In 1975, at the peak of their careers, a famous musician and the legendary actress Goldie Hawn met for the first time. It was a chance encounter that changed both their lives.
They crossed paths on a first-class flight from New York to Los Angeles. Almost immediately, they clicked. The musician, already well-known in the music scene, had performed with big names like The Beach Boys, The Osmonds, and The Monkees.
He was part of The Hudson Brothers, and besides his music career, he had appeared in TV shows and movies, including the cult classic Hysterical.
Looking back on that first meeting, the musician recalled, “There was instant electricity between us. The attraction was immediate. That night, I asked her to dinner, and that was it.” Their physical connection was strong from the start, and it quickly fueled the intensity of their relationship.
“The intimacy was amazing,” he admitted, adding, “Even when the relationship started to fall apart, the connection between us was always there.” Though their relationship had its fair share of challenges, there were moments when they felt like they were moving forward.
In 1976, Goldie became pregnant with their first child, a son. The couple got married that same year. But their joy turned to fear during the delivery. Their son was born with a serious condition called meconium aspiration, where the baby inhales amniotic fluid, potentially leading to fatal complications. This happened at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
For three days, their newborn was kept in isolation. The couple was terrified. “Goldie and I were over the moon with joy,” the musician remembered, “but she was really sick, and I spent those days going back and forth between her bedside and the neonatal intensive care unit.”
The doctors weren’t sure their son would make it. “It was touch and go,” he shared. But miraculously, their son survived. “From that point on, he became our little miracle,” the musician said.
Three years later, in 1979, they welcomed a daughter, completing their family of four. The couple spent several happy years together, but their relationship hit a major roadblock in 1981. The musician discovered that Goldie had been unfaithful. Their marriage quickly unraveled. His desire for a traditional marriage clashed with Goldie’s more open views on relationships.
He revealed to the Daily Mail, “Goldie was having affairs, and pretty much on our wedding night, she told me she wanted an open marriage. She said she couldn’t imagine being faithful to just one man for the rest of her life.” He continued, “I wanted a traditional marriage, but it just wasn’t possible with Goldie. So, I moved out.”
In 1983, after their breakup, Goldie began dating actor Kurt Russell. They had first met on the set of Swing Shift, but their romantic connection didn’t spark until years later, when they worked together again while filming The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band in 1968. Their relationship took off, and in 1986, they welcomed their son, Wyatt Russell.
Blending their families proved to be a challenging adjustment. Goldie’s daughter from her previous marriage opened up about how she felt during this time: “It was such a big moment for me because my mom was madly in love with this guy, and I was meeting his son, Boston.
I remember thinking, ‘Does this mean Boston is my brother now?’” For a young child, it was a lot to handle.
After Goldie’s divorce from the musician, her children from her first marriage struggled with feelings of abandonment. Her son confided in her about how their biological father, Bill, had gradually distanced himself from their lives.
Later, in a controversial Father’s Day post honoring Kurt, he expressed his emotions, saying, “It really doesn’t matter who my biological father is. I became who I am because of the man who stepped in when I was six years old.”
Both siblings hold deep memories of Kurt stepping up as their father figure. Even though their relationship with their real father, Bill, remains strained, they are grateful for Kurt’s dedication and love.
Meanwhile, Bill felt deeply betrayed and accused Goldie of turning their children against him. He publicly shared his hurt, saying that Goldie had “poisoned” their children’s minds. Despite this, Kate and Oliver remained focused on moving forward, determined to let go of the past and keep a positive outlook on life.
In 2015, the public got a glimpse of the family drama when Oliver shared a shocking Father’s Day post on social media. He posted an old photo of himself, Kate, and Bill with the caption, “Happy abandonment day… @katehudson.”
Bill, furious, responded in an interview. “Oliver could’ve just called me, but he didn’t. Instead, he posted that on Father’s Day, knowing exactly how much it would hurt.” Bill claimed that Oliver had succeeded in pushing him out of their lives. Things got worse when Kate followed Oliver’s lead, posting her own tribute to Kurt, making her feelings clear.
During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Kate opened up about her bond with Kurt, saying, “Kurt was the father who was there when I needed him most.”
Bill, still hurt by their actions, responded angrily. “I’ve asked them to stop using the Hudson name. They’re not part of my life anymore,” he told the Daily Mail. “To me, Oliver and Kate are dead. What they did was cruel and intentional. Even though they’re alive, I grieve for the loss of my children.”
After that, Bill reportedly decided to clear his house of all their childhood belongings.
Despite the strained relationship with his older children, Kurt embraced his role as both a father and a grandfather to Kate and Oliver’s children. He remained a strong presence in their lives, providing the love and support they needed.
While Bill still harbors bitterness, Kate and Oliver have chosen to focus on the positive relationships they’ve built with their stepfather, Kurt, and are determined to move on, leaving the past behind.