Charlotte Hopkins: Terry Bradshaw’s Ex-Wife, Daughters & Career
Charlotte Hopkins is best known to many people as Terry Bradshaw’s third wife and the mother of his daughters Rachel and Erin Bradshaw. However, her connection to the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback represents only one part of her life.
Professionally, she is better known as Charla Hopkins or Charla Bradshaw, a Texas family law attorney with decades of experience handling divorce, custody, property division and other complicated family matters. She has built a substantial legal career in her own right and became board certified in family law.
Charlotte and Terry Bradshaw married in 1986 and remained together until their divorce in 1999. During their approximately 13-year marriage, they welcomed daughters Rachel and Erin.
Following the divorce, Charlotte did not build a celebrity career around being Bradshaw’s former wife. Instead, she continued developing her legal practice, becoming a shareholder at the Texas family law firm KoonsFuller and earning professional recognition for her work.
Table of Contents
Charlotte Hopkins at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Commonly Searched Name | Charlotte Hopkins |
| Professional Name | Charla Hopkins / Charla Bradshaw |
| Known For | Terry Bradshaw’s third wife and family law career |
| Hometown | Denton, Texas |
| Profession | Family law attorney |
| Former Husband | Terry Bradshaw |
| Marriage | February 15, 1986 |
| Divorce | 1999 |
| Children With Terry | Rachel Bradshaw and Erin Bradshaw |
| Undergraduate Education | Texas Woman’s University |
| Law School | SMU Dedman School of Law |
| Legal Specialty | Family law |
| Certification | Board Certified in Family Law |
| Law Firm | KoonsFuller |
| Position | Shareholder |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Who Is Charlotte Hopkins?
Charlotte Hopkins is an American attorney who became widely recognized because of her marriage to NFL legend Terry Bradshaw.
The name “Charlotte Hopkins” is common on celebrity and biography websites, but professional and contemporary records generally identify her as Charla Hopkins and later Charla Bradshaw.
Her own career distinguishes her from many former celebrity spouses.
Charlotte became an experienced family law attorney in Texas, working with people dealing with some of the most difficult legal issues in their personal lives.
Her areas of work have included:
- Divorce
- Child custody
- Property division
- Family-law litigation
- Settlement negotiations
- Mediation
- Complex marital disputes
She has also taken leadership roles within the Texas legal community.
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Is Her Real Name Charlotte Hopkins or Charla Hopkins?
One of the biggest areas of confusion surrounding Terry Bradshaw’s former wife is her name.
She is widely searched online as Charlotte Hopkins, but stronger professional records use Charla Hopkins or Charla Bradshaw.
When Terry Bradshaw married her in 1986, contemporary reporting identified his bride as Charla Hopkins.
Her professional legal profile also uses Charla Bradshaw.
The name Charlotte appears frequently on entertainment and biography websites, which is why searches for “Charlotte Hopkins Terry Bradshaw” have become common.
Both names therefore lead people to the same person, but Charla is the form used in her professional career.
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Charlotte Hopkins’ Early Life in Denton, Texas
Charlotte has deep connections to Denton, Texas.
Her father, Charles Hopkins, was associated with local public service and served on the Denton City Council.
Unlike Terry Bradshaw, who became nationally famous through football, Charlotte grew up with a much more locally rooted background.
She would eventually remain strongly connected to North Texas through her education and legal career.
Her exact birth year is not consistently established in reliable public records, although some profiles list April 17 as her birthday.
Because the year remains uncertain, any precise current age should be treated cautiously.
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Charlotte Hopkins’ Education
Charlotte built an impressive academic foundation before becoming a family law attorney.
She attended Texas Woman’s University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987 and graduated summa cum laude.
Her educational background included study related to human relationships and family dynamics, providing a useful foundation for her later legal specialization.
She then attended Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law and completed her law degree in 1993.
Her combination of legal education and knowledge of marriage and family issues later became particularly valuable in family law.
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How Did Charlotte Hopkins Meet Terry Bradshaw?
Detailed information about the exact circumstances of Charlotte and Terry Bradshaw’s first meeting is limited.
They were both connected to Texas, and by the mid-1980s their relationship had become serious enough for marriage.
Terry was already one of the most recognizable retired football players in America.
As quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had helped lead the team through one of the most successful periods in NFL history.
Charlotte, meanwhile, was pursuing her own educational and professional goals.
Their marriage brought significantly more public attention to her life.
When Did Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw Get Married?
Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw married on February 15, 1986.
Their wedding was held at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas.
Charlotte was Terry Bradshaw’s third wife.
Before her, he had been married to former Miss Teenage America Melissa Babish and Olympic figure skater JoJo Starbuck.
Some online biographies incorrectly list 1982 as the year Charlotte and Terry married.
The better-supported wedding date is February 15, 1986.
How Long Were Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw Married?
Charlotte and Terry remained married until 1999.
That means their marriage lasted approximately 13 years.
During those years, the couple welcomed two daughters and built a family while Terry continued his transition from retired NFL star to broadcaster and television personality.
Charlotte was also continuing her education and later establishing her career in law.
Their relationship therefore overlapped with major professional changes for both of them.
Why Did Terry Bradshaw and Charlotte Hopkins Divorce?
The exact private reasons behind Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw’s divorce have not been publicly established in detail.
Their marriage ended in 1999.
Terry later spoke openly about experiencing depression and emotional difficulties around periods of his life, including after the end of his marriage.
However, those later discussions should not automatically be treated as a complete explanation for why Charlotte and Terry separated.
Charlotte herself has generally avoided using the divorce as a subject for extensive public interviews.
That privacy makes it difficult to identify one definitive reason for the breakup.
How Many Children Do Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw Have?
Charlotte and Terry Bradshaw have two daughters together:
- Rachel Bradshaw
- Erin Bradshaw
Both daughters later became publicly recognizable, particularly through entertainment appearances involving the Bradshaw family.
Charlotte remained their mother and an important part of their upbringing despite her divorce from Terry.
Who Is Rachel Bradshaw?
Rachel Bradshaw is Charlotte and Terry’s older daughter.
She was born on May 13, 1987.
Rachel developed an interest in music and eventually pursued singing and songwriting.
She attended Belmont University in Nashville, a school known for its strong connection to the music industry.
Rachel later became known to television audiences through appearances with her father and family, including the reality series The Bradshaw Bunch.
Her personal life has also attracted attention.
Rachel was previously married to NFL kicker Rob Bironas, who died in a car accident in 2014.
She later continued rebuilding her personal and professional life and remained involved in music and television.
Who Is Erin Bradshaw?
Erin Bradshaw is Charlotte and Terry’s younger daughter.
She was born in 1989 and developed a strong passion for horses.
Erin became deeply involved in the equestrian world and is known for competitive riding.
She later married Scott Weiss, a horse trainer associated with the professional horse industry.
Erin also appeared on The Bradshaw Bunch, giving viewers a look at her relationship with her father, sisters and extended family.
Her life has generally remained centered around horses, family and equestrian activities rather than mainstream entertainment.
Is Lacey Hester Charlotte Hopkins’ Daughter?
No.
This is another detail that is frequently confused online.
Lacey Hester is not Charlotte Hopkins’ biological daughter.
Lacey is connected to Terry Bradshaw through his later marriage to Tammy Bradshaw.
Charlotte and Terry’s biological children together are Rachel and Erin Bradshaw.
Some online biography pages incorrectly list Lacey alongside Rachel and Erin as Charlotte’s daughter, but that does not reflect the family relationship accurately.
Charlotte Hopkins’ Career as a Family Law Attorney
Charlotte’s legal career is one of the most important parts of her biography.
After completing law school, she built her practice around family law, an area that deals directly with difficult personal and financial conflicts between spouses and parents.
Her work has included cases involving:
- Divorce
- Child custody
- Complex property division
- Marital estates
- Settlement negotiations
- Mediation
- Courtroom litigation
Family law can require both detailed legal knowledge and an understanding of difficult emotional situations.
Charlotte’s educational background in family-related studies gave her an additional perspective when dealing with clients facing divorce or custody disputes.
Where Does Charlotte Hopkins Practice Law?
Charlotte has been associated with KoonsFuller, a prominent Texas family law firm.
She has served as a shareholder with the firm and practiced from its Denton-area operations.
KoonsFuller focuses heavily on family law, making it a natural fit for Charlotte’s professional specialty.
Her work extends beyond simply handling straightforward divorces.
Experienced family attorneys often deal with complicated questions involving businesses, property, parental rights and significant financial assets.
Charlotte’s long career has placed her in that more specialized part of the profession.
Is Charlotte Hopkins Board Certified in Family Law?
Yes.
Charlotte became Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Board certification is significant because it requires attorneys to demonstrate substantial experience and expertise within a particular legal field.
Not every family lawyer holds this qualification.
For Charlotte, board certification reinforces that her career is not simply a side note to her former marriage.
She established a professional identity based on years of legal practice.
Charlotte Hopkins’ Professional Awards and Recognition
Over the years, Charlotte has received recognition from legal organizations and publications for her work.
Her professional profile has been associated with honors from organizations and publications such as:
- Texas Super Lawyers
- D Magazine
- Best Lawyers
- Legal professional directories
- Regional publications recognizing Texas attorneys
Awards can vary by year and organization, but her repeated recognition reflects a long-standing career within Texas family law.
Her Work as a Mediator
Charlotte’s work has not been limited to courtroom litigation.
She has also been involved in mediation.
Mediation gives couples and families an opportunity to resolve disputes outside a full trial.
A mediator helps both sides work toward an agreement on issues that may include:
- Parenting arrangements
- Property division
- Financial obligations
- Settlement terms
For an experienced family lawyer, mediation can be an important alternative to extended litigation.
Charlotte Hopkins as an Author and Legal Speaker
Charlotte has also shared her professional knowledge outside individual client cases.
She has contributed to family-law education through speaking, writing and participation in professional programs.
Experienced attorneys are often invited to discuss developments in areas such as:
- Divorce strategy
- Evidence
- Custody
- Property division
- Family-law procedure
- Negotiation
This side of Charlotte’s career further separates her professional identity from her celebrity connection.
Charlotte Hopkins’ Life After Terry Bradshaw
After her 1999 divorce, Charlotte did not attempt to become an entertainment personality.
Instead, her legal career continued to grow.
This period coincided with her becoming more established as an attorney and developing expertise in family law.
Terry, meanwhile, continued becoming increasingly visible as an NFL broadcaster, television personality and actor.
Their lives moved in very different public directions.
Terry remained closely connected to national television.
Charlotte remained primarily within the Texas legal community.
Who Is Charlotte Hopkins Married to Now?
Charlotte has been publicly linked in later life to Texas attorney Rick Hagen.
Profiles of Charlotte report that the two married years after her divorce from Terry Bradshaw.
Rick Hagen has built his own legal career in criminal defense and has held leadership roles within Texas criminal defense organizations.
The couple has generally kept their personal relationship outside entertainment media.
This fits with Charlotte’s broader preference for maintaining a professional rather than celebrity-focused public profile.
Who Is Rick Hagen?
Rick Hagen is a Texas criminal defense attorney.
His background includes years of legal practice and involvement in professional organizations connected with criminal defense.
He has also held leadership positions within the Texas legal community.
Charlotte’s relationship with another attorney means their careers operate in different areas of law:
- Charlotte — family law
- Rick — criminal defense
Despite both being established attorneys, they have not turned their marriage into a heavily publicized professional or celebrity partnership.
Was Charlotte Hopkins on The Bradshaw Bunch?
Charlotte was not a central cast member of The Bradshaw Bunch.
The reality series focused primarily on Terry Bradshaw and his family life with his wife Tammy, along with his daughters and other relatives.
Rachel and Erin appeared because they are Terry’s daughters.
Charlotte, however, continued maintaining her own life outside the reality television format.
Her absence from the show is consistent with the low-profile approach she has taken since her divorce.
Terry Bradshaw’s Marriage to Tammy Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw eventually married Tammy Bradshaw in 2014.
Tammy became the spouse most viewers of The Bradshaw Bunch came to recognize.
Terry’s marriage history includes:
- Melissa Babish
- JoJo Starbuck
- Charlotte/Charla Hopkins
- Tammy Bradshaw
Charlotte’s marriage stands out because it was the relationship in which Terry became the father of Rachel and Erin.
Where Is Charlotte Hopkins Today?
Charlotte continues to be associated with Texas and family law.
Rather than regularly appearing in celebrity news, she has maintained a professional public presence through her legal work.
Her life today is more closely connected with:
- Family law
- Clients
- Legal organizations
- Professional education
- Her daughters and family
than with reality television or football celebrity culture.
This makes her an unusual example of a famous athlete’s former spouse who developed a substantial career independent of the marriage.
How Old Is Charlotte Hopkins?
Charlotte Hopkins’ exact age is difficult to state confidently because her full date of birth has not been consistently confirmed in reliable public records.
Some profiles list April 17 as her birthday, but her birth year varies across online biographies.
For that reason, an exact age should not be treated as firmly established.
Her education and career timeline are much better documented than her birth information.
What Is Charlotte Hopkins’ Net Worth?
Charlotte Hopkins’ personal net worth has not been publicly confirmed.
She has built a successful legal career, but that does not make it possible to calculate her exact wealth.
A reliable net-worth figure would require private information involving:
- Legal income
- Property
- Investments
- Business interests
- Retirement savings
- Debts
- Other assets
Terry Bradshaw’s wealth should also not be treated as Charlotte’s personal net worth simply because they were once married.
They divorced in 1999 and have lived separate financial lives for decades.
Why Charlotte Hopkins Has Maintained Her Own Identity
Charlotte’s story stands apart from many biographies of celebrity spouses.
Her marriage to Terry Bradshaw made her name recognizable, but her professional life developed independently.
She completed her university education, went to law school, became a licensed attorney, specialized in family law and achieved board certification.
She then spent decades working with families facing legal problems of their own.
Rather than repeatedly discussing Terry Bradshaw or using the relationship to remain in celebrity media, she concentrated on a profession where her reputation depended on her own experience and legal skills.
Quick Facts About Charlotte Hopkins
- Charlotte Hopkins is widely searched under that name, although professional records commonly use Charla Hopkins or Charla Bradshaw.
- She is from Denton, Texas.
- Her father was Charles Hopkins, who was involved in Denton local government.
- She graduated summa cum laude from Texas Woman’s University.
- She completed law school at SMU Dedman School of Law.
- Charlotte became a family law attorney.
- She is board certified in family law.
- She has worked as a shareholder at KoonsFuller.
- Terry Bradshaw was her former husband.
- She was Terry Bradshaw’s third wife.
- They married on February 15, 1986.
- Their marriage ended in 1999.
- They were married for approximately 13 years.
- They have two daughters together.
- Their daughters are Rachel and Erin Bradshaw.
- Rachel was born in 1987.
- Erin was born in 1989.
- Lacey Hester is not Charlotte’s biological daughter.
- Charlotte did not become a main cast member of The Bradshaw Bunch.
- She has maintained an independent legal career.
- Her exact age is not firmly established publicly.
- Her personal net worth has not been publicly confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Charlotte Hopkins?
Charlotte Hopkins, professionally known as Charla Hopkins or Charla Bradshaw, is a Texas family law attorney and the former wife of NFL legend Terry Bradshaw.
Is Charlotte Hopkins’ real name Charla?
Professional and contemporary records generally identify her as Charla Hopkins or Charla Bradshaw. Charlotte Hopkins is the name widely used on entertainment and biography websites.
When did Charlotte Hopkins marry Terry Bradshaw?
Charlotte and Terry Bradshaw married on February 15, 1986, in Denton, Texas.
How long were Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw married?
They were married for approximately 13 years before divorcing in 1999.
Why did Terry Bradshaw and Charlotte Hopkins divorce?
The exact private reason for their divorce has not been publicly established in detail.
How many children do Charlotte Hopkins and Terry Bradshaw have?
They have two daughters together, Rachel Bradshaw and Erin Bradshaw.
What does Charlotte Hopkins do for a living?
She is an experienced Texas family law attorney who has handled divorce, custody, property division, mediation and litigation.
Is Lacey Hester Charlotte Hopkins’ daughter?
No. Charlotte’s daughters with Terry Bradshaw are Rachel and Erin. Lacey is connected to Terry through his later family with Tammy Bradshaw.
What is Charlotte Hopkins’ net worth?
Her personal net worth has not been publicly confirmed.
Final Thoughts
Charlotte Hopkins may initially attract attention because of her connection to Terry Bradshaw, but her biography is much more substantial than the label “Terry Bradshaw’s ex-wife.”
Professionally known as Charla Hopkins or Charla Bradshaw, she built her life around education and law.
She graduated with top academic honors from Texas Woman’s University, completed her legal education at SMU and developed a career specializing in family law.
Her marriage to Bradshaw began in February 1986 and lasted until 1999. During those years, they welcomed daughters Rachel and Erin Bradshaw, both of whom later developed public identities of their own.
After the divorce, Charlotte took a very different path from her famous former husband.
Terry remained in sports broadcasting and entertainment, while Charlotte continued working within Texas law. She became board certified in family law, served clients in complex divorce and custody matters, participated in mediation and built a professional reputation that exists independently of the Bradshaw name.
Today, Charlotte Hopkins is best understood as both the mother of Terry Bradshaw’s two daughters and an accomplished family law attorney whose career extends far beyond her former marriage.

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