Julianne Hough gives a tearful speech about self-acceptance at LoveLoud Festival

Julianne Hough broke down in tears as she gave a passionate speech about standing up for what you believe in at the Loveloud Music Festival on Saturday night (26Aug17).

The Dancing With the Stars judge took to the stage to introduce Imagine Dragons at the musical event, which benefitted LGBTQ organizations, in her home state of Utah.

Clearly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the situation, Julianne struggled to control her emotions as she addressed the crowd of over 17,000 at the Brent Brown Ballpark.

"Here's my honest truth: Being a public figure and to use my voice has always been hard for me, because I don't always know how to express how I feel or what I believe in," Julianne said, as her voice began to audibly crack. "And the pressure to be politically correct has always weighed on me.

"Unfortunately, at times, that has caused me to distance myself from a lot of important issues. Especially when they don't necessarily affect me directly. There's a great saying, 'If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.' Well, I can tell you, I am so happy that I know what I stand for."

Unable to hold back her tears any longer, the 29-year-old continued to explain that "spreading joy and love is a mission I take very, very seriously. With all the chaos that is in the world today, the idea that we all need to love loud had never been more relevant or more needed.

"Why don’t we take tonight and look at this as a new beginning? Will you stand with us? Will you be a part of it? Because the world needs to; Love loud. When we speak let us choose words of love, when we listen, let us listen with love."

The Loveloud Festival, organized in part by Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds, benefitted organizations GLAAD, The Trevor Project, EnCircle, and Stand4Kind and aimed to raise awareness about the issue of teen suicide, particularly in the LGBTQ community.

Other stars to take to the stage for the sold-out festival included Neon Trees, Krewella and Walk The Moon's Nicholas Petricca.