Key Takeaways
- Brooke Hogan continues to wrestle with grief and regret nine months after her father, Hulk Hogan, died of a cardiac event at age 71.
- She speaks to him daily, wishing she had been able to intervene and expressing that her love alone could not have saved him.
- The estrangement that existed at the time of his death leaves her with unanswered questions and a sense of unfinished conversation.
- Filming HGTV’s “Rock the Block” has become a conduit for Brooke to channel her grief, showcase her interior‑design expertise, and seek validation of the life she built independently.
- Co‑designer Scott McGillivray notes that Brooke’s personal struggles have deepened their on‑set partnership, turning the renovation process into a space for emotional transformation as well as design.
Nine months after the sudden death of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan—born Terry Gene Bollea—Brooke Hogan still finds herself talking to her father every day. In a candid interview with Fox News Digital, she described the ache of wishing she had been present during his final moments, confessing, “I talk to my dad every day and… I’m like, ‘What in the heck were you doing? I just wish I was there because you would still be here today.’” She added the painful realization that, despite her deep love, “if love would have saved you, you’d be alive today” is a truth she must accept.
The estrangement that defined their relationship at the time of his death compounds Brooke’s sorrow. She revealed that attempts to discuss difficult topics while he was alive were often met with resistance: “He was like, ‘I’m not talking about that.’… He didn’t ever want to be soft.” Consequently, she now carries a litany of unanswered questions—questions about his choices, his health, and the nature of their bond—that she will never have the opportunity to ask.
Despite the emotional distance, Brooke insists that her connection to her father remains intact. She shared a black‑and‑white illustration of Hulk holding her as a child on social media, captioned with the line, “If my love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.” In private, she speaks to him openly, acknowledging that the conversations may seem odd to outsiders: “I’m honest with him now, and I talk to him all the time, even if that seems like I’m a cuckoo bird.” If he were to appear today, she said she would simply tell him she loves him and wishes he had let her in.
The grief has also surfaced in Brooke’s professional life, particularly during filming of HGTV’s “Rock the Block.” The show, which pits celebrity‑designer duos against each other to renovate identical homes under a tight budget and timeline, has become a platform for Brooke to process her loss while showcasing the interior‑design firm she launched in 2018, BB Designs by Brooke. Working alongside seasoned real‑estate expert Scott McGillivray, she found moments on set that forced her to confront lingering insecurities about whether her father ever truly understood the business she built from the ground up. “I don’t think he ever really understood just how hard it was to build from scratch with nobody’s help,” she reflected, adding that earning a spot on the show felt like a personal medal and a silent question: “I wonder if he knows what a big deal this is.”
Scott McGillivray confirmed that Brooke’s personal struggles have influenced their dynamic, describing early interactions as “like therapy.” He observed that their partnership transcends mere design and construction, allowing both to experience personal transformation. The upcoming Las Vegas‑based season of “Rock the Block” features other notable pairs—designer Taniya Nayak with 98 Degrees’ Drew Lachey, and Mina Starsiak Hawk with former NFL star Vernon Davis—under the host‑ship of design expert Ty Pennington. Each duo receives six weeks and a $275,000 budget to turn identical houses into standout properties, with the series airing Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.
Through the high‑pressure competition, Brooke continues to channel both her father’s renowned drive and her own hard‑earned resilience. While the renovation challenges test her creativity and stamina, they also provide a space where she can honor her father’s legacy, assert her independence, and perhaps finally find a measure of peace for the conversations that remain unspoken.