Oliver Hudson Recalls Moment Kurt Russell Asked If He and Kate Wanted Him to Adopt Them — and Why They Said No

Mar. 15, 2025

Oliver Hudson, Kurt Russell and Kate Hudson.Photo:Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Eric Charbonneau/Getty; JC Olivera/Variety via GettyOliver Hudsonis sharing how he and his sisterKate Hudsonfelt whenKurt Russellexpressed an interest in adopting them.On the Sunday, Nov. 24 episode of Oliver and Kate’sSibling Revelrypodcast, Oliver, 48, hosted Miley Cyrus' motherTish Cyrus-PurcellandsisterBrandi Cyrus. As the group discussed life with adoptive parents versus biological parents, Oliver inquired how Brandi, 37, felt whenBilly Ray Cyrusadopted her during his marriage to Tish.“I only say this because my dad — he was around for a little bit, then he bailed. We have a good relationship now, but it took a long, long, long, long time, but we’re there,” Oliver said, referencing his and Kate’s biological fatherBill Hudson, whom their motherGoldie Hawnwas married to from 1976 to 1982. Goldie, 79, has been in arelationshipwith Russell, 73, since 1983.“Kurt came into my life when I was six, five or six and essentially he raised me. I’m the man I am today because of him, right?” Oliver said. “There was a moment when he asked us, myself and Kate, if we wanted to be adopted, and we said no.“Oliver Hudson, Goldie Hawn, Wyatt Russell, Kate Hudson, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith on April 14, 1990.MediaPunch/Shutterstock"Not that we were — you know, very aware of probably what it even f—— meant,” he added. “We were six and 12 or however, I don’t remember the age, but we just said, ‘Well, we don’t need it. The love is right there.’ “Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Oliver and Kate, 45, have been open in the past about theirat-times strained relationshipwith their father Bill. With Kurt, Goldie shares sonWyatt Russellas well as Kurt’s sonBoston Russell. The blended family spend a significant amount of time together, with Goldie even suggesting in recent months that they should allcostar in an ensemble comedy.Oliver Hudson and Kate Hudson.Randy Holmes / Disney via Getty"At the same time, when you don’t have your biological [parent] around, it’s hard to replace that, no matter what,” Oliver admitted during the podcast episode. “The love was there with Kurt, there’s no doubt that he is my dad. I call him Pa. But there was always — not something missing, but there’s that other side.“Just as Kurt never actually adopted Kate and Oliver, he and Goldie have never gotten married despite their decades-old romance. “For people like us, themarriage certificate wasn’t going to create anything that otherwise we wouldn’t have,” Russell told PEOPLE during a joint interview with Goldie back in 2020. “I don’t know. 40 years isn’t enough to finally say, ‘Well I guess…’ "

Oliver Hudson, Kurt Russell and Kate Hudson.Photo:Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Eric Charbonneau/Getty; JC Olivera/Variety via Getty

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Eric Charbonneau/Getty; JC Olivera/Variety via Getty

Oliver Hudsonis sharing how he and his sisterKate Hudsonfelt whenKurt Russellexpressed an interest in adopting them.On the Sunday, Nov. 24 episode of Oliver and Kate’sSibling Revelrypodcast, Oliver, 48, hosted Miley Cyrus' motherTish Cyrus-PurcellandsisterBrandi Cyrus. As the group discussed life with adoptive parents versus biological parents, Oliver inquired how Brandi, 37, felt whenBilly Ray Cyrusadopted her during his marriage to Tish.“I only say this because my dad — he was around for a little bit, then he bailed. We have a good relationship now, but it took a long, long, long, long time, but we’re there,” Oliver said, referencing his and Kate’s biological fatherBill Hudson, whom their motherGoldie Hawnwas married to from 1976 to 1982. Goldie, 79, has been in arelationshipwith Russell, 73, since 1983.“Kurt came into my life when I was six, five or six and essentially he raised me. I’m the man I am today because of him, right?” Oliver said. “There was a moment when he asked us, myself and Kate, if we wanted to be adopted, and we said no.“Oliver Hudson, Goldie Hawn, Wyatt Russell, Kate Hudson, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith on April 14, 1990.MediaPunch/Shutterstock"Not that we were — you know, very aware of probably what it even f—— meant,” he added. “We were six and 12 or however, I don’t remember the age, but we just said, ‘Well, we don’t need it. The love is right there.’ “Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Oliver and Kate, 45, have been open in the past about theirat-times strained relationshipwith their father Bill. With Kurt, Goldie shares sonWyatt Russellas well as Kurt’s sonBoston Russell. The blended family spend a significant amount of time together, with Goldie even suggesting in recent months that they should allcostar in an ensemble comedy.Oliver Hudson and Kate Hudson.Randy Holmes / Disney via Getty"At the same time, when you don’t have your biological [parent] around, it’s hard to replace that, no matter what,” Oliver admitted during the podcast episode. “The love was there with Kurt, there’s no doubt that he is my dad. I call him Pa. But there was always — not something missing, but there’s that other side.“Just as Kurt never actually adopted Kate and Oliver, he and Goldie have never gotten married despite their decades-old romance. “For people like us, themarriage certificate wasn’t going to create anything that otherwise we wouldn’t have,” Russell told PEOPLE during a joint interview with Goldie back in 2020. “I don’t know. 40 years isn’t enough to finally say, ‘Well I guess…’ "

Oliver Hudsonis sharing how he and his sisterKate Hudsonfelt whenKurt Russellexpressed an interest in adopting them.

On the Sunday, Nov. 24 episode of Oliver and Kate’sSibling Revelrypodcast, Oliver, 48, hosted Miley Cyrus' motherTish Cyrus-PurcellandsisterBrandi Cyrus. As the group discussed life with adoptive parents versus biological parents, Oliver inquired how Brandi, 37, felt whenBilly Ray Cyrusadopted her during his marriage to Tish.

“I only say this because my dad — he was around for a little bit, then he bailed. We have a good relationship now, but it took a long, long, long, long time, but we’re there,” Oliver said, referencing his and Kate’s biological fatherBill Hudson, whom their motherGoldie Hawnwas married to from 1976 to 1982. Goldie, 79, has been in arelationshipwith Russell, 73, since 1983.

“Kurt came into my life when I was six, five or six and essentially he raised me. I’m the man I am today because of him, right?” Oliver said. “There was a moment when he asked us, myself and Kate, if we wanted to be adopted, and we said no.”

Oliver Hudson, Goldie Hawn, Wyatt Russell, Kate Hudson, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith on April 14, 1990.MediaPunch/Shutterstock

MediaPunch/Shutterstock

“Not that we were — you know, very aware of probably what it even f—— meant,” he added. “We were six and 12 or however, I don’t remember the age, but we just said, ‘Well, we don’t need it. The love is right there.’ "

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Oliver and Kate, 45, have been open in the past about theirat-times strained relationshipwith their father Bill. With Kurt, Goldie shares sonWyatt Russellas well as Kurt’s sonBoston Russell. The blended family spend a significant amount of time together, with Goldie even suggesting in recent months that they should allcostar in an ensemble comedy.

Oliver Hudson and Kate Hudson.Randy Holmes / Disney via Getty

Randy Holmes / Disney via Getty

“At the same time, when you don’t have your biological [parent] around, it’s hard to replace that, no matter what,” Oliver admitted during the podcast episode. “The love was there with Kurt, there’s no doubt that he is my dad. I call him Pa. But there was always — not something missing, but there’s that other side.”

Just as Kurt never actually adopted Kate and Oliver, he and Goldie have never gotten married despite their decades-old romance. “For people like us, themarriage certificate wasn’t going to create anything that otherwise we wouldn’t have,” Russell told PEOPLE during a joint interview with Goldie back in 2020. “I don’t know. 40 years isn’t enough to finally say, ‘Well I guess…’ "

source: people.com