On top of being a dancer, actress, and America’s Got Talent judge, Julianne Hough is also a singer.
This is a fact that you may have forgotten, since Hough hasn’t released any new music since 2010 (with the exception of the Grease LIVE! soundtrack in 2016).
Hough kicked off her singing career in country music, releasing her debut, self-titled album in 2008. The record topped the Country Albums chart and produced two hit singles, “That Song in My Head” and “My Hallelujah Song.”
The former song charted at the 18th spot, while the latter claimed the 44th position.
Just months after Hough dropped her debut record, she released a Christmas album, titled Sounds of the Season: The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection. That album charted at the second spot on both the Country Albums and the Top Holiday Albums charts.
Hough’s country music debut was so successful, that she went on to win the 2009 ACM Awards for Top New Female Vocalist and Top New Artist.
Hough followed up on her win with another new single in 2010, titled “Is That So Wrong.” The single, which failed to chart, was supposed to be the lead single from Hough’s sophomore album Wildfire, but that album was never released.
After that, Hough seemed to put her music career aside to focus more on acting and dancing. Years passed, and Hough continued to stray away from singing.
She finally showcased her voice in Grease LIVE! as Sandy, making fans all the more anxious to hear new music from her. Still, none came.
That all changed on Wednesday night (September 18), when Hough surprised the world by debuting a brand-new single on the AGT finale. The single, titled “Transform,” is her first new release in nine years.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2km4_RH7Kh/
Hough introduced the song in a post on Instagram. In that post, she explained why she abandoned music for so long, saying she previously felt pressure to be the perfect performer.
“I wanted to pour my heart out,” Hough wrote. “And I did it, but there was always a piece that felt inauthentic, because I was just PUSHING to get people to LIKE and ACCEPT me.”
Hough said she gave up on music because she constantly compared herself to other artists. But something changed two years ago, and she felt her passion for singing come back full force.
She said that once she tapped into her emotions and flaws, she found herself transforming into a better person and artist. And that’s what inspired her new single.
“I’m not trying to change who I am or suppress those parts of me anymore – but instead, I acknowledge them, take them and TRANSFORM them,” she said.
Hough channeled those empowering thoughts into “Transform,” which she finally shared on the AGT finale. The song is not country like Hough’s previous releases, but instead, takes on a pop vibe. You can watch her perform it in the video below.
Congratulations to Hough on the release of her new single! We can’t wait to hear what else she has in store!