Julianne Hough photo by Ondrea Barbe, courtesy of UMG Nashville.
Nov. 10, 2008 — When Julianne Hough had her appendix removed in surgery two weeks ago, her boyfriend Chuck Wicks headed to Los Angeles to provide support as she recovered. And he apparently was just what the doctor ordered.
"Give me a white cap," Chuck told the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville. "I am Nurse Betty. I need a gown."
"He’s been awesome!" Julianne chimed in.
"I have been awesome, actually," Chuck agreed.
Julianne’s surgery became necessary when she was diagnosed with endometriosis, a condition in which tissue that’s specific to the uterus grows in other areas. She had felt abdominal pains periodically for about five years, but once the cause was made clear, it presented another issue for someone as public as Julianne.
"At first, I was really nervous about talking about it, especially if people didn’t really understand what it was," she said. "I didn’t want them talking like it was was something else, but it’s actually very common in women, and it’s something that’s genetic. My mom, she gave me the blonde hair, blue eyes and endometriosis."
Speaking publicly proved to be a motivation to other women, giving Julianne a sense that her newfound fame is doing some good.
"I do these blogs," she noted, "and the fans that write back, they’re like, ‘I’ve been feeling the same pains, and I’ve made an appointment to go see my doctor,’ which is awesome. Then there’s women that have had it for years, and they’re like, ‘Thank you so much for being open and honest with it.’"
In the meantime, Julianne’s found great comfort in the time she and Chuck have spent simply resting in the aftermath of her operation.
"I spent three days just completely on the couch the whole time," she said, "watchin’ movies — ‘I don’t feel good; can I have another pill?’"
"Which," Chuck winked, "is what I do anyway. My entire life is just lay on the couch and watch movies, so I felt right at home. This was different for her, but I was like ‘yes.’"
Julianne’s apparently feeling much better. She’s been added as a presenter on "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards." Hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, they’ll air on ABC Wednesday from the Sommet Center in Nashville.