In 1975, a well-known musician met renowned actress Goldie Hawn at the height of their respective careers.
The two met while flying from New York to Los Angeles in first class, and their bond was instant.
The musician, a member of The Hudson Brothers, was already a well-known personality in the music industry, having performed with The Beach Boys, The Osmonds, and The Monkees. In addition to his singing career, he has starred in films and television series, including the cult classic Hysterical.
The musician recalled their initial meeting and characterized the spark as unmistakable. “The attraction was instantaneous. “I invited her out to dinner that night, and that was it,” he explained. Their relationship swiftly progressed, with their physical connection playing a significant role.
“The intimacy was mind-blowing.” Even when everything else in the relationship deteriorated, the [intimacy] was always incredible,” he told the Daily Mail. Though their relationship had its ups and downs, there were times when it appeared they were making progress.
The couple married in 1976, while Goldie was pregnant with their first son. However, their son’s delivery was not without challenges. Born at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, he was diagnosed with meconium aspiration, a potentially fatal illness in which a baby inhales meconium-contaminated amniotic fluid.
Following their breakup, Goldie began dating actor Kurt Russell in 1983. They first met in 1968 while filming The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, but it wasn’t until their reconnection on the set of Swing Shift that their personal relationship took off. Their son, Wyatt Russell, was born in 1986, three years into their relationship.
Blending their families proved to be a big transition. Goldie’s daughter recalled: “For me, it felt like such a big moment because it was like, ‘My mother is madly in love with this guy.’” She continued: “And I was meeting his son [Boston], which meant, ‘Does this mean that this is my brother?’” It was a lot to take on at such a young age.
Oliver’s difficult connection with Bill became public in 2015 after he posted a contentious Father’s Day message on social media. He posted a flashback photo of himself, Kate, and Bill with the caption: “Happy abandonment day… @katehudson.”
Bill, enraged by the article, stated his displeasure in an interview, stating, “Oliver could have picked up the phone and contacted me, but he didn’t. This was definitely calculated; he picked the photos and posted it on Father’s Day knowing it would inflict the most anguish.”
Bill went on to say that if Oliver intended to shut him out of their life, he was successful. The backlash intensified when Kate followed Oliver’s lead and tweeted her own homage to Kurt, adding to the tension.
Kate spoke on Howard Stern’s show, discussing how Kurt was the parent who was present at difficult and trying times. In reaction, Bill told the Daily Mail, “I would ask them to stop using the Hudson name [because] they are no longer a part of my life.”
He said, “Oliver’s Instagram post was a wicked, violent, calculated attack; he is dead to me now, as is Kate. I lament their loss even if they are still alive.” Bill then chose to take all Kate and Oliver’s childhood keepsakes from his house, according to the Daily Mail.
Despite the disconnect between Bill and his elder children, Kurt has accepted his role as grandfather to Kate and Oliver’s children.
While Bill still harbors bitterness, Kate and Oliver have moved on, focusing on the familial relationships they’ve formed with their stepfather, Kurt.