Derek Hough tears up accepting Emmy award, dedicates win to wife Hayley

Derek Hough got emotional while accepting the 2023 Creative Arts Emmy Award for outstanding choreography on Dancing with the Stars  as he tearfully dedicated the win to his wife Hayley Erbert.

As reported by Deadline,  Derek   had a heartfelt moment at the Emmy Awards on January 7, 2024, with a touching tribute to his wife's strength.

During his acceptance speech, the 38-year-old choreographer with teary eyes said, "Exactly a month ago, I was in the hospital. This was a different moment, a month ago was a life-changing moment that reminded me to really cherish and savor every moment."

He went on to say, "I want to dedicate this to my beautiful wife, I just flew in from Washington, D.C., last night. Your strength and your courage this whole month has been unbelievable. You inspired me every day."

Derek Hough's wife Hayley Erbert faced skull surgery:

On December 7, 2023, during their Symphony of Dance tour stop in Washington D.C., Derek and Hayley faced a scary situation.

Also Read: Derek Hough urges fans to keep Hayley Erbert in their prayers

Hayley needed an emergency surgery, which included a craniectomy to relieve pressure on her brain, after the doctors disclosed that she is diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel.

Few weeks later, she had a second surgery, and Derek later shared that the follow-up cranioplasty to fix her skull went well and was completed as planned.

Taking to his Instagram at that time, Darak shared the news, noting, "As you all know, the past week has been a challenging journey for us due to a life-threatening event that suddenly came into our lives."

He continued, "It was a time filled with uncertainty and fear, going from living our dreams onstage, to a nightmare in an instant. But today, we are filled with hope and relief as we share with you an update. Hayley is doing well. Her recovery process has been nothing short of a miracle."

"She still has a ways to go with another surgery, hopefully in a few weeks, to insert a skull implant to replace the piece that was removed during the craniectomy. It will restore the skull to its natural shape and protect the brain from injury," he added.

The couple got married in August, and Derek's heartfelt moment at the Emmy Awards was a touching tribute to his wife's strength.