Hulk Hogan‘s daughter Brooke has opened up about how returning to HGTV has become a kind of therapy for her after the sudden death of her estranged father.
The 37 year old, who spent her teen years starring on the hit reality TV show, “Hogan Knows Best,” as well as a spinoff titled, “Brooke Knows Best,” lifted the lid on why she decided to step in front of the camera again after Hogan died.
Hogan, whose full name is Terry Gene Bollea, passed away at the age of 71 in July after suffering from cardiac arrest inside his Clearwater, FL, home.
While speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Brooke opened up about how the death of her dad caused her to pour her heart into her home designing passion.
Brooke—who is set to appear on the new season of the network’s hit show “Rock the Block,” which sees designers competing to renovate properties on the same block—admitted that she had to dodge rumors that she is attempting to put her name in the spotlight instead of grieving her father.
“What’s nuts is you see all these people like, ‘Oh, now their dad’s passed away she’s soaking up the fame.’
“I’m like, ‘We had this ‘Rock the Block’ deal months before that happened,'” she said.
Brooke noted that she first received the call from HGTV in 2023.
“It was a weird call to get at a weird time in my life,” she confessed.
The reality TV personality then went on to detail her love for home design.
“It’s actually what I do, and a couple days ago, on our first thing, we had a win, and I didn’t realize it would affect me as much as it did. I cried,” she said.
She noted that the show and her design partner, Scott McGillivray, helped her deal with her emotions.
“He was really kind of my therapist. Scott talked to me about losing my dad and just the emotions that go with it. The mixed emotions of, like, you have this estranged relationship, but you love him so much…Scott has been a really good, safe place for me to be,” she said.
Brooke also hit back at claims that she is a “nepo baby.”
“Nepo baby, failed music career, crazy family, can’t sing, can’t decorate — that’s what the haterades say, but little did you know, I have my own design business. I have my real estate license, too.
“No shame in my game. Money is money,” Brooke said.
Before she asked to be removed from her father’s will, Brooke noted that she always wanted to financially independent.
“I started my design business and was doing okay, but it was hard to get off the ground, and I did it really, truly on my own. No startup money, no help from my parents. I left the nest and I was the independent child that was like, ‘I don’t want help.’
“I was estranged from my family. I had asked to be removed my father’s will when he decided to proceed with his third marriage, not because of the lady he was marrying.
“It was kind of like I was seeing two sides. He was confiding in me about things that were tugging at his heart.
“And then he was like, ‘I’m going the other direction anyway. And you live your life and I’ll live mine,'” she said, noting that she always gave him advice and comforted him.
Although Brooke and Hogan didn’t speak for the last two years of his life, she noted that she always loved him.
“My dad and I always had a really good relationship. There’s nothing he could have done, clearly, through our history, nothing he could have done that would make me not love him,” she added.
Hogan’s death came weeks after his wife, Sky, fiercely denied rumors that the sports star was in a coma, assuring fans that his heart was “strong” as he recovered from multiple surgeries and procedures on his neck.
Hogan snapped up his expansive Clearwater estate, which boasts five bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms in 2012 for $3.3 million.
The large dwelling sprawls across 6,270 square feet and Realtor.com® now estimates that it is worth $5 million.
The home, which was built in 2009, comes complete with an elevator, fireplace, pool and two spas.
Inside, high ceilings tower over the chic breakfast area, den/office space, family room, elegant dining room, and great room.
The home is perfectly situated on the Gulf of Mexico’s shoreline.
The property also boasts a fully-equipped gym that the sports star often used to stay in tip-top shape, a home theater, and a resort-style pool.
The WWE confirmed his death in a statement, revealing, “WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away.
“One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s.
“WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.”
Fellow wrestler Ric Flair also shared a heartwarming tribute to his pal, penning, “Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father!
“Our Friendship Has Meant The World To Me. He Was Always There For Me Even When I Didn’t Ask For Him To Be. He Was One Of The First To Visit Me When I Was In The Hospital With A 2% Chance Of Living, And He Prayed By My Bedside.
“Hulk Also Lent Me Money When Reid Was Sick. Hulkster, No One Will Ever Compare To You! Rest In Peace My Friend!”
Hogan was an icon in the pro wrestling industry and had a strong fan base that followed him throughout his career.
In 2005, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, however, was later removed in 2015 after a he was embroiled in a scandal over a slew of comments he made while being secretly recorded during a sexual encounter.
When the audio was released, Hogan eventually sued and won the lawsuit.
He was then inducted again in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020.
The athlete made headlines once again in 2024 when he attended the 2024 Republican National Convention.
In addition to his impressive wrestling career, Hogan also appeared in a slew of films, including, “Rocky III,” “No Holds Barred,” “Suburban Commando,” and “Mr. Nanny.”