Derek Hough
has found his voice again.
The dancer
and Emmy-winning choreographer showed off his pipes in a new “passion
project” on Tuesday, posting a black-and-white music video to Instagram in
which he sings a cover of Breaking Benjamin’s “Ashes of Eden.”
It’s a major
milestone for the 31-year-old, who underwent vocal cord surgery last year.
Derek opened up about the experience in his caption, telling followers how the
emotional journey was just as profound as the physical one.
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“I couldn’t speak a single word for over a month. Not even a whisper,” he wrote, revealing that the silence ultimately gave him a new artistic perspective.
“This forced me into a place of listening and stillness,” he continued.
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Even after a full recovery, Derek admitted that he remained afraid of causing permanent damage. However, he went on to share that the power of music gave him the inspiration to move forward and belt it all out.
“When I finally got my voice back I felt nervous to speak or even utter a word in the fear of my vocal cords snapping,” he confessed. “But when I heard this song it resonated with me so much and motivated me to sing again.”
His vocals may take center stage in the clip, but dancing also plays a prominent role with contemporary choreography from “So You Think You Can Dance” alum Rudy Abreu.
Derek has been making himself heard with a variety of other projects, as well. In addition to taking on the role of Corny Collins in 2016’s “Hairspray Live,” Derek also starred in and directed the music video for Michael Buble’s “I Believe in You” last month.
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Next, he’ll take a seat at the “World of Dance” judging table alongside Ne-Yo and executive producer Jennifer Lopez. The new reality competition is set to debut May 8 on NBC, with Jenna Dewan Tatum as host and mentor.
— Erin Biglow
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