Brooke Hogan, 38, recently returned to music following the death of her father, WWE legend Hulk Hogan. However, some listeners aren’t feeling her new vibe or sound. In fact, after promoting her new single, “Try Again,” a cover of the late singer Aaliyah’s original track, some netizens flooded her social media accounts with critical comments. According to a handful of online users, Aaliyah’s music shouldn’t be remade, especially by Brooke.
Speaking directly to her Instagram followers, Brooke said that she was eager to return to the studio and put out music after the release of her 2006 and 2009 albums, “Undiscovered” and “The Redemption.”
According to Brooke, she chose to cover Aaliyah’s 2000 single, “Try Again,” which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, because she felt the lyrics accurately reflected her life.
“Obviously, I have talked about this whole debacle with ‘Try Again,’ right?” Brooke said in her video. “It’s like, literally, ‘Dust Brooke off and have her try music again’ is the theme. So we did.”
Brooke said that the producers she worked with on her latest project encouraged her to bring back an old-school sound, so she decided to experiment with different covers.
“I love Aaliyah. I love ‘Try Again.’ This makes sense with my whole vibe, what I’m going through,” she said. “I love her.”
Brooke Hogan Said She Faced Much Backlash After Revealing She Was Dropping An Aaliyah Cover
Brooke released her version of the single on May 15; however, she teased the R&B track days in advance.
In the comments of one post, a user said, “Brooke, please read the room. We’re going through a lot right now already, we don’t need this, okay?” Another said, “As much as I like Brooke and her music, Aaliyah’s music should never be redone. There is no need to remake a classic. Mad fan of both ladies.”
In her video responding to the criticism, Brooke implied that she was surprised by the reaction, saying, “You’d think I was, like, dropping the American flag on the ground.”
According to Brooke, some people told her that her latest move wasn’t “cool,” while others allegedly told her she was “trying to be Black.”
Brooke explained that while she’s aware she isn’t Black, she still has admiration and respect for “Black culture.” She added, “Doesn’t mean I can’t be an Aaliyah fan. It doesn’t mean I can’t do a cover.”
Brooke Hogan Said She’s Been ‘Tormented’ For Liking Black Culture For 15 Years
Continuing, Brooke, who appeared on the reality series “Hogan Knows Best” from 2005 to 2007, maintained that she’s not engaging in cultural appropriation with her new song.
“No, I’m not doing that,” she said before defending her right to perform the songs she likes most. “But you can’t be mad at a girl if she likes Black culture.”
Brooke didn’t stop there, though. She said she’s spent “the last 15 years being tormented” over her appreciation of Black culture. “… but you know — can’t help it. Love what I love. Like what I like. I was raised on hip hop, funk, you name it. Some people are raised on country music. I was not,” she said.
Brooke’s Dad Expressed Disappointment With Her For Being With A Black Man In 2015
According to a previous report from The Blast, Brooke’s dad, Hulk, was the subject of intense backlash in 2015 when an audio clip of him using the N-word to describe Brooke’s then-boyfriend was shared online.
At the time, Hulk said, “I guess we’re all a little racist” before saying if his daughter were to marry a “n—er,” he’d “rather her marry an 8-foot-tall n—er worth a hundred million dollars.”
Hulk later apologized for his actions, saying he was a product of his environment before mentioning his upbringing in South Tampa, Florida.
In a 2026 Netflix documentary (filmed before his death), Hulk expressed regret over his words, saying he “didn’t man up” at the time.
“I’m a person who got very mad over a personal situation. I used a word. Yeah, I regret it, because even under that heavy, crazy fire, I should have remained still and kept my mouth shut,” he said, per PEOPLE. “But what I said resonates and has an echo effect. It keeps vibrating for years.”
Hulk Died At 71
In July 2025, reports surfaced that Hulk had died after suffering a heart attack. He was 71.
Before his death, Hulk reportedly attempted to fix his strained relationship with those closest to him, including his daughter. However, a source said they were unable to put their differences aside, according to The Blast.
“The last few months of Hogan’s life had a lot more ups than downs,” the insider said. “There was a little strain with his daughter and their relationship that had taken quite the emotional toll, but he always thought he would eventually be able to rectify that.”
