Why Derek Hough Could ‘Barely Watch’ Seizure Scene in ‘I Am: Céline Dion’ ArticlePure

Derek Hough had a bittersweet experience watching Céline Dion’s I Am: Céline Dion documentary.

The Dancing with the Stars judge wrote on Instagram Thursday, June 27, that he and his wife, Hayley Erbert, watched I Am: Céline Dion, and Hough, 39, had an emotional reaction to seeing Dion’s story.

Hough’s post included a sweet video of the “firecracker” singer, 56, and Erbert, 29, meeting backstage “a couple of years ago.” He and Erbert “were so nervous meeting the queen,” especially since Erbert “is a diehard fan,” he wrote.

Dion’s story inspired Hough, but watching the “very difficult scene” of the singer — who has stiff person syndrome (SPS) — suffering through a seizure “in real time” reminded him of his wife’s health journey.

“The documentary was incredibly powerful, showing Celine’s struggles with SPS but also her quirky and fun side,” Hough wrote in the Instagram caption.  

“It was so hard to watch seeing her in pain like that,” Hough wrote, noting, “It also reminded me of Hayley’s seizure on the side of the stage a few months ago. I could barely re-watch.”

Erbert was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma from a burst blood vessel and was treated with an emergency craniectomy in December 2023. Weeks after the operation, the So You Think You Can Dance alum underwent cranioplasty surgery to “replace a large portion of her skull” that was removed during the procedure. 

Since then, Erbert was approved to return to dancing alongside her husband on their Symphony of Dance Tour beginning in April.

Dion was diagnosed with her rare neurological disorder the year prior. The Grammy winner announced in December 2022 that she was diagnosed with SPS, which causes “spasms” that affect her vocal cords.

As a result, Dion canceled her tour and she has largely stayed out of the spotlight. Her new documentary provides fans with an unprecedented look into her struggles over the last several years of her life and her efforts to return to the stage.

In his Thursday Instagram post, Hough — like many Dion fans — expressed his hope that the superstar will one day return to the stage.

“Celine is an absolute legend, with a unique and one in a billion voice,” he wrote. “We’re so blessed to witness her talent in our lifetime. I pray she heals and returns to the stage she loves so much.”

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I Am: Céline Dion is streaming on Prime Video.