Derek Hough’s Wife Returns to the Stage for the First Time Since Brain Surgery

Hayley Erbert is getting her flowers after her emotional but triumphant return to the stage!

On April 14, Erbert, 29, danced alongside her husband Derek Hough during the opening night of his Symphony of Dance tour in Melbourne, Florida four months after recovering from a traumatic brain surgery.

In a video posted to TikTok, Erbert could be seen with tears in her eyes as the crowd gave her a standing ovation after the show’s final number. As she soaked in the applause, Erbert appeared to be overcome with emotion as Hough stepped back and gave his wife a moment alone in the spotlight.

In December 2023, the So You Think You Can Dance alum was rushed to the hospital following a tour performance in Washington, D.C., where she was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel.

Weeks after undergoing a craniectomy, Erbert underwent cranioplasty surgery to “replace a large portion of her skull” that was removed during the procedure. As her recovery process began, Hough postponed the tour to be by her side.

When the Dancing with the Stars judge announced new tour dates in February, it was unclear if Erbert would be joining him for the performances.

Earlier this month, Erbert and Hough told PEOPLE she would be joining him on the road after having “extensive conversations and tests and results from different doctors” about her safety and condition.

“She’s all clear, and we’re all just amazed by her and can’t wait to go out there and put on a great show and an emotional show,” Hough said, noting that Erbert has an “amazing team” surrounding her that is making sure she is “good and healthy.”

Erbert also told PEOPLE that her ability to dance on tour again now held an even more significant meaning after her health scare.

“Dance has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and so I’m just really excited to get out there and do what I love and also to see the people that have supported me throughout this entire healing journey,” she said.

“I am just so excited to get back out and dance again after having something so traumatic happen,” she added.

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Erbert’s comeback performance comes weeks after the dancers, who married in August 2023, shared a joint Instagram post from inside a dance studio, writing, “Stepping onto this blank canvas together. Beginning to paint again ❤️ @hayley.erbert.”