Derek Hough opens up on his 'crazy' experience receiving Emmy amid wife Hayley Erbert's brain surgery recovery

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Derek Hough reflects on his recent Emmy win and the challenging journey he has been navigating since his wife Hayley Erbert's health scare in 2023.

On Monday, February 26, the 'Dancing with the Stars' judge opened up about his "surreal" experience receiving a Creative Arts Emmy Award in January amid his wife's recovery from brain surgery, according to People.

Derek Hough says it's 'been a wild' journey receiving Emmy during his wife's recovery

On the show, Hough said, "It was kind of crazy too because it was such a difficult time in December, to then exactly a month be on stage accepting such a prestigious award in choreography, it was crazy."

“It was a really wild, kind of surreal experience being in a hospital room for a month and then in front of thousands of people accepting something like that. It was a lot of ups and downs like I said before. It's been wild," he added.

Derek Hough's emotional Emmy speech

In January, Hough won the Creative Arts Emmy for outstanding choreography for variety or reality programming for 'Dancing with the Stars.'

He gave an emotional acceptance speech as he honored his wife Erbert who underwent craniectomy in December 2023.

"Exactly a month ago, I was in the hospital. This was a different moment," he said at the time.

"A month ago was a life-changing moment that reminded me to really cherish and savor every moment. 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 have been unbelievable. You inspired me every day," Hough continued tearfully.

Derek Hough shares wife Hayley Erbert's health update

Hough went on to give an update on his 29-year-old wife's recovery progress since her brain surgery.

"She is doing amazing. She is an absolute miracle, miraculous," he said during his chat with host Jennifer Hudson

“It’s been a rollercoaster, it's been wild, but I just have to say again thank you for everyone who has been so supportive and so loving. It really truly means the world to us all, it really does, my wife and I, so thank you guys," he added. 

During the couple's Symphony of Dance tour stop in Washington DC, Erbert suffered a cranial hematoma, which is a collection of blood cells within the skull.

She then underwent an "emergency craniectomy" on December 7, 2023, and to "replace a large portion of her skull" that was replaced, she had a second surgery on December 20.

The health issue occurred just months after Hough married Erbert in August 2023.