Kelly Hyland is an American actress, best known for “Dance Moms” (2011), “Dance Moms Funniest Fights” (2019) and “Backto the Barre” (2022). She’s been married to Randy Hyland since 1996, and has three children with him – Paige, Brooke and Josh. The Hyland daughters appeared in “Dance Moms” alongside their mother.
Early life and before “Dance Moms”
Kelly Hyland was born on 16 May 1971, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She initiated her dance journey when she was only two years old, and by the age of eight had joined Abby Lee Miller’s original show, but opted to leave the group at 14 to pursue cheerleading. Unfortunately, little is known about her educational background or upbringing beyond her dancing pursuits. Her daughters followed in her footsteps, achieving recognition as talented dancers, and gaining fame through their involvement in the reality show “Dance Moms.”
Kelly is recognized for allowing her children the autonomy to pursue their aspirations. Presently, she co-parents her three grown-up children with her ex-husband Randy, fostering a shared responsibility in their upbringing as well as the mutual respect for each other.
Career
Appearing in “Dance Moms”
“Dance Moms” was a reality television series that aired on Lifetime from 2011 to 2019. The show focused on young dancers and their mothers as they were trained by dance instructor Abby Lee Miller at the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The series followed often dramatic lives of the dancers, who aimed to excel in various dance forms, particularly in the highly competitive world of dance contests. Abby Lee Miller, known for her strict teaching methods and sometimes controversial coaching style, pushed the young dancers to their limits to achieve success in the dance industry.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ryPxGZ1Lq91zjYT7dydg5krAxkX8FsC14qP4HHXR6qqZrCP6RGMYEUN8hCc22ZJ3l&id=1503266426448174
The show not only showcased the dancers’ talents and intense training but also delved into the relationships and conflicts between the dancers’ mothers, creating much of the drama and tension throughout the series. Viewers witnessed the highs and lows of the competitive dance world, including the pressure on both the dancers and their mothers to succeed in this demanding environment.
Throughout the show, Kelly was often depicted as a vocal and protective mother, advocating for her daughters’ well-being while navigating the competitive dance environment under the guidance of the mentioned dance instructor, Abby Lee. She occasionally clashed with Abby over her teaching methods and treatment of the dancers, leading to conflicts and tense moments during the series.
Kelly’s decision to allow her daughters to pursue other interests outside of dance, including cheerleading and modeling, added a dynamic to the show, illustrating the challenges and decisions faced by dance moms and their children in the competitive world of performing arts.
Despite occasional disagreements and conflicts, Kelly remained supportive of her daughters’ passions and aspirations. In the episode “Big Trouble in the Big Apple” from season four, Kelly was involved in a physical altercation with Abby, consequently, the Hyland family was dismissed from the team. Since then, Kelly and her daughters have shown no desire to return to the show. Prior to the acceleration of tensions between the two, Hyland’s frequent arguments with Abby stemmed from the perceived lack of attention Abby gave to Brooke and Paige. Additionally, she held the belief that it was unjust for Maddie Ziegler to receive more opportunities than the other girls on the team.
The show’s success led to spin-offs, specials, and a dedicated fan base following the journeys of the young dancers and their families. Kelly’s presence on “Dance Moms” contributed to the overall drama and dynamics within the show. As well as exposing the toxicity of entertainment industry and the toll it has on young people’s mental health. The lawsuit and controversy surrounding mentioned fight brought closer attention of the public eye to these matters.
Lawsuit
The widely publicized fight (video) between Hyland and Miller, which occurred during the filming of the fourth season episode “Big Trouble in the Big Apple,” garnered considerable media attention. Additionally, Hyland faced a court trial in The Bronx for assault following the incident. The trial commenced on July 14, 2014, and continued into January 2015, remaining ongoing at that time.
Kelly initiated a separate civil lawsuit in Los Angeles against Collins Avenue Productions and Abby, claiming defamation, Abby’s assault during The Bronx altercation, breach of contract, and emotional distress caused to her daughter Paige, seeking compensation for lost wages, various financial damages, including $5 million in punitive damages, and requested relief by removing certain limitations written in her contract. These limitations involved restrictions on publicity, television appearances, media broadcasts, and competing in the dance realm without approval from the producers of Dance Moms. Kelly clarified during a Meet and Greet event that her main concern was to break free from her contract rather than seeking financial gain. She highlighted that due to the terms in the television production contract, her daughters were unable to dance elsewhere.
On November 17, Judge Kwan, made rulings on the Hylands’ legal claims. Dismissing the accusations of defamation and emotional distress inflicted on her daughters, the judge, however, permitted a trial to proceed for breach of contract, declaratory relief, and damage to the floor in the Hylands’ residence. The similar rulings on additional complaints filed on behalf of Paige in October were reported by deadline.com. According to The Hollywood Reporter, two assault complaints against Abby remained active: one asserting that Abby attacked Kelly in The Bronx (from February filings), and the other alleging that Abby assaulted Paige by throwing a chair (filed in October during the filming of the fifth season and referring to an incident from season 2).Top of Form There appears to be a discrepancy in coverage between The Hollywood Reporter and deadline.com in which some of the court documents are referenced, regarding the ruling on permitting Paige’s case, which centers on an assault allegation due to fear of being hit by a chair thrown by Abby.
Net worth and projects after “Dance moms”
Kelly Hyland is reported to have an estimated net worth of close to $1 million. Both her daughters and she kept a low profile after infamously leaving the reality show “Dance Moms”. However Kelly’s latest successful project “Back to the Barre” was in 2022.
After leaving the show, Brooke, the older Hyland sister has ventured into music, acting in a few films, and seems focused on shaping a different path in her life. A 2020 interview with A-List Nation revealed that she graduated from Ohio University, and shifted towards a career in fashion and e-commerce. As reported by The Things, she’s managed to accumulate a considerable net worth of $500,000 in her early 20s.
The younger Hyland sister, unlike her older sibling Brooke and her mother, has seen greater financial success, matching Miller’s net worth and surpassing many other “Dance Moms” stars despite her shorter career. She was a beloved presence on the show right from the beginning, but departed along with her sister during season four. Since then, at 21 years old, she’s diversified her career, establishing a strong presence on YouTube with an impressive following of 725,000 subscribers.
