AceShowbiz - In a heartfelt conversation on "The Jamie Kern Lima Show", Julianne Hough, the Emmy Award-winning host of "Dancing with the Stars", recently spoke candidly about the traumatic experiences of her early childhood.

For the first time, Hough publicly revealed that her initial encounter with sexual abuse occurred when she was "about four years old" growing up in Utah. The perpetrator was a neighbor, and the event marked a profoundly confusing period in her life.

Raised in a Mormon household, Hough explained that the cultural backdrop made addressing such a traumatic issue even more complicated. "Growing up in the Mormon culture, everything needs to be perfect...there was not a lot of repercussion for what had happened," she recalled. Despite these challenges, Hough has bravely begun to unravel and confront these painful memories.

At the tender age of 10, Hough moved to London to pursue training in performing arts. This transition, however, came with its own set of difficulties, as she reported being "mentally, physically" abused as well during her time abroad.

In previous interviews, Hough has touched upon these experiences but never delved deeply into the specifics until now.

In her conversation with Jamie Kern Lima, Hough described how she dissociated herself from these traumatic memories, effectively blocking out her early childhood experiences. It wasn't until she was about 15 that she began to open up to her parents about subsequent abuses and recollections from her earlier years.

"I had completely disassociated from that ever happening," she admitted, a defense mechanism many trauma survivors employ.

Addressing the complex interplay of guilt, shame, and helplessness that affected her parents, Hough revealed that these conversations have been ongoing. "They can't necessarily connect the two and hear what was happening because they were having their own experience also," she explained.

However, her relationship with her parents experienced significant healing during her divorce from NHL player Brooks Laich in 2020. "They showed up for me as my parents...I needed that," she shared.

Now, as a new author of the book "Everything We Never Knew," Hough reflects on her journey, aiming to empower others through her story. Her candidness on "The Jamie Kern Lima Show" has not only shed light on her personal struggles but also created a space for others to feel seen, understood, and inspired to embark on their own healing journeys.

"The Jamie Kern Lima Show" podcast, featuring influential figures like Oprah Winfrey and Hoda Kotb, continues to deliver transformative conversations aimed at encouraging self-worth and resilience. Julianne Hough's episode is a poignant reminder of the courage required to confront and overcome profound personal trauma.