In a heart-melting moment that’s got even the toughest fans reaching for tissues, Dancing with the Stars legend Derek Hough and his stunning wife Hayley Erbert are finally basking in the glow of parenthood after welcoming their ‘rainbow baby’ daughter Everley Capri on December 29, 2025 – turning years of unimaginable heartbreak into pure, unadulterated joy.

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Derek Hough and Hayley Reveal Meaning Behind Daughter’s Name …

But oh, the tears! Hayley, 31, confesses she’s been reduced to a blubbering mess every single time she catches sight of her hubby Derek, 40, bonding with their precious newborn. “Literally every time I see Derek and Everley together, I just start crying,” she spills exclusively to PEOPLE magazine, her voice thick with emotion. And who can blame her? After surviving a terrifying car crash, a life-threatening brain bleed that left Hayley fighting for her life, and the soul-crushing agony of a miscarriage, this couple’s path to parenthood has been nothing short of a Hollywood thriller – with a fairy-tale ending that’s got everyone cheering.

Derek, the golden boy of the ballroom who’s waltzed his way to six mirrorball trophies on DWTS, can’t stop gushing about his warrior wife. “To see Hayley go from where she was to now is amazing,” he tells PEOPLE, his eyes welling up. “My daughter has a great example here.” Everley, their little “ray of light,” has transformed their Los Angeles home into a haven of happiness, where the past traumas – those “traumatizing” winters Derek speaks of – are being rewritten with cuddles, coos, and yes, plenty of happy tears. “We’ve had so many moments in life that are not as great,” Hayley admits. “So she’s our rainbow after the storm.” Derek echoes: “She’s literally this beautiful ray of light.”

But let’s rewind to where it all began for this dynamic dance duo, whose love story is as captivating as their choreography. Derek Bruce Hough, born May 17, 1985, in Salt Lake City, Utah, burst onto the scene as a prodigy dancer, training in London and snagging world titles before joining DWTS in 2007. His sister Julianne, also a DWTS star, paved the way, but Derek became the show’s heartthrob, winning with partners like Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Grey, and Kellie Pickler. Off the floor, he’s judged since 2020, hosted World of Dance, and even dipped into acting with roles in Nashville and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Hayley Erbert, born October 11, 1994, in Topeka, Kansas, was a dance phenom from age three, competing nationally and landing spots on So You Think You Can Dance and as a DWTS troupe member from 2015-2019. Their paths crossed in 2014 when Hayley, then 19, joined Derek and Julianne’s Move Live Tour as a dancer. Sparks didn’t fly immediately – Derek later joked, “I was like, ‘Oh, she’s cute, but she would drive me nuts.’” But by July 2015, they were officially an item, going public in 2017 with sweet Instagram posts. “It wasn’t instant,” Derek reflects. “It wasn’t obvious until we went through these experiences where it was like, ‘Whoa. This is unique.’”

Their bond deepened during the 2020 lockdown, strengthening what Derek calls roots “so deep into the ground that no wind could shake us.” In June 2022, Derek popped the question in a romantic setup with candles and roses, and Hayley said yes. Their fairy-tale wedding followed on August 26, 2023, in a redwood forest in Monterey County, California – a lush, enchanted affair with 106 guests, including DWTS pals like Jenna Johnson and Mark Ballas. Hayley stunned in a custom satin gown, while Derek looked dapper in Tom Ford. “Everything we’ve been through has created this foundation that is so strong,” Hayley says.

But bliss was short-lived. Just three months later, in December 2023, disaster struck during their Symphony of Dance tour in Washington, D.C. Hayley became disoriented mid-performance, suffering a burst blood vessel that caused a massive intracranial hematoma – a near-fatal brain bleed. Rushed to hospital, she underwent an emergency craniectomy, removing 40% of her skull to relieve pressure. Derek, terrified, stayed by her side as she had seizures and “essentially died.” A second surgery implanted a skull piece. Hayley had to relearn to walk, talk, and dance, battling PTSD from headaches. “If I get a headache, I instantly have some, like, PTSD where I’m like, ‘Is this going to go away?’” she shares. Remarkably, one of her first questions post-surgery was, “Am I able to have children in the future?” The doctor assured yes – and here we are.

This came on the heels of a “pretty scary” car accident in December 2022, when their vehicle slid on icy roads down a steep hill, crashing into a tree. Hayley needed four stitches on her forehead, and both were shaken but grateful. “We are both okay,” they posted on Instagram, showing the wrecked car and Hayley’s bandaged face. “It was a steep hill, icy roads, a tree, and worst of all, the fear that we would slide off the mountain.”

Then, the deepest cut: a miscarriage in 2024. They shared the heartbreak in an emotional October 2025 video for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, revealing the “absolute despair.” “One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, a silent heartbreak so many families know, and one we unfortunately had to experience,” Hayley wrote. Videos showed their joy turning to sorrow, but they hoped to inspire others. “This video is a tribute to a part of our story,” they captioned.

Fast-forward to July 2025: The couple announced their pregnancy with glee, Hayley cradling her bump in photos. They waited until 20 weeks due to past loss, but Hayley had an “easy” pregnancy – no morning sickness, just food aversions and “karate kicks” from baby. They scanned daily at home for reassurance. Rainbows appeared throughout, symbolizing hope after the storm.

Everley’s arrival was magical: A home birth on Dec. 29, 2025, with candles and music.

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Meet Derek Hough and Wife Hayley’s Baby Everley: Their ‘Rainbow …

“It was really so special,” Hayley beams. Derek held her, awestruck: “She just became power. I was in awe the whole time. I was like, ‘Damn. Y’all women are badasses.’” Everley emerged eyes wide open, a “mini Derek” who looks like a “grandpa” at first but is “perfect.” She was 11 days late – tying into the name’s numerology.

Ah, the name! Everley Capri was chosen after days of staring at her. “Everley was always at the top of a list that I had,” Hayley says. Spelled to match Hayley’s three letters, its numerology is master number 11 – beautiful meanings that felt right. Hayley, born Oct. 11, saw 11 everywhere. Capri adds “spice” to Everley’s sweetness. Derek wanted rainbow elements, but Capri won. “When we threw Capri in there, we were like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is beautiful,'” Hayley gushes.

The first weeks? Blissful chaos. Everley sleeps five-and-a-half hours, gains weight like a champ. Derek was “afraid” at first: “She’s so fragile… I got overwhelmed.” Hayley reassured: “We’re all figuring out this new life.” “Hayley was meant for this. She is such a natural mother,” Derek praises. Postpartum hormones hit: Hayley grieves stages passing, Derek tears up more.

Family’s over the moon. At the Golden Globes – Derek’s “daddy debut” – he nearly cried: “I’m going straight home to my daughter.” Hayley flaunted an “Everley” necklace. Derek debuted jewelry nodding to his girl. Fans flooded Instagram: “Congratulations!!” and “Welcome to the world, Everley.”

Looking ahead, Derek returns to Extra as his “dad job,” eyeing their Encore tour in June. Hayley eyes dancing: “Never say never” to DWTS, but notes conflict with Derek judging. Everley? Dance classes for fun, not pressure. More kids? “After this we’re like, ‘All right babe, let’s go!’”

From tour buses to hospital beds to baby cribs, Derek and Hayley’s saga is one of resilience. “Never in a million years did we think that we would ever be here,” Hayley marvels. “It’s wild how life can twist and turn.” As Everley coos, their world shines brighter – proof that after the darkest storms, rainbows do appear.