Brooke Hogan has opened up about her emotional journey and professional achievements during the premiere of the seventh season of HGTV’s “Rock the Block,” which aired on April 13. While revisiting her past, the reality star reflected on the legacy of her late father, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, and expressed her hopes about whether he would take pride in her accomplishments.
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As Brooke teamed up with HGTV star Scott McGillivray to renovate spaces in a Las Vegas home as part of the competition, the conversation naturally drifted toward Hogan’s journey in the design world. She shared her sentiments, saying, “Half of me is like, ‘I can’t believe I’m here.’ I can’t believe that design is what I ended up doing. I wonder if my dad would be proud and be like, ‘This is cool.'” The star indicated that she intentionally chose not to rely on her father’s fame or finances to establish herself, noting, “I never wanted to take daddy’s money.”
Throughout the episode, her emotional struggle became evident as she opened up about her father, who passed away in July 2025 due to acute myocardial infarction. Brooke recalled how she had been invited to participate in “Rock the Block” before her father’s death, yet due to their strained relationship at the time, she kept this news from him. Tearfully reflecting on their bond, she conveyed her wishes for her dad to have known about her participation: “I wonder if he would have been proud knowing that I’m doing this.”
Hogan revealed that her father had encouraged her to get her real estate license, a gesture that has stayed with her throughout her career. She has previously spoken about the complexities of their relationship, including her decision to skip his funeral after his passing. As she delved deeper into her personal efforts, she shared some of the challenges she faced while building her Nashville-based design business, BB Designs By Brooke.
Brooke recounted how the journey has not always been easy. “What I think a lot of people don’t know is that I’ve never been somebody that worked off my dad’s money,” she explained. Despite getting initial support from her parents, she stressed that she has been truly independent since her early career. After featuring in her family’s reality series “Hogan Knows Best” and later her own show, “Brooke Knows Best,” she described a period of uncertainty: “The second TV stopped, I was like, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing with my life.'”
Moving to Nashville, ideally to carve out her own identity, she faced numerous trials, often bouncing between addresses as she sought her place in the design industry. Initially struggling to make ends meet, Brooke recalled waiting tables and subsisting on “coffee and protein bars” as she dedicated herself to the effort of establishing her design firm. Though her business faced significant hurdles, she persevered, eventually becoming proud of her accomplishments as BB Designs By Brooke established its reputation as one of Nashville’s leading design firms.
In the emotional scene with McGillivray, he reassured her by saying, “You’ve got a talent, and I’m sure he would be super proud of you,” referring to Hulk Hogan. To this, Brooke expressed her gratitude, hinting at the sense of validation her father’s recognition would provide. Later in the episode, the pair was victorious in the main suite challenge, prompting Brooke to share her elation at witnessing her hard work being rewarded.
“I love what I do, and it felt like all the work and the things I’ve been doing in the shadows, it kind of just made me feel a little bit like I have something still left,” she stated, showcasing her commitment to her new path.
This season’s “Rock the Block” brings a fresh twist to its traditional competition format by pairing well-known HGTV personalities with celebrities who share a passion for design. Each team is challenged to completely overhaul identical homes within a demanding six-week period, aiming to enhance the properties’ value.
With episodes airing Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on HGTV, there is much anticipation surrounding Brooke’s journey as she combines her personal history with her professional aspirations. It remains clear that she is not only building homes but also honouring her father’s legacy while carving out a distinguished space for herself in the competitive world of design.