Julianne Hough and husband Brooks Laich have reportedly been "having problems" and sparked breakup rumors after she was spotted without her wedding ring and Brooks posted about starting "a new stage of life" on social media.

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According to a source, Brooks and the former America's Got Talent and Dancing with the Stars judge and pro partner "were having problems" in December 2019, Us Weekly reported.

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And an insider close to Brooks also told the magazine, "Everyone knows something is up."

Julianne has raised eyebrows by posting recent Instagram Stories showing her sans wedding or engagement rings, and a video she posted on January 4 -- which featured Julianne dishing on a new fitness project called Kinrgy -- flashed to her ringless left hand multiple times.

In addition, Julianne shared a video on Christmas Eve 2019 of herself decorating a last-minute Christmas tree with a girlfriend, and once again, no diamond sparker was in sight.

Brooks then posted a cryptic Instagram message on Tuesday amid speculation their relationship is on the rocks.

"On New Year's Eve, I had a friend ask me 'what's your adjective for the new year?' I asked him what he meant, and he said it's about picking a word that is going to be a guide for you in 2020. His word was 'mindful' -- he wanted to be more mindful of his time, his friendships, his money, etc. and throughout the year he will remind himself to be 'mindful' of all things in his life," the former NHL star captioned a photo of himself smiling.

"I then immediately fell in love with this question. And the word that keeps coming up for me right now is 'boundless.'"

"I feel like a lot of my life has been 'bound' to certain identities that have come through the sport I spent my life playing. Canadian, male, hockey player, disciplined, competitive, etc... and though I am all of those things, they do not define me, and I am not bound by them," Brooks continued.

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"In 2020, I look forward to releasing old identities, and stepping into a new chapter in my life... I feel a new stage of life calling me and though I don't exactly know what it is yet, it feels right, and exciting!"

Brooks went on to say he's been reading more, "coloring intricate mandalas," listening to instrumental music, dancing, and even singing in church.
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"Probably not the stuff you would envision me doing, and I'm right there with you. But I love it, and I'm not going to stop -- I'm going to embrace it for what it is at this moment," Brooks concluded.

"So in 2020, I am 'boundless' and on a new journey."

Julianne, however, commented "so beautiful" on Brooks' post with a red heart emoji.

Brooks provided this new insight into his life only days after he revealed on New Year's Eve he planned to be "open to all things and present in my relationships" in 2020, according to Us.

The retired athlete also reportedly admitted he wanted to explore "more about intimacy and my sexuality."

The split rumors come four months after Julianne came out as "not straight" in a cover story interview with Women's Health magazine.

"I [told him], 'You know I'm not straight, right?' And he was like, 'I'm sorry what?'" explained the pro dancer. "I was like, 'I'm not. But I choose to be with you.'"

Julianne elaborated at the time, "I think there's a safety with my husband now that I'm unpacking all of this, and there's no fear of voicing things that I've been afraid to admit or that I've had shame or guilt about because of what I've been told or how I was raised."

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RELATED LINK: 'DANCING WITH THE STARS' PROS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANT OTHERS: WHO'S DATING OR MARRIED TO WHOM!? (PHOTOS)

Julianne and Brooks reportedly began dating in 2014 after a mutual friend introduced them in December 2013.

Brooks proposed marriage in August 2015, and then the couple married in July 2017 in Idaho.


About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.