Brooke Hogan Returns to Music, Defends Aaliyah Cover Against Appropriation Criticism

After 15 years away from the recording studio, Brooke Hogan is making her comeback—and she’s not about to let the internet police her musical choices. The 38-year-old marked her return to music on Friday, May 15 by releasing a cover of Aaliyah’s 2000 hit“Try Again,”a decision that immediately drew accusations of cultural appropriation from social media critics. Rather than let the backlash fester, Hogan went straight to Instagram to set the record clear.

The cover came as part of a deliberate nostalgia play. Music producers and executives, according to Hogan, specifically wanted“old school Brookie”and requested covers to accompany her new single“Wanna Go Back,”a deeply personal tribute to her late father, Hulk Hogan, who died in July 2025 at the age of 71 after suffering cardiac arrest. The timing of her return is significant—she’s navigating grief while reclaiming her place in an industry she largely stepped away from.

In her video response, Hogan acknowledged the elephant in the room head-on.“I know I’m not Black,”she said directly, before unpacking the broader conversation around appreciation versus appropriation. Her argument was straightforward: liking Black culture, being an Aaliyah fan, and covering one of her songs doesn’t constitute theft of identity. She pushed back on the idea that only Black artists deserve to celebrate Black artistry, positioning her lifelong love of hip hop and funk as simply part of who she is.“I was raised on hip hop, funk, you name it,”she explained.“Some people are raised on country music. I was not.”

What emerged from Hogan’s defense wasn’t just a plea for artistic freedom—it was a reflection on something deeper. She recounted receiving racist comments after posting a photo with a Black producer she’d worked with years earlier, using it as evidence that racism remains very much alive. For her, the backlash over the cover connected to a larger pattern of scrutiny and judgment she’s endured for openly embracing Black music and culture throughout her life.“I’ve never seen color and I’ve always liked Black music,”she said, acknowledging that her choices have drawn consistent criticism over the years.

The cover itself carries symbolic weight beyond the song.“Try Again”becomes a fitting metaphor for Hogan’s entire comeback narrative—dusting off an old career, returning to something she loves, and trying once more. Whether audiences embrace her return or continue the cultural conversation she’s sparked, one thing is clear: Brooke Hogan isn’t apologizing for the music that shaped her, and she’s ready to stake her claim in an industry that moved on without her.