Let’s Talk About the Unsung Pop Genius of Brooke Hogan and Why She’s Having a TikTok Renaissance

Brooke Hogan got her moment in the mid-2000s—and then the discourse moved on. But the latest episode of Absolutely Not makes a compelling case for revisiting that era and hearing the music with fresh ears. Host Heather McMahan sets the tone with a fangirl confession that lands like a rallying cry: “I’m obsessed with Brooke Hogan.”

That nostalgia isn’t random. McMahan points to a genuine re-listen happening online (mostly because her father, Hulk Hogan, passed away recently) and notes that “her single has been going viral again on TikTok.” The appetite is still there, and the hooks are still effective, which is why the conversation now feels overdue rather than outdated.

The industry never entirely gave Hogan breathing room to be seen beyond the spectacle of her famous last name. The family’s reality‑TV spotlight helped launch her career, but it also overshadowed the actual music. But now, in the wake of her father’s death, it’s time to give this unsung pop princess her due.

Why Brooke Hogan’s pop era deserves another listen

McMahan goes straight to the receipts with those undeniable bops. She beams about the Paul Wall link-up and laughs that “Brooke Hogan having a hot single with Paul Wall, Houston’s number one rapper,” was a moment. She leans directly into the chorus that still lives rent-free, saying, “They don’t know anything about us. They don’t know, baby. They don’t know. Such a good song.”

But McMahan’s admiration extends beyond the tracks. McMahan heaps real respect for how Hogan handled the career comedown and grind. She shares that “she was working at a restaurant. I saw an interview with her where she was like, I’m working,” then paints the picture of humility and hustle with “bouncing on peanuts and saying, would you like more yeast rolls? Want some honey butter? Fantastic.”

How reality TV shaped the rollout

Hogan’s first push as a pop singer happened in the heart of the VH1 reality TV monoculture, back when Hogan Knows Best was a hit for the former Video Hits 1. McMahan calls it “a good time in history” and reminisces that it was when the network had “the best programming on the planet.” She connects the dots between TV and pop dreams with the reminder that the family “moved to Miami specifically for her thriving pop princess career,” before acknowledging that “things went awry after the show.”

The machine that made Hogan a household name also made it easier to write her off as just another famous daughter—a “nepo baby” before the term was a thing. The reality TV glare that should have helped her music career may have actually hindered it by making the songs feel like a side quest rather than the main event.

Heather McMahan’s case for a Brooke Hogan renaissance

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McMahan’s affection for Hogan is consistent, loud, and rooted in the songs and the person behind them. She doubles down on the appeal with “literally drop dead gorgeous” and circles back to the pop that still hits by repeating “such a good song.” She also extends a hand for the next chapter, telling Hogan, “If you hear this, please reach out. Let’s do a single together,” and then opening the door even wider with “I would just love to interview you. You know, when the time is right.”

There’s tenderness here, too. McMahan adds, “I’m thinking of you, Brooke,” during this difficult time of navigating her father’s passing and her admittedly complicated relationship with him, and pushes the audience to match that energy with “I just really wanna push Brooke Hogan good energy into the world.” The message is simple: The talent is there, and the timing is right.

The verdict from Absolutely Not is clear. The songs still resonate, the charisma still shines through, and the culture seems ready to listen without the distractions. For anyone who dismissed the career because of the last name, consider this your reminder to hit play. And if the DJ does their job on your next night out, “Tastes Like Summer” is the correct request.

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