Derek Hough News: How 'DWTS' Pro Is Combating Nerves Before 'Hairspray Live!' [VIDEO]
While Derek Hough is excited for Hairspray Live!, he's also nervous about the three-hour musical.
Hough is set to play variety show host Corny Collins in Hairspray Live!, a live TV musical adaptation of the Tony-winning Broadway show, which was also adapted into a movie in 2007. This will be the dancer's first real chance to display his singing skills, and he is admittedly nervous for the experience.
"I actually asked Julianne [Hough] before 'Grease', 'Aren't you guys nervous?" And she said, 'No, we're ready for this! We want to show people this, we're ready.' So I hope we feel that way, too. We're all still a little nervous but hopefully we'll be ready," Hough explained to HollywoodLife.com recently.
Hough's sister, Julianne Hough, played Sandy in the Fox musical Grease Live, which would go on to win five Emmy Awards. While Hairspray Live!'s award run remains to be seen, Derek is hoping that they will have rehearsed enough to make it perfect and be more relaxed.
"Repetition is the mother of all skill, and we're rehearsing so much that hopefully it'll be automatic. We're just in it, we're just having fun with it," he said.
Derek is featured throughout the musical, performing on "The Nicest Kids in Town", "Ladies' Choice", and "(It's) Hairspray".
Hairspray Live! also stars Maddie Baillio as Tracy Turnblad, Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad, Kristin Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle, Dove Cameron as Amber Von Tussle, Jennifer Hudson as Motormouth Maybelle, Garrett Clayton as Link Larkin, Ariana Grande as Penny Pingleton, Martin Short as Wilbur Turnblad, Ephraim Sykes as Seaweed J. Stubbs and Shahadi Wright Joseph as Little Inez. There will be special appearances by Billy Eichner, Sean Hayes, Andrea Martin and Rosie O'Donnell as well.
Hairspray Live! airs Wednesday at 8/7c on NBC, and is set to last until 11/10c.
