By Josie Goldberg
Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 08/06/2025
When I found out that Hulk Hogan (American professional wrestler and media personality) passed away on July 24, 2025, Déjà vu arrived immediately and the first thing I thought of was his first wife Linda Hogan, who befriended me in a such an amazing way before my career ever arrived.
I remember I shot my first reality show in 2007 on the CW “Farmer Wants a Wife” and I was at an industry event at the W Hotel in Westwood. I remember meeting Linda and approaching her by telling her how I am such a fan of her hit show “Hogan Knows Best” on VH1. She immediately embraced me and we became friends. Not only was she stunningly beautiful on the outside, but she radiated such EMPRESS energy that I knew she was the woman who made “The HULKSTER”. I was so excited to be her friend.
None of my shows had aired yet, nor my Playboy pictorial and the way she embraced me was really special for me. She was someone that I looked up to and adored.
She was at the peak of her fame, and she was gracious with everyone that I learned really what true “American Values Are”.
At the time she was with her boyfriend Charlie Hill, a friend of her son Nick. Linda Hogan was 48 and Charlie was 19. He was a very nice guy I must say, and cutie with his big blue eyes and long blond hair. Linda invited me to many A-list events, introduced me to her manager and Publicist Terry, who was the brother-in-law to Heather Locklear (American actress who received four Golden Globes nominations for best Actress for her role in Melrose Place) and her Talent manager as well. Linda exposed me to all the right people, but I really had no idea really what show business was about. I was having the best time and meeting all the A listers and powerful people in Hollywood or so I thought.
What really impressed me was when Linda invited me to her mother and fathers 50th wedding anniversary celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village in California. Her parents looked like “The Golden Age of Hollywood Glamour”, and they really were ingratiating people.
I also met her son Nick who recently got out of jail for the horrific accident that left his best friend John Graziano with severe brain damage. Nick was very remorseful and a nice young man. Very respectful to his mom’s friends. Okay now to the good stuff. Charlie Hill…(her younger boyfriend) who was not at this event, but we went to some events together and had some real fun. He was a man’s man. Very mature and Linda and Charlie had something real minus their 29-year age gap. I remember asking Linda why she is contemplating leaving “The Hulkster” and she said she can’t deal with his lying and cheating. I asked her what about losing the money, lifestyle and fame. She said she was his partner in business and she will be fine. I did not ask any more questions but I knew in my gut that she should never leave “The Hulkster” as she might regret it in the future. Was I right?
I remember one day she took me with her to her manager’s house in West Hills, Ca. Terri’s house. A property someone successful would have that is a prominent A-list manager. He started asking me about my reality show that is about to air. I was vague as I did not want Linda to think I was trying to push my career forward and try to use her connections. I really liked just being her friend. She was so much fun! I told Linda that her manger Terri was really asking me about my career and what I was up to, just to be transparent. She said that he is a womanizer like most men and maybe he just is just flirting. I never thought of it until Linda called me and blindsided me and asked me why I sold her out to the press, and that our friendship was over. She said, “How could you betray me Josie, after I was so good to you”?
She sent me our pictures from some events that made it to “THE DIRTY” and said in a voice that still haunts me, how could you do this to me? The front cover was Linda Hogan, Charlie Hill and Me. The Dirty.COM was a popular gossip website known for allowing user to post photos, rumors, and or anecdotes about celebrities. I told her that is was not me as I don’t know how to submit or ever heard of this website. I did my due diligence and put two and two together and it was Linda’s Manager Terri, who went on my Facebook/ Myspace and downloaded the pictures and sent them to “The Dirty”. When I told her this she said she doesn’t believe me. She then said I don’t like you trying to get with my Charlie also. This manager Terri really turned her against me. I never understood why. Then when I got my own career going and had some experience I finally understood. I ended up following her career, and she ended up getting screwed by this is manager (Terri) and even Charlie Hill who ended up suing her for 1.5 million for mistreating him.
The one thing about me is I am a true “Virgo” and I am a very loyal person to my friends. I also don’t need to use people, manipulate, lie, steal or cheat to get ahead. Its taking me time, but I making my OWN MARK in Hollywood the Old fashion way, hard work and patience.
I must say I was very sad that our friendship ended with Linda Hogan this way. I was even more sad when I saw her videos and comments to various press outlets that “The Hulkster” was the only man for her and she never got over him or started a real relationship with any other man. She got taken advantage of by not only the HULKSTER but also her A-list manager /publicist Terri. I was a treat to her inner circle because these powerful men saw that “Only Josie Knows” can bring the darkness to lightness and when I am a friend, I am their through thick and thin.
I am not upset with Linda, she will always be a friend to me and I will never forget what she did for me. She took me shopping, embraced me like Family and exposed me to her A-list crowd when she was at the peak of her career. I had no name, no connections and it was amazing to be in her energy. I am expressing my condolences to her & family in the tragic passing of Hulk Hogan aka “THE HULKSTER” She is GOOD AMERICAN PEOPLE!
