Tanner Courtad has finally addressed the speculation surrounding his Julianne Hough dating history. The Bachelor in Paradise alum confirmed that he and the Dancing With the Stars co-host shared a short connection that began in 2024, nearly two years after they were first photographed together in Los Angeles.
Courtad, 33, explained during the Nov. 3 episode of the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast that the introduction came through a fellow Bachelor Nation figure. He had attended a DWTS taping to cheer on Joey Graziadei, the season 33 winner, and was seated in the front row when pro dancer Ezra Sosa approached him with a message.
According to Courtad, Sosa said the host found him attractive and offered to pass along her phone number. The fitness trainer was skeptical at first, turning to fellow Bachelorette alum Justin Glaze to ask whether the moment was genuine or a prank. Once he was satisfied that it was not a setup, Courtad met Hough in the parking lot after the episode.
How the Connection Started
The two spoke briefly, agreed to go on a date and stayed in touch. That outing took place in December 2024 and included a walk in the park with Hough’s dog, a sushi pickup and time spent together that evening. It was during the sushi stop that photographers spotted them, which fueled the dating rumors that Courtad has now clarified.
Despite the public attention, Courtad described the relationship as very brief and said it never progressed beyond a single date. He praised Hough, 38, but made clear that the romance did not develop into anything more serious. He also suggested that Hough was the one who ended things, adding with humor that he had ruined his chance.
A Short-Lived Chapter
The confirmation closes a nearly two-year gap between the paparazzi photos and any public explanation. Courtad’s account places the date firmly in late 2024, shortly after his appearance in the DWTS audience to support Graziadei. The connection remained casual and did not lead to a lasting relationship.
Hough, meanwhile, has continued her role as co-host of Dancing With the Stars. The brief encounter with Courtad adds a personal footnote to a season that was already notable for Bachelor Nation’s presence in the ballroom.
Other DWTS Romances
Courtad’s revelation comes amid ongoing interest in relationships that have formed on and around the dance competition. Several couples connected to the show have drawn attention over the years, from professional dancers who married to celebrity contestants whose off-screen chemistry became part of the storyline.
Some of those pairings have lasted, including Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson, who married in 2019 and welcomed their first child in 2023, and Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, who tied the knot in 2017 and have since expanded their family. Others, like Emma Slater and Sasha Farber, married before eventually divorcing but have remained friendly.
Not every connection has been permanent. Gabby Windey and Vinny Guadagnino never officially dated despite speculation during season 31, while Alexis Ren and Alan Bersten were widely reported to have split in December 2018. Britt Stewart and Daniel Durant confirmed their romance in 2023, got engaged later that year and married in August 2025.
Courtad’s story fits into that broader pattern of brief connections and lasting friendships that emerge from the DWTS ecosystem. For now, he has set the record straight on his own experience: one date, a sushi run and a quick end to the rumor mill.
