Kate Hudson is opening up about growing up in Hollywood—and why she’s grateful she didn’t carry her famous mother’s last name. Despite being the daughter of Oscar-winning actress Goldie Hawn and musician Bill Hudson, Kate says her childhood was far from the entitled lifestyle many might assume.
In a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Hudson pushed back against the idea that she had everything handed to her. While she acknowledged that her family was “undeniably privileged,” she emphasized that her parents made it clear that the success and lifestyle around them weren’t automatically hers. “None of it belonged to us,” she explained, noting that she and her brother Oliver were taught they would have to earn their own way.
Hudson was primarily raised by Hawn and longtime partner Kurt Russell, whom she has often described as her true father figure. According to Hudson, both Hawn and Russell instilled a strong work ethic and self-reliance in their children. Watching other kids in Los Angeles grow up with fewer boundaries only reinforced how different her upbringing felt. She says her parents were firm about making sure she understood the value of hard work.
Reflecting on not using “Hawn” as her surname, Hudson has said she was “so happy” to build her identity independently. For her, carving out a career without leaning on her mother’s name was empowering—and proof that while she may have grown up around fame, she never expected it to guarantee her success.
