Derek Hough and Shannon Elizabeth: Back Together!

Sorry, Perez Hilton, but the Dancing With the Stars partners are giving love another try.

-Kelly Will

Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough

It looks like Perez Hilton’s wish for Julianne Hough’s brother Derek to come out of the closet isn’t happening anytime soon. Derek and his latest dance partner, Joanna Krupa, took fourth place this season on Dancing With the Stars and while rumors of a show romance swirled, sources tell BettyConfidential that Derek and his ex-girlfriend and season 6 dance partner Shannon Elizabeth, 36, are actually back together.

“Shannon and Derek decided to try again,” the insider says. “They stayed close friends and went out even after they broke up. They flew to New York last week for Diddy’s 40th birthday party at the Plaza and that was their first public outing together again.”

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When the pair split in August, they both Tweeted about their breakup and Derek, 24, said, “We love and care about eachother very much and will reamin friends and in eachothers lives.”

Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough

“They’re young and having fun – they still dance together! It’s adorable,” says the insider. “Derek and Shannon have great chemistry and if nothing else, they will find a way to remain great friends, because they love being together.”

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At Diddy’s party, sponsored by Don Julio cocktails, sources tell me the couple was, “playfully taking pictures of each other. He even posed for her draping himself over a harp. They were laughing and dancing, but there were no big public displays of affection with any hugging or kissing!”

We expect Derek to get the Perez Hilton treatment in the blogger’s new Hollywood tell-all book, True Bloggywood Stories, which is released today!

Magazine and newspaper reporter Kelly Will has written celebrity columns for the New York Times, the New York Daily News and the New York Post. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/misswill.

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21 comment(s) on this article...

#1. dahlia on 12/01/2009 - 9:12 am (EST)

This story is laughable. They attend an event together and you create a story from it? No one flew to NY to be together for the party. Shannon lives in NY and Derek was there for a talk show, and Shannon begged him to go with her. Shannon probably planted this story herself. She is extremely desperate and sad and delusional about her relationship with Derek. He very reluctantly even mentioned he saw her, while she tweeted all day about being so excited to see him, and posted pictures of him all over her twitter. She makes no effort to move on or date or get a life. She lives her life behind her computer self righteously tweeting all day about heartbreak and suffering and lying and cheating trying to guilt him back or make others pity her, and will still be alone at 40. She sends out quotes with advice about how everyone should live, but takes none of the advice herself. Derek can hook up with a different woman every night and Shannon knows it, but if he has one lonely evening and is bored, Shannon's ready and available. She's very, very pathetic. Derek, however, has made it clear they are friends but are not getting back together. He was out Sunday night with another girl, one he has been quietly seeing for a month. These fabricated stories you write based on nothing are very amusing though.

#2. Florida on 12/01/2009 - 3:04 pm (EST)

The above comment is from someone who knows absolutely nothing about Shannon or Derek. They broke up in August and since then have maintained a great relationship seeing each other often.Shannon moved temporarily to NYC to pursue career opportunities one being a film with Steve Gutenberg.She is currently working on a project with her cousin who also lives in NYC.The week Derek was eliminated from DWTS he had to fly to NYC to be on The View. As it was that was the same week of the P.Diddy party which Shannon had been invited to. Derek went to the party with Shannon as her date. The reason Derek does not mention Shannon in tweets is that each time he does he is criticized by so called well meaning fans. Both Shannon & Derek have said in interviews that they love each other and that they are in different places in their lives. Derek is wanting to go clubing all the time & he seems to have found someone to go clubbing with. Not a great basis for a relationship. Shannon is much more settled & did the party scene & wants more in her life and I for one hope she finds someone who will treat her as she deserves to be treated or that Derek Hough grows up & realizes that he is going to loose the best relationship he's ever had.

#3. Annalee on 12/01/2009 - 6:00 pm (EST)

They actually broke up in July. Derek has mentioned Shannon very rarely in tweets. Shannon doesn't follow him on Twitter and rarely mentions him. Derek said in a recent radio interview that he does NOT see them getting back together in the future. He said it's nice when you can end a relationship like that. But Shannon accepts it and said neither one is devastated. Shannon's invite to Diddy's party came just a few days earlier from a friend who was working on the party. Derek happened to be in New York to be on The View with his dance partner, Joanna Krupa, and stayed over an extra night to enjoy the city. He bought a suit at the last minute to attend the party, but I doubt he had to be persuaded to attend. Come on, the biggest party in New York in a while, who wouldn't want to go. Derek is too young to settle down! Shannon is older and wants to stay at home every night. His career is just getting started and he has a lot of women to meet and a lot of fun to have while he is working so hard. It's too bad he can't do anything or go anywhere without the paps following him everywhere and documenting almost his every move. I hope they both find happiness.

#4. PeggySue11 on 12/01/2009 - 6:33 pm (EST)

I agree with your post, Florida. Obviously dahlia does not know much about neither Shannon nor Derek. They have been a total class act during their separation. They have been very respectful toward each other & when the opportunity was right, they attended events together as close friends. I don't think the fact that Shannon mentions Derek is pathetic at all. It shows that she is still his friend & if he was not OK with this, she wouldn't be doing it. I find it very odd that dahlia has seen fit to leave such a negative comment about this article. Why be in such a rage about someone that you don't know. Seems like a waste of energy to me. I also agree with Florida that Derek will never find anyone as good as Shannon.

#5. Minnesota on 12/01/2009 - 9:38 pm (EST)

I also agree with your post, Florida. I found it odd that people talk about Derek like he's 16 years old. He's 24 years old. It is really between him and Shannon whether they continue their relationship as strictly friends or as a couple. I personally follow her on Twitter and think that she's the most friendly down to earth celeb. Shannon is simply beautiful inside and out and will have no trouble finding a new relationship, if and when she decides to. Shannon rocks!

#6. bbdgrandkids on 12/01/2009 - 11:10 pm (EST)

I totally agree with florida and minnesota also. seriously no one knows what goes behind close doors. one could only speculate. judging from what we all see from the media, it's easy to figure out that they certainly deeply care for each other, and respect each other. and further more dahlia, please don't cut on shannon! i think she has a big heart. always there to lend a hand. helped out the rest of the bhb band, by putting a roof on their heads when they needed it. so their you go! and last but not least she is not out their making an ass of herself like some of the celebs.

#7. Happy Camper 926 on 12/02/2009 - 2:48 am (EST)

Dahlia-you don't know much about the Shannon/Derek situation. Miss Krupa better take a number for if she's been seeing Derek for a month, he's also been photographed & filmed spending evenings with other girls including his ex-Shannon. Where do you think Derek stayed in New York? He appears to be spending time with Marta, but she's one of several-nothing too special about that!

#8. Annalee on 12/02/2009 - 3:21 am (EST)

Where did Derek stay in New York? At the hotel he was booked at, most likely. He is wearing sunglasses in the doggie reunion pics she tweeted the day after the surprise party or Miley Cyrus, so he didn't stay overnight, he arrived there from outside! Derek's rep told Gossip Cop that he and Shannon are not dating but merely friends. Anyone who says "Derek will never find anyone as good" is obviously biased and unfit to judge. Shannon is a good person and doesn't deserve the hate, but so is Derek and he doesn't either.

#9. Florida on 12/02/2009 - 7:18 am (EST)

Annalee do you really think Derek would be in NYC a day & not see Shannon or his kids ie doggies. Be serious. Pic tweet day of the party but Derek was there the day before. He also never stays in a hotel without tweeting pic of either the hotel room or the view from his window. Come on they were in a relationship for over a year where else would Derek stay. They have maintained a close relationship which I think is great & very mature.Also Happy Camper so true Ms Krupa is not the only gal Derek is seeing. She also has been in a relationship recently and tweets pic of her self with other men. Clubbing seems to be the major attraction between Derek & her. During the year or more that Shannon & Derek were together he did not feel the need to club the way he is now. A clear reaction to recovering from a break up and moving into the single life. I adore Derek & Shannon & wish they were still together. From what I've seen neither is as happy apart as they were together. I wish them both happiness either together or apart. I do not think their story is over.

#10. PeggySue11 on 12/02/2009 - 7:53 am (EST)

Annalee - sorry you feel that way about my comment regarding Derek. In no way did I mean it in a deragatory way. I think he is awesome and am a huge fan of his dancing and music. I love both Shannon & Derek as do others and have to chime in with Florida in saying that they seem so much happier when together. That should be apparent to anyone who see the photos - after all, pictures don't lie. :) Peace out!!