Julianne Hough books a new hosting gig

ABC

Dancing With the Stars pro judge Julianne Hough has exciting news to announce – she has been named co-host of the 2022 Tony Awards, which will air Sunday, June 12 live on Paramount Plus and CBS.

Here’s what you need to know:

Julianne Hough co-hosts Tony’s with Broadway actor Darren Criss

In a press release, CBS and Paramount Plus announced Wednesday, May 11, that Dancing With the Stars alumnus Julianne Hough will join Broadway star and Emmy-winner Darren Criss to host the 2022 Tony Awards Act One special .

The 2022 Tony Awards will air in two parts – first, Criss and Hough will host “Act One” on Paramount Plus, where they will “present multiple awards and present special performances during the exciting hour of the program.”

Following this hour-long special, the two-hour ceremony will air on CBS and will be hosted by Academy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Ariana DeBose.

“The 75th Tonys Celebration will recognize all award categories and honor the incredible artistry of the 2021-2022 season. Presented by the Broadway League and the American Theater Wing, the Tony Awards, which honor theater professionals for outstanding achievement on Broadway, have been broadcast on CBS since 1978,” the CBS press release said.

Hough & Criss are both Broadway stars now

Hough recently made her Broadway debut in “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive,” in which she plays Dusty, an Iowa farm girl who has a personal relationship with the President that includes the first marriage upside down -Down. The play’s co-stars are Lea DeLaria, Lilli Cooper, Rachel Dratch, Vanessa Williams, Suzy Nakamura and Julie White; White and Dratch both received 2022 Tony Award nominations for the play, which also received a Scene Design nomination.

When the show opened on Broadway, Hough was posted a tribute to her castmates on Instagram, writing: “What an absolute delight and joy it has been literally for the last 6 weeks playing with these women. Not to mention getting a daily masterclass from the one and only @stromansource – wow! What is life?!?! Never in my wildest dreams did I even begin to understand how amazing the Broadway community is. Thank you for welcoming me so kindly. If I may make a request…I want to be here while you have me!”

Hough is a two-time mirrorball champion and won “Dancing With the Stars” in season four with Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and in season five with racer Helio Castroneves. She retired as a professional partner after season eight and served as either a full-time judge or a guest judge in season 19, season 20, season 21, season 23, season 24, and season 30. She also recently hosted and danced at an Oscars Salute to the Movie special with her brother Derek Hough for ABC.

Criss, who starred in Glee and won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, is a veteran stage who appeared on How to Succeed is in Business Without Really Trying, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and American Buffalo on Broadway, as well as other professional appearances in San Francisco and StarKid Productions at the University of Michigan.

Your portion of the 2022 Tony Awards will air live on Paramount Plus on Sunday, June 12 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern/4:00 a.m. Pacific, followed by the remainder of the 2022 Tony Awards at 8:00 p.m. Eastern/5:00 a.m Pacific on CBS.

Dancing With the Stars returns for Season 31 on Disney Plus in Fall 2022.

CONTINUE READING: Artem Chigvintsev opens up about his retirement from ‘Dancing With the Stars’