Julianne Hough Recalls Her First Date with Ex Ryan Seacrest — but It’s Not the Best One She’s Ever Been On

Mar. 15, 2025

Julianne Hough and Ryan Seacrest pictured in 2011.Photo:Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Dancer Julianne Hough and TV personality Ryan Seacrest attend Fox’s Super Bowl XLV Pregame Show at Dallas Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Julianne Houghis looking back on her first date with ex-boyfriendRyan Seacrest.

During an appearance on Sunday, Aug. 18’sWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Hough, 36, was asked about her best first date, which ended up being a trip to Santa Monica Pier with someone she doesn’t “really remember.”

Cohen, 56, then questioned whether she was talking about Seacrest, 49, who she wasin a relationship with from 2010-2013, but she insisted she wasn’t.

Hough told the host of where Seacrest took her on their first date, “I think it was like [The Beverly Hills Hotel’s] Polo Lounge or something,” adding that it was a “private” outing.

“We did the Ferris wheel and we kissed on the thing,” she recalled of the Santa Monica Pier trip, laughing, “I don’t really remember who it was.”

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Hough recentlyspoke about her relationshipwith Seacrest on the Aug. 12 episode of theArmchair Expertpodcast with hostDax Shepard.

While opening up about dating theAmerican Idolhost during her rise to fame, Hough shared, “The rug was swept up from underneath me, and I was just flying, and I was experiencing things that I didn’t even know existed."

“But then I had this insecurity that I was like, I don’t ever want anybody to think that I’m with him for this reason,” she added.

Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough.Lester Cohen/WireImage

Ryan Seacrest (L) and Julianne Hough attend City of Hope’s Fifth Annual MEI Comedy Roast Honoring Clear Channel’s John Ivey on November 7, 2012 at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California.

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Hough said Seacrest had experiences with people “using him” in the past, and she wanted to make it clear that she wasn’t doing the same.

“I overcompensated, was malleable to fit into exactly what somebody needed me to be for them to be happy,” she said on the podcast. “And what I’ve realized over the years is I don’t know if I’ve ever truly been in love with someone, but I have loved the feeling of being loved. And so let me be what that needs to be so that I can be loved.”

TheDancing with the Starsco-hostcontinued: “And then because I’m so filled with love from someone, of course I love you. I love everyone. I’ve been in love with everybody I’ve ever dated, but have I? I don’t wanna overanalyze it because every person I’ve also dated has been a very good person.”

source: people.com