Julianne Hough is officially returning to Dancing with the Stars for season 19.

The show will begin next month and will present 26-year-old Hough seated at the judges table with Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman and Bruno Tonioli.

Julianne Hough is a two-time season champ on DWTS, but she is ready to take on the role of judge.

She has been a guest judge a couple of times, but feels that now is the time to make it more permanent.

So just because she knows what the dancers are going through, does that mean she’ll take it easy on them? Not really, she says.

“My role is to encourage and be supportive, and to also be candid and honest and try not to beat around the bush, to be too politically correct,” Hough said. “I want to give critiques so they can improve. I’m not there to be harsh or cause a controversy. I won’t be mean or malicious. That’s not who I am. That’s not my role at all.”

Her brother, dancer Derek Hough, gave his approval of her new role.

Julianne Hough said of her brother’s reaction, “He texted me today just to say, ‘Hey, congrats babe! Saw that it’s all out now…’ ”

She and her brother have a very close relationship, but when asked if she would have a hard time judging her brother, she said it wouldn’t be hard. In fact, the judging is more about the partnership and how well the featured celebrities do.

“Derek has been known to be very good with his partnerships,” Hough says. “But it’s not about my brother, nor is it about Cheryl or Mark. It’s about the partnership and the celebrity who is dancing.”

Julianne Hough also said, “It’s all supportive. It’s all in good fun. At the end of the day, we’re all pretty lucky we get to do the show. It’s not a have-to or a super competitive thing where it’s life or death. This is fun.”

Derek Hough will return for the 19th season, along with Cheryl Burke, Mark Ballas, Karina Smirnoff and Tony Dovolani.

Congrats to Julianne Hough on her new job as judge!