Julianne Hough: 'I'm Not Going to Hold Back' Judging on 'Dancing with the Stars'

April 7, 2014 — -- Julianne Hough returns tonight to "Dancing with the Stars" as a guest judge and she's not letting a little tiff from last season change the way she's going to critique the dancers.

Last time on the judges panel, Hough, 25, mentioned that pro Mark Ballas can overshadow his partners, something the dancer turned actress said won't affect how she approaches her appearance on the show.

"You can always count on me to tell the truth," she told ABC News. "It's all about making comments that whoever the dancer or celebrity is, they can be better for next week. There's never any harsh criticism just because I want to be harsh, that's not my nature or my character."

In fact, the "Footloose" star said, "Mark and I are great, we are really good friends" and that her comments from last season were never an issue between the two.

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As for this go around, "I have no idea what I am going to say tonight till I watch the performers. I'm going to critique them the way I critique them when I'm at home on my couch. I'm not going to hold back because of other people. I'm here to give my expertise and be a cheerleader for everybody else on the floor."

Hough can't wait to step back into the ballroom that she said "is where it all began for me."

"This line-up is so fun, usually it takes another few weeks ... to get the top picks you've been rooting for," she said. "This year, I feel like we are already at that stage. You're not just waiting for the people at the bottom to just get knocked off so we can see the contenders."

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Another difference this year that has Hough and others talking is Erin Andrews taking over as co-host for Brooke Burke-Charvet.

"I think Erin is doing fantastic," she gushed. "She's really fun and fresh. She's a little snarky. It's kind of fun and the celebrities and dancers are really enjoying it. It's fun to watch."

Make sure to tune in tonight for Hough's return on "DWTS" at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.