SINGIN' IN THE RAIN Star Derek Hough Will Not Return to DANCING WITH THE STARS

Just weeks ago, GREASE: LIVE star Julianne Hough announced that she will not be returning to judge ABC's DANCING WITH THE STARS. Now, PEOPLE reports that her brother, and reigning mirror-ball trophy winner Derek Hough will also be absent from the upcoming 22nd season of the dance competition.

Last season, Hough and his partner, Bindi Irwin, took home the coveted mirror ball trophy, marking an amazing sixth championship for the 30-year-old professional dancer.

As BWW reported over the weekend, Hough will be heading to Broadway to take the lead in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, stepping into the role made famous by Gene Kelly. This will not be his first experience on Broadway; the dancer appeared in BURN THE FLOOR in 2010. He also made his West End debut in 2006 in FOOTLOOSE.

Hough was one of the featured dancers on the original "Dancing with the Stars" Tour and a choreographer on the BBC (UK) hit show "Dance X." The two-time Emmy Award-winner and seven-time nominee for Best Choreography has appeared in film, television and stage projects as an actor. He made his feature-film debut in Duane Adler's "Make Your Move" and recently was featured in the ABC series "Nashville." His stage performances include Radio City Music Hall's "Spring Spectacular" in 2015, costarring alongside the Tony Award-winning Laura Benanti, and the critically acclaimed production of "Footloose," starring as the male lead in London's West End. Hough can also add author to his growing list of credits. His memoir "Taking the Lead; Lessons from a Life in Motion," released in August 2014, quickly hit The New York Times best-seller list during two non-consecutive time periods. Additionally, in 2014 Hough and his sister Julianne teamed for a live stage dance concert, "MOVE Live on Tour," performing in 50 cities around the country. In 2015 they toured again, selling out scores of venues on their 47-city outing.

Image courtesy of ABC