The world of professional wrestling lost one of its brightest stars on July 24, 2025, when Hulk Hogan—born Terrence Gene Bollea—passed away at the age of 71. While fans across generations mourn the loss of the larger-than-life WWE Hall of Famer, many are also reflecting on the legacy he leaves behind, especially when it comes to his family. At the heart of that story is his daughter, Brooke Hogan, a woman whose life has been as public and dramatic as her father’s, and whose relationship with the late superstar was filled with both love and turbulence.

A Star is Born: Brooke Hogan’s Early Years

Brooke Ellen Bollea entered the world on May 5, 1988, in Tampa, Florida, as the first child of Hulk Hogan and his then-wife, Linda Hogan. The family would later welcome a son, Nick, in 1990, and the Hogans quickly became one of wrestling’s most recognizable dynasties. From a young age, Brooke was in the spotlight, sharing tender moments with her father—like the now-iconic photo of a 3-year-old Brooke giggling as Hulk affectionately rubbed noses with her in their family home.

But fame came with its challenges. As Hulk’s wrestling career soared and the family’s private life became more public, Brooke faced the pressures of growing up in the shadow of a global icon.

Finding Her Own Spotlight: Music and Reality TV

Determined to carve out her own identity, Brooke pursued music in the early 2000s. Her debut album, Undiscovered, dropped in 2006, with its lead single “About Us” landing at No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100—a feat that proved she was more than just a famous last name. Brooke’s musical journey took her on tour with pop powerhouses like Hilary Duff and the Backstreet Boys, and she later dabbled in country music, releasing the EPs I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend (2015) and So Many Summers (2018), along with a string of singles in 2024.

Brooke’s versatility was clear: “People always want to box you in and say well, what are you? You have to be country, or you have to be pop, and I am like, what if I was raised on a bunch of music? What if I just love music?” she told Entertainment Tonight in 2015.

But it was reality TV that truly launched Brooke into the mainstream. From 2005 to 2007, she starred alongside her father and family on VH1’s Hogan Knows Best. The show offered fans an intimate look at the Hogan household—the highs, the lows, and everything in between. When the series ended, Brooke took center stage with her own spinoff, Brooke Knows Best, which chronicled her move to Miami Beach and her journey toward independence.

A Brief Foray into Wrestling

Brooke also dipped her toes into the world that made her father famous. She made her wrestling debut during WWE’s “Saturday Night’s Main Event XXXIII” in 2006 and later appeared on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2012. While she never pursued wrestling full-time, her appearances were a nod to her family legacy.

Entrepreneurship and Family Life

In 2018, Brooke launched BB Designs by Brooke, an interior design firm in Nashville. Inspired by her grandmother, a respected designer in Los Angeles, Brooke embraced her creative side. “I’m from a designer family … my grandmother is a big interior designer in L.A.,” she shared in a June 2025 interview with WKRN News. “So we kind of grew up with, ‘Let’s move the couch at midnight’ kind of thing, so I had the eye for it.”

With her business partner, Ashley Menendez Kora, Brooke has transformed homes and even completed a renovation of Nashville’s historic Starr Piano Building.

Her personal life flourished as well. In 2022, Brooke married retired NHL player Steven Oleksy, a union she kept private until January 2024. “A rare sighting of the husband. We like to keep to ourselves, but somehow the news is out,” she wrote on Instagram. “So here he is, people: The kindest, sweetest badass you’ll ever meet. I’m really lucky. God did me a solid on this one.”

The couple’s greatest joy came in January 2025 with the birth of their fraternal twins, Oliver Andrew and Molly Gene. “Our hearts have been made whole by the arrival of these two sweet souls we get to love. God is good,” Brooke posted, celebrating her new chapter as a mom.

Estrangement and Healing

Despite her many successes, Brooke’s relationship with her father became strained over the past decade. A series of controversies—including Hulk’s public support for Donald Trump at the 2024 Republican National Convention—added to the tension. In March 2025, Brooke’s mother, Linda, addressed the family’s fractured dynamics on Instagram, revealing that Brooke had distanced herself from both parents. “Brooke doesn’t talk to us. She had twins, she got married [and] she didn’t tell us,” Linda said.

Brooke responded with her own statement, explaining her decision for “no contact” with each parent was for “completely separate reasons.” She clarified that her choice also extended to her father’s second and third wives, emphasizing, “This decision was made based purely on how they have each dealt with me directly my entire life.”

Brooke’s absence at Hulk Hogan’s wedding to Sky Daily in September 2023 was a public sign of their estrangement. “For my own journey to healing and happiness, I have chosen to create some distance between myself and my family, and am focusing on people and things that heal my heart and align with my own personal beliefs, goals and values,” she wrote at the time. “I wish him well.”

A Legacy of Strength and Independence

As news of Hulk Hogan’s passing reverberates through the wrestling world, Brooke Hogan’s story stands as a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the complexities of family. She has forged a path that honors her roots while staying true to her own vision—whether onstage, on TV, or in the homes she designs.

Brooke’s journey is far from over. As she raises her twins and grows her business, she continues to inspire fans with her honesty, creativity, and strength. Her relationship with her legendary father may have been tumultuous, but her story is one of hope, healing, and new beginnings.