In 1975, at the height of their fame, a renowned musician and the legendary actress Goldie Hawn met for the first time.
It all happened on a first-class flight from New York to Los Angeles, where fate brought them together. They connected instantly. The musician, who was already famous in the music world, had shared the stage with huge bands like The Beach Boys, The Osmonds, and The Monkees.
He was a member of The Hudson Brothers and had appeared in TV shows and films, including the cult favorite Hysterical.
Reflecting on that first encounter, the musician said, “There was instant electricity. The attraction was undeniable. That night, I asked her to dinner, and that was it.” Their physical connection was strong, and it played a huge role in the quick growth of their relationship.
“The intimacy was always fantastic,” he recalled, adding, “Even when everything else in the relationship was going wrong, the connection we had was still there.” Their relationship had its share of ups and downs, but there were moments when it seemed like they were moving forward.
In 1976, while Goldie was pregnant with their first child, a son, the couple got married. But their happiness was soon overshadowed by a crisis. During the birth of their son, he was diagnosed with a dangerous condition called meconium aspiration, where the baby inhales contaminated amniotic fluid. This happened at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
For three days, their newborn was kept in isolation, and the couple was filled with fear and anxiety. “Goldie and I were ecstatic, but it was terrifying,” the musician remembered. “Goldie was really sick, and I kept going from her bedside to the neonatal intensive care unit.”
The doctors weren’t sure if their son would make it. But miraculously, he pulled through. “From that moment, he became our little miracle,” the musician said.
Three years later, in 1979, the couple welcomed a daughter. They enjoyed many happy years as a family of four. However, in 1981, everything came crashing down. The musician found out that Goldie had been unfaithful. Their marriage, which was already strained, ended abruptly.
He had always wanted a traditional marriage, but Goldie had different beliefs about commitment.
“Goldie was having affairs,” he revealed to the Daily Mail. “Pretty much on our wedding night, she told me she wanted an open marriage, that she couldn’t imagine being faithful to just one man for the rest of her life.” He added, “I wanted a traditional marriage, but it wasn’t going to work with Goldie. So, I eventually moved out.”
After their breakup, Goldie began dating actor Kurt Russell in 1983. They had first met while filming Swing Shift, but sparks didn’t fly until they reunited while shooting The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band back in 1968. Their relationship blossomed, and in 1986, they welcomed their son, Wyatt Russell.
Blending their two families proved to be a big challenge. Goldie’s daughter from her previous marriage shared her feelings about it: “For me, it was such a big moment 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?’” It was a lot for her to process at such a young age.
Meanwhile, after Goldie’s divorce, her children from her first marriage struggled with feelings of abandonment. Her son confided in her about how their biological father, Bill, had slowly distanced himself from them.
Later, in a controversial Father’s Day post honoring Kurt, he expressed his feelings, saying, “It really doesn’t matter which one of these men is my father. I became who I am because of the man who stepped in when I was six years old.”
Both siblings cherished the memories of Kurt stepping up as their father figure. Despite their strained relationship with their real father, Bill, they were always grateful for Kurt’s dedication.
Bill, however, felt deeply betrayed. He accused Goldie of turning their children against him, saying she had “poisoned” their minds. Despite the tension, Kate and Oliver were determined to leave the past behind and focus on the positive, moving forward with their lives.
In 2015, the public got a glimpse into their troubled relationship when Oliver shared a shocking Father’s Day message on social media. He posted an old picture of himself, Kate, and Bill with the caption, “Happy abandonment day… @katehudson.”
Bill, furious about the post, responded in an interview. “Oliver could’ve picked up the phone and called me. But he didn’t. Instead, he posted that picture on Father’s Day, knowing exactly how much it would hurt.” Bill also claimed that Oliver had succeeded in cutting him out of their lives completely.
Things only got worse when Kate shared her own tribute to Kurt, making it clear where her loyalties lay.
On The Howard Stern Show, Kate spoke about how Kurt had always been there for her during tough times, saying, “Kurt was the father who was there when I needed him most.”
Bill, hurt by their actions, responded angrily, telling the Daily Mail, “I’ve asked them to stop using the Hudson name. They’re no longer part of my life.” He added, “I consider Oliver and Kate dead to me. Their Instagram posts were cruel and intentional. Even though they’re alive, I grieve for the children I lost.”
Afterward, Bill reportedly cleared his house of all Kate and Oliver’s childhood belongings.
Despite the distance between him and his older children, Kurt embraced his role as a father and grandfather to Kate and Oliver’s children. He remained a pillar of support for them, even though their relationship with Bill was beyond repair.
Bill continues to hold onto his resentment, but Kate and Oliver have chosen to focus on the love and support they’ve received from Kurt, moving forward with their lives and leaving the past behind.