'Dancing With The Stars' Derek Hough Exit Was "Difficult": Will Broadway Bound Star Be Back To 'DWTS' In The Fall?

Dancing With the Stars fans were extremely sad when they heard the news that Derek Hough wouldn't be gracing the dance floor come spring. The five-time champ of the series had revealed that he would be taking a leave of absence from the upcoming 20th season to pursue other opportunities. The star will be playing the lead in the New York Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, but fans of the ABC show have been worried that this departure for Hough might be permanent.

However, fans can breathe a sigh of relief as executive producer of DWTS spoke out to E! News to explain that Hough's absence will be a short one.

"Well, he's not leaving. He's sitting out a season," Wade explained. "And it's amazing that we started this show, 10 years ago, I think Derek started in season two or three and now he got an opportunity to be on Broadway. It's amazing that our dancers can grow to a place where they can do something like that and come back."

And while we will certainly miss seeing Derek on the show every week, the decision that he made to leave wasn't an easy one to make.

"It was tough for him. We had a real heart to heart," Rob explained. "It wasn't an easy decision and it was difficult because I feel like, if not a feather, a bit of an uncle to these guys and he was struggling with it so much. I was like, 'Look, you don't have to close a door. You can leave the door open and go off, come back in the fall."

Derek also spoke out to Entertainment Weekly about his departure saying, "I'll always want to be a part of Dancing With the Stars, it's like my family and even be a part of this season in any way that I can. If I have any time, I would love to make something happen."

The new season will kick off on Monday, March 16 on ABC.

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