Julianne Hough & Husband Brooks Laich Spark Split Rumors With Missing Wedding Ring & Talk Of 'New Chapter'!

Julianne Hough‘s husband Brooks Laich may plan on learning more about intimacy and his sexuality now that it’s 2020, but it seems like he’ll be going about it solo…

The professional hockey player opened up about “stepping into a new chapter” in his life in a Tuesday Instagram post amid fans calling out his star wife for not wearing her wedding ring recently.

For those not keeping up with their relationship, Brooks has been mainly absent when it comes to Jules’ IG account. The last time she posted a picture even featuring him was from August and eagle-eyed followers noticed no bling on her finger starting early December.

Even her Christmas video showcased a bare ring finger:

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Grateful for this last minute tilted mini tree ????

A post shared by Julianne Hough (@juleshough) on Dec 24, 2019 at 12:16pm PST

So, is this why her hubby Brooks wants to feel “boundless” this year??

In his own IG post from yesterday, the former NHL athlete shared a lengthy caption about his “adjective” for 2020 as he starts on a “new journey.” He wrote:

“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.

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.”

Laich continued, making no mention of how his wife of two and a half years fits into this new picture:

“In 2020 I look forward to releasing old identities, and stepping into a new chapter in my life. I find myself wanting to officially say the words ‘I retire’ from professional hockey, instead of vehemently resisting it as I have been for the last 2 years. 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!

Lately I’ve been reading a lot, coloring intricate mandalas, listening to instrumental music, dancing, and I’ve even started singing in church. 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.

So in 2020, I am ‘boundless’ and on a new journey.”

See the full caption (below):

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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. 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. In 2020 I look forward to releasing old identities, and stepping into a new chapter in my life. I find myself wanting to officially say the words “I retire” from professional hockey, instead of vehemently resisting it as I have been for the last 2 years. 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! Lately I’ve been reading a lot, coloring intricate mandalas, listening to instrumental music, dancing, and I’ve even started singing in church. 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. So in 2020, I am “boundless” and on a new journey. So I ask you, what is your adjective of 2020, and how will you apply it in your life?! I hope it leads you to a new level of happiness and fulfillment! Much love to all of you who read this and embrace your crazy journey, I’m right there with you! ????✌️???? @torimatthewsphoto ????

A post shared by Brooks Laich (@brookslaich) on Jan 7, 2020 at 9:25am PST

For what it’s worth, Hough has been throwing herself into her work as she and her company Kinrgy join Oprah Winfrey on her 2020 Vision Tour:

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TODAY IS THE DAY ✨✨✨ When Oprah and WW asked me and @kinrgy to be a part of this tour in June, it took everything in me to keep it quiet – It is truly an honor to share KINRGY for the first time with leaders in the wellness world who have been transforming lives globally for years. We share the same mission! I’m so extremely proud and grateful for our @kinrgy guides and our team with the amount of love and support you have put in to creating this magic. This is what #kreatingkinrgy is all about! We can’t wait to share KINRGY with all of you this ENTIRE tour! WW presents Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life In Focus Tour ???????? @ww.now #oprahs2020visiontour

A post shared by Julianne Hough (@juleshough) on Jan 4, 2020 at 7:24am PST

Signs seem to point the pair secretly headed to Splitsville, despite the former Dancing with the Stars pro talking a couple of months ago about why she decided to be so open about her IVF journey and wanting to start a family with her man!

We’ll keep you updated on an official announcement.

Thoughts, Perezcious readers?? Were you rooting for them? Sound off on it all in the comments (below)!

[Image via FayesVision/WENN]