Many people first hear about Charlotte Hopkins because she was married to former NFL star Terry Bradshaw. While that is part of her story, there is much more to know about her. She has built a successful career as a family law attorney and has earned respect for her work over many years.
Charlotte Hopkins has also balanced family life with a busy legal career. She is the mother of two well-known daughters, has received many professional awards, and has continued to build her life after her divorce. Her story is about much more than a famous marriage.
In this article, you’ll learn about Charlotte Hopkins’ early life, education, legal career, marriage to Terry Bradshaw, children, family life, professional success, and what she is doing today. Let’s start from the beginning.
Charlotte Hopkins’ Profile Summary
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Charlotte Hopkins |
| Nickname | Charla |
| Date of Birth | April 17, 1962 |
| Age (2026) | 64 years old |
| Birthplace | Denton, Texas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Family Law Attorney, Author |
| Education | Texas Woman’s University; Southern Methodist University (Law Degree) |
| Famous For | Being Terry Bradshaw’s ex-wife and a respected family law attorney |
| Ex-Husband | Terry Bradshaw (m. early 1980s–div. 1999) |
| Current Husband | Rick Hagen (m. July 29, 2012) |
| Children | Rachel Bradshaw, Erin Bradshaw (Some reports also mention Lacey Hester from an earlier relationship.) |
| Known For | Family law career, legal awards, Board Certification in Family Law, and co-authoring. |
Who Is Charlotte Hopkins?
Charlotte Hopkins, sometimes called “Charla,” is an American family law attorney from Texas. She has spent many years helping families with legal matters such as divorce, child custody, and other family-related cases. Her work has earned her respect throughout the legal community.
Although she is widely known as Terry Bradshaw’s former wife, Charlotte Hopkins made a name for herself through her own hard work. She became successful long before many people started searching for her online because of her famous marriage.
Over the years, Charlotte has received several honors for her work as a lawyer. She has also written about family law and helped people better understand difficult legal issues. These achievements show that her career stands on its own.
Today, many readers want to know more about Charlotte Hopkins because of her interesting personal life and impressive legal background. Her story combines family, career, and personal strength in a way that continues to interest people.
Charlotte Hopkins’ Early Life and Education
Charlotte Hopkins was born on April 17, 1962. She grew up in Denton, Texas, where she spent most of her early years. Her father, Charles Hopkins, served as a member of the Denton City Council and was active in the local community.
Growing up in a family that valued education and public service helped shape Charlotte’s future. From a young age, she showed an interest in learning and worked hard in school. Those early lessons later helped her succeed in law.
She attended Denton High School before continuing her education at Texas Woman’s University. There, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Studies and graduated summa cum laude, an honor given to students with outstanding academic results.
After finishing her undergraduate studies, Charlotte attended Southern Methodist University, where she earned her law degree. Her strong education gave her the skills she needed to begin a successful legal career that would last for decades.
Charlotte Hopkins’ Career as a Family Lawyer
After completing law school, Charlotte Hopkins focused her career on family law. This area of law deals with divorce, child custody, property division, adoption, and other legal matters involving families. Helping people through difficult times became the center of her professional life.
Charlotte later worked with KoonsFuller Family Law, one of Texas’s well-known family law firms. Throughout her career, she handled many family cases and earned a reputation for treating clients with care and professionalism.
She also became active in several respected legal organizations. These include the Denton County Bar Association, the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas, and the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Being involved in these groups allowed her to stay connected with other experienced attorneys.
One of Charlotte’s biggest achievements was becoming Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. This certification is given to lawyers who meet high standards of knowledge and experience in their field.
Charlotte Hopkins also shared her knowledge by co-authoring the book “Who Gets the Family Pet in a Divorce?” The book discusses one of the emotional questions that many families face during divorce. Her work as both a lawyer and author helped strengthen her reputation.
Besides practicing law, Charlotte has appeared in publications such as Lantana Living magazine. Through her writing, speaking, and legal work, she has continued to educate people about family law while building a respected career.
Charlotte Hopkins’ Awards and Professional Success
Charlotte Hopkins has received many honors during her legal career. These awards recognize her years of experience, professional skill, and commitment to helping families. They also show that her success comes from hard work rather than public attention.
She has been recognized by Texas Super Lawyers, one of the best-known legal rating programs in the United States. She has also received recognition from Elite Lawyer and D Magazine, both of which highlight respected attorneys in their communities.
Her achievements include being named among the Best Women Lawyers in Dallas and receiving honors from Living Magazine as one of the area’s top attorneys. She has also been recognized in the Best of Denton County awards for her legal work.
Another important achievement came when she received recognition for writing one of the Best CLE Articles for the State Bar of Texas in the area of family law. This showed not only her courtroom experience but also her ability to teach other legal professionals.
Together, these awards show why Charlotte Hopkins has built a strong reputation in Texas. Even without her connection to Terry Bradshaw, her legal career alone has earned her lasting respect.
Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw’s Love Story
Charlotte Hopkins met Terry Bradshaw when she was only 19 years old. Terry later shared that he believed she was 22 when they first met. Despite the age difference, the two quickly became close and started dating.
Their relationship was not always easy. Terry later admitted that they dated for about four years and broke up more than once before finally deciding to marry. He said he sometimes questioned whether Charlotte truly loved him, but later realized their relationship was genuine.
The couple married in the early 1980s and began building a family together. During their marriage, Terry was already one of football’s biggest names, while Charlotte continued building her own legal career. Together they welcomed two daughters, Rachel and Erin.
Life in the public eye brought both happy moments and challenges. Even with Terry’s successful football career and later television work, Charlotte mostly stayed focused on her family and professional life instead of seeking fame herself.
Their marriage lasted for nearly two decades before coming to an end in 1999. Although their relationship eventually ended, it remained one of the longest marriages in Terry Bradshaw’s life and played an important role in both of their personal stories.
Why Did Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw Divorce?
After being together for nearly two decades, Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw ended their marriage in 1999. Like many well-known couples, they chose to keep many details of their separation private. Because of that, the exact reasons for the divorce have never been fully shared with the public.
Terry Bradshaw later spoke openly about how difficult the divorce was for him. He explained that this breakup affected him more deeply than his previous divorces. He said he struggled with sadness, anxiety, weight loss, and trouble sleeping during that period of his life.
He also shared that he experienced depression after the marriage ended. Terry has often encouraged people to take mental health seriously, saying depression is a real illness that deserves proper care. His honesty helped many fans better understand what he went through.
While Terry spoke publicly about his experience, Charlotte Hopkins chose a different path. She stayed private and focused on her family and legal career. Over time, both moved forward with their lives and found happiness again.
Charlotte Hopkins’ Children and Family Life
Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw have two daughters, Rachel Bradshaw and Erin Bradshaw. Both daughters have built successful lives while remaining close to their family. Charlotte has always supported them while keeping much of her own private life away from public attention.
Rachel Bradshaw was born in 1987. She graduated from Belmont University in Nashville and followed her love for music. Rachel has worked as a singer, songwriter, and television personality. She also appeared on a reality show that followed young singers trying to build music careers in Nashville.
Rachel married former Tennessee Titans player Rob Bironas in 2014. Sadly, only a few months later, Rob died in a car accident. The heartbreaking loss became one of the most difficult moments in Rachel’s life, and Charlotte stood by her daughter during that painful time.
Their younger daughter, Erin Bradshaw, was born in 1992. She graduated with honors from the University of North Texas. Erin has loved horses since she was young and became a successful horse trainer and rider.
Erin married Scott Weiss, who owns Scott Weiss Horses, a business that trains champion horses. Together they continue working with horses while sharing parts of their family life on television and social media.
Some reports also mention that Charlotte has another daughter named Lacey Hester from an earlier relationship with attorney David Luttrull. Lacey later married private chef Noah Fox Hester. Although she is not Terry Bradshaw’s daughter, she has reportedly remained close to the family.
Charlotte Hopkins’ Life After Divorce
Following her divorce, Charlotte Hopkins continued focusing on her legal career and raising her family. Rather than seeking public attention, she returned to the quieter life she always preferred. Her work as a family lawyer remained her top priority.
Charlotte later found love again. On July 29, 2012, she married Rick Hagen, a respected criminal defense attorney in Texas. Their marriage marked a new chapter in her life after many years.
Rick Hagen has built an impressive legal career of his own. He became licensed to practice law in 1990 and serves as a senior partner at Jackson Hagen Criminal Law. Over the years, he has represented many clients and earned respect within the legal community.
He previously served as President of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and was also a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Rick graduated from Denton High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from Austin College, and later received his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.
While Charlotte began a new marriage, Terry Bradshaw also remarried. His current wife is Tammy Bradshaw, and the couple has remained together for many years. Before Charlotte, Terry had been married to Melissa Babish and later to Alicia “JoJo” Starbuck.
Today, Charlotte Hopkins continues to live a private life. She rarely gives interviews or appears in the media. Instead, she remains known for her work as an attorney and for staying close to her family.
Charlotte Hopkins’ Net Worth and Career Achievements
Charlotte Hopkins has spent many years building a successful legal career. Most of her income has come from practicing family law, handling legal cases, writing, and other professional work.
Although many websites estimate her net worth, there is no officially confirmed figure. Because of that, it is better to focus on her long career and achievements instead of making guesses about her finances.
Her work includes helping families through difficult legal situations, writing about family law, and earning one of the highest professional certifications available to family lawyers in Texas.
Charlotte also co-authored the book “Who Gets the Family Pet in a Divorce?” The book discusses how pets may be handled during divorce cases, a subject that many families find important but often overlook.
Through decades of legal work, awards, and professional recognition, Charlotte Hopkins has built a respected name that stands on its own. Her career remains one of the biggest reasons people admire her today.
Interesting Facts About Charlotte Hopkins
- Charlotte Hopkins is often called “Charla” by family and friends.
- She graduated summa cum laude from Texas Woman’s University.
- She is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
- She worked with KoonsFuller Family Law, one of Texas’s respected family law firms.
- She co-authored the book “Who Gets the Family Pet in a Divorce?”
- She has received honors from Texas Super Lawyers, Elite Lawyer, D Magazine, Living Magazine, and Best of Denton County.
- She appeared in Lantana Living magazine.
- She met Terry Bradshaw when she was only 19 years old.
- Terry later said their divorce was the hardest one he had experienced emotionally.
- Charlotte has always preferred a quiet life instead of seeking celebrity attention.
Bottom Line
Charlotte Hopkins may be widely known because of her marriage to Terry Bradshaw, but her story goes far beyond that chapter of her life. She has built a respected career as a family law attorney, earned many professional honors, and dedicated herself to helping families through difficult times.
She is also a devoted mother who has supported her daughters through both happy moments and personal challenges. After her divorce, she quietly built a new life with Rick Hagen while continuing her successful legal career.
Although Charlotte Hopkins stays out of the spotlight, her life remains interesting because it combines professional success, family values, and personal strength. That is why people continue to search for her story even today.
(FAQs)
How old is Charlotte Hopkins?
Charlotte Hopkins was born on April 17, 1962. As of 2026, she is 64 years old.
Is Charlotte Hopkins married now?
Yes. Charlotte Hopkins married attorney Rick Hagen on July 29, 2012, and the couple has remained together.
What does Charlotte Hopkins do for a living?
She is an experienced family law attorney in Texas. She has spent decades helping families with divorce, child custody, and other family law matters.
What is Charlotte Hopkins’ net worth?
There is no officially confirmed net worth for Charlotte Hopkins. Most public estimates are unofficial, so her exact financial details remain private.
Why did Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw divorce?
The couple divorced in 1999, but they never publicly shared the exact reason for ending their marriage. Terry Bradshaw later said the divorce was emotionally difficult and led him to struggle with depression.
