Brooke Hogan is opening up about how returning to television unexpectedly helped her heal after the loss of her father, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan.
In an emotional preview obtained by PEOPLE for the Monday, May 11 episode of HGTV’s “Rock the Block,” the 38-year-old reflected on grief, family struggles and finding a renewed sense of purpose after Hulk’s death in 2025.
Brooke States the Show Has Helped Her
During the exclusive clip, host Ty Pennington checks in with Brooke and her renovation partner, Scott McGillivray, to see how their latest project is coming together.
But the conversation quickly shifts from home design to something far more personal.
“It’s kind of crazy because I decided to do this show before my dad passed, but I think God works in mysterious ways because this has been really positive and healing for me,” Brooke says in the clip.
The timing, she explained, ended up meaning more than she expected.
Hulk Hogan died on July 24, 2025, at age 71 after suffering a heart attack.
His death came after years of estrangement between him and Brooke, who had publicly stepped away from the relationship in an effort to protect herself emotionally.
Despite the distance, Brooke has remained candid about the complicated love she still carried for her father.
Following his death, she shared a lengthy Instagram tribute that gave insight into the emotional challenges between them.
“I felt a disconnect. What followed were respectful disagreements that took an emotional toll on me,” she wrote at the time. “During the last two years, I had to step away to protect my heart.”
Brooke Opens Up About Her Emotions With Her Father’s Passing
Brooke expands further on their fractured relationship in a confessional interview during Monday’s episode.
“Our family has been through a lot, but no matter what we’ve been through, I love my dad,” she says. “We started to not agree on things and I was worried for him.”
She continued by recalling one painful moment in particular.
“He said something to the extent of like, ‘Well, I guess you have to live your life and I have to live mine,’” Brooke says. “And it hurt.”
The emotion remains close to the surface.
“And I think the only reason why I’m not crying now is because I’m all cried out,” she adds.
Still, amid the grief, Brooke says stepping back into a creative space has helped her rediscover herself.
The past year, she says, has felt “like a rebirth.”
“It’s cool to be back doing TV, doing artistic stuff, doing my design stuff and actually like being the real me,” she shares.
Her “Rock the Block” partner also weighed in on the atmosphere Brooke has brought to the renovation process.
“If you need to cry, if you need to laugh, or you need to be silly, this is the house you want to be in,” McGillivray tells Pennington.
Brooke’s Chemistry with Her Partner Started Rumors
Brooke has also found herself addressing attention surrounding her chemistry with McGillivray on the show.
After viewers began speculating online that there might be something romantic between the two co-stars, Brooke quickly shut down the rumors on Instagram.
Sharing photos that included both McGillivray and her husband, Steven Oleksy, joking together, she addressed the chatter directly.
“People looooove to speculate,” she wrote. “There’s been a lot of people commenting on posts of me and Scott suggesting we have a ‘thing’ going on.”
Brooke also criticized the tone of some of the comments.
“And honestly, it’s just mean and hateful,” she added, before joking, “(But sorry we’re so funny and adorable on camera😌).”
