derek julianna hough
Julianne and Derek Hough will both return for "Dancing With the Stars" Season 23. Pictured: (L-R) Professional dancers Julianne Hough and brother Derek Hough attend the 6th Annual Celebration of Dance Gala Presented by The Dizzy Feet Foundation at The Novo by Microsoft on Sept. 10, 2016 in Los Angeles, Calif. Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

“Dancing With the Stars” Season 23 is welcoming back Julianne Hough!

Though her brother Derek Hough confirmed his return weeks ago, Hough has kept mum about joining the upcoming season of the ABC show. However, on Sunday, Sept. 11, she announced that she will be returning as a judge for “Dancing With the Stars” Season 23.

“I’m not going to be dancing, but I can finally announce that I am coming back on to judge. I’m excited,” the 28-year-old dancer-turned-actress told Entertainment Tonight at the Creative Arts Emmys in Los Angeles.

Hough did not appear in “Dancing With the Stars” Season 22 after she was cast in Fox’s “Grease: Live.” The production not only garnered 10 nods at this year’s Emmy Awards, but also helped Hough gain some “lifelong” friends. “Not only was it such a monumental thing for us to accomplish, but I mean the friendships are lifelong. It's incredible,” she said of “Grease: Live.”

Meanwhile, her brother Derek, 31, also talked about his return to “Dancing With the Stars” after a season-long hiatus and his upcoming project, NBC’s “Hairspray Live!” at the Creative Arts Emmys. “I'll be doing ‘Dancing With the Stars’ and ‘Hairspray’ at the same time and going back and forth, so it should be fun,” he told the publication. He will be teaming up with celebrity partner Marilu Jenner to win the mirror ball trophy this season of the dance reality show, according to ABC.

According to the pro dancer, he was inspired by his sister to take on the challenge of acting in a live TV musical, revealing, "She loved the experience so much and so, for me, seeing that really encouraged me to take that role.”

Derek nearly skipped Season 23 of “Dancing With the Stars” since he was supposed to be working on “Singin’ in the Rain,” where he was cast in the lead role. However, the project was pushed back to 2017, giving him the opportunity to join this year’s pro lineup. "I'm not sure what exactly is going to be happening, but it's definitely in my future," he said of “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Catch Derek and Julianne Hough when “Dancing With the Stars” Season 23 premieres Monday, Sept. 12 on ABC.

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