the insular world of reality television crossovers.

The Genesis of an Unlikely Pairing

The connection between Courtad, 33, and Hough, 38, began during the production of Dancing with the Stars Season 33. Courtad, a fitness trainer and former contestant from Bachelor Nation, was in attendance to support a fellow franchise alumnus, former Bachelorette contestant and eventual season 33 winner Joey Graziadei. Seated directly in the front row of the studio audience, Courtad found himself unexpectedly recruited for a matchmaking mission.

According to Courtad’s account shared during a recent podcast appearance on Bachelor Happy Hour, professional dancer Ezra Sosa approached him during a live taping. Sosa reportedly delivered a direct message from the show’s co-host: “Hey, our host thinks you’re cute. Can I give you her number?”

Initially skeptical, Courtad suspected a prank orchestrated by his fellow Bachelor Nation companion, Justin Glaze, who was sitting nearby. Seeking reassurance that the overture was legitimate, Courtad turned to Glaze to verify whether he was part of a setup. Once convinced of the sincerity of the offer, Courtad accepted the invitation, setting the stage for a rendezvous outside the studio.

From the Ballroom to the Sushi Bar

Following the conclusion of the episode, the logistics of a meeting were quickly arranged. Courtad recounted that he met Hough in the studio parking lot immediately after the show wrapped. The initial encounter quickly translated into concrete plans, leading to a low-key first date later that evening.

The pair opted for a casual outing rather than an extravagant Hollywood affair, visiting a local park accompanied by Hough’s dog before grabbing sushi for the evening. However, the discretion they hoped for was short-lived. Paparazzi photographers spotted the newly formed pair as they collected their food order, immediately fueling widespread tabloid speculation and dating rumors across entertainment media platforms.

Despite the initial public interest, Courtad clarified that the romance was remarkably brief. Describing the tryst as short-lived, the fitness influencer noted that while he holds Hough in high regard, the connection never progressed past a single date. Reflecting on the swift conclusion of their time together, Courtad offered a lighthearted self-assessment, jokingly remarking that he ultimately "blew it." Representatives for Hough have not formally commented on the revelation, maintaining the co-host’s typical discretion regarding her private life.

The Ballroom Matchmaker: A History of DWTS Romances

The crossover between Dancing with the Stars and various reality television franchises has a long, well-documented history. Over more than three decades of television production, the grueling rehearsal schedules, intense emotional vulnerability, and physical proximity required by ballroom dancing have frequently catalyzed romantic relationships. While some of these pairings evolve into long-term partnerships and marriages, others remain fleeting showmances fueled by camera-ready chemistry.

To contextualize Courtad and Hough’s brief encounter, it is helpful to examine the broader landscape of interpersonal relationships that have blossomed within the Dancing with the Stars ecosystem. These connections span multiple categories, ranging from enduring marriages to brief, highly publicized flings.

Long-Term Partnerships and Marriages

Several professional dancers and celebrity contestants have forged lasting relationships that transcended the confines of the ballroom competition:

• Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy: After beginning their relationship in 2012 and becoming engaged onstage in December 2015, the professional dancers married in July 2017. They have since welcomed three sons: Shai, Rio, and Milan.
• Robert Herjavec and Kym Johnson: The Shark Tank star and his season 20 professional partner paired up following his separation from his former spouse. They married in June 2016 and welcomed twins in April 2018, representing one of the franchise’s most enduring success stories.
• Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov: Married since 2014, the professional dancer couple welcomed their daughter, Nikita, in May 2023, maintaining a strong personal and professional partnership within the franchise.
• Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson: Beginning their relationship prior to her promotion to a full-time pro, the couple married in April 2019 and welcomed their son, Rome Valentin, in January 2023.
• Britt Stewart and Daniel Durant: After placing fifth during season 31, the choreographer and the CODA actor confirmed their romance on Valentine’s Day 2023. They announced their engagement in December 2023 and married in August 2025.

High-Profile Splits and Complex Dynamics

Not all ballroom romances withstand the test of time, with several high-profile couples experiencing public separations:

• Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev: Initially partnered during the 2017 season, the WWE Hall of Famer and the professional dancer reunited romantically following her split from John Cena. They became engaged, welcomed a son named Matteo in 2020, and subsequently married. However, the relationship ended when Nikki filed for divorce in September 2024 following domestic dispute legal proceedings involving Chigvintsev, which ultimately concluded without formal charges from the district attorney, leading to a private settlement and the mutual dropping of restraining orders to facilitate co-parenting.
• Emma Slater and Sasha Farber: After dating on and off since 2011, the professional dancers became engaged live on the show in October 2016 and married in March 2018. Following their separation in August 2022, the former couple has maintained an amicable working relationship as professional colleagues on the program.
• Gleb Savchenko and Brooks Nader: The season 33 partners maintained a publicly acknowledged relationship for approximately seven months between 2024 and the spring of 2025 before parting ways.

Implications and the Reality Television Ecosystem

The public fascination with off-screen romances involving Dancing with the Stars personnel highlights the unique psychological environment of competition reality television. Participants are thrust into high-stress physical environments where they must learn complex choreography within tight timeframes. This environment frequently breaks down personal barriers, fostering intense emotional bonds that observers often struggle to categorize as genuine romance or manufactured "showmances."

Media analysts note that public interest in these relationships serves as a significant promotional tool for networks like ABC, helping to sustain audience engagement between broadcast seasons. For public figures like Julianne Hough, whose professional profile spans multiple entertainment sectors, maintaining a balance between public accessibility and personal privacy remains a delicate operational challenge. While Courtad’s candid podcast disclosure brought light to a two-year-old secret, it also underscores the pervasive nature of modern celebrity culture, where even a single sushi date can eventually resurface as public entertainment.

As Dancing with the Stars continues to draw diverse casts from Bachelor Nation, social media, and professional athletics, the intersection of personal romance and public performance will undoubtedly remain a focal point for viewers and media outlets alike. Whether future backstage matchmaking efforts will yield enduring partnerships or merely brief encounters remains to be seen, but the ballroom floor will undoubtedly continue to serve as an unexpected stage for modern romance.