Two legends gone in one week.
Earlier this week, we got the heartbreaking news that the rock and roll legend Ozzy Osbourne passed away at the age of 76. While the world is mourning his loss, we have lost another great public figure.
Today, it was announced that WWE legend Hulk Hogan passed at the age of 71.
TMZ reported that medics were dispatched to the icon’s home in Clearwater, Florida, early Thursday morning. Operators stated they were called regarding a “cardiac arrest.” At the time of writing, his family hasn’t released a statement regarding his passing.
Rest in peace.
Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, rose to fame in the 1980s with his All-American “Hulkamania” persona and played a significant role in transforming WWE into the powerhouse scripted wrestling matches it’s known for today. And speaking of the ’80s, Hogan made an appearance while he was in his prime on Dolly Parton’s variety show.
Those are two things that don’t seem like they belong in the same sentence, eh?
In a recap episode of her variety show, they revisited one of the first episodes, where Dolly wrote a song called “He’s Got A Headlock On My Heart.” For the skit, she was appropriately a fan girl of the ever-popular WWE wrestler Hulk Hogan.
“I’m going to do something now that we have had so many requests for. On my very first show, I did a video with Hulk Hogan, and it was for a song I wrote called ‘He’s Got A Headlock On My Heart.’
And I wrote that because in one of those gossip magazines, you know, where they tell everything that ain’t true… Well, they predicted I would fall in love with a 300-pound wrestler and make a video and all of that.
I thought it was great, and the people wanted to see it again. We’ve gotten so many calls.
Every day I get calls about showing this video…most of them are from Hulk. But what the heck, I want to see it again, too. So I hope you folks enjoy it again! ‘He’s Got A Headlock On My Heart,’ the story of Starlight Starbright!”
The video and song hilariously follows a young Dolly Parton as a fangirl of Hulk Hogan’s wrestling character, Starlight Starbright. The wrestler notices her from the ring and whisks her off her feet (literally), and they fall in love.
The ceremony takes place, you guessed it, in the ring.
“I guess you could say he has pinned me down for a lifetime.”
Parton says to the camera at the end of the skit.
The video is lighthearted, fun, and captures Dolly Parton’s genius humor. I bet the Fu Manchu mustache stole her heart… Man, the ’80s were wild. Hulk Hogan and Dolly Parton are a duo that will never be forgotten.
Rest in peace, Hulk Hogan.
