In a bittersweet turn of events, Rick Harrison, the star of the long-running reality series Pawn Stars, celebrated his wedding in Cancun, Mexico, on January 27 without one of his key family members by his side. His son, Corey Harrison, known to fans as "Big Hoss," was sidelined in a Las Vegas hospital recovering from a severe motorcycle crash that left him with 11 broken ribs. The elder Harrison, reflecting on the day, described the absence as deeply disappointing but emphasized his son's fortunate escape from more serious injuries.
Harrison, 59, and his new wife, Agripina "Angie" Polushkin, a nurse from Las Vegas, had actually tied the knot twice in quick succession. Their first ceremony took place earlier that month at The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, officiated by an Elvis Presley impersonator, complete with a small reception at Harrison's restaurant, Rick's Rollin' Smoke BBQ & Tavern. The couple chose this informal U.S. wedding to accommodate friends and family who couldn't travel abroad, before heading to Mexico for a more elaborate destination event with close loved ones against the backdrop of the ocean.
"It sucks that he didn't [attend]," Harrison told Fox News Digital in an interview. "I wanted him to be there. He was one of my groomsmen." Corey, 44, had been slated to stand by his father's side, but a solo motorcycle accident earlier in January derailed those plans. According to Harrison, he visited his son in the hospital the day before the Mexico ceremony, driving a couple of hours from Cancun to ensure everything was stable.
The crash, which Corey detailed on his Instagram account on January 26, involved significant trauma but no internal organ damage. Photos posted by Corey showed a close-up of his bruised face and him in a hospital bed, shirtless and hooked up to an IV, with bandages on his arm and hand. He flashed two thumbs up in one image, signaling resilience amid the pain. "Pretty messed up but I’m good crash bars are awesome 3 nights in the hospital 11 breaks in my rib cage," Corey captioned the post. He credited the protective crash bars on his bike for mitigating worse outcomes and promised more details on an upcoming episode of his podcast, The Corey Harrison Show.
"It was a major wreck, but fortunately it's bones that'll heal, no internal damage or anything like that," Harrison explained. "He's just in a lot of pain. If you've ever broke a rib, you know what it's like. He broke 11, he's got 11 fractures of his ribs." Recovery from such injuries is notoriously grueling, as ribs cannot be casted like other bones. Harrison relayed that Corey, still in good spirits despite the ordeal, remarked, "The next two months are going to suck." Medical advice, as Harrison noted, boils down to rest: lying in a recliner, avoiding exertion, and letting time do the healing.
Sorry Pops looks like I’m missing your wedding.
That apologetic note from Corey's Instagram underscored the personal toll of the accident. Despite being hospitalized and medicated—described by Harrison as "extremely groggy" from an IV drip likely containing painkillers—the father and son stayed connected throughout the wedding day. "I talked to him several times on the phone, FaceTimed with him, he was still in the hospital," Harrison said. "So he was extremely groggy and was kind of under – hard to understand. He had an IV drip with, I imagine, some pain medication in it."
The wedding itself unfolded as a joyous affair for those who could attend. Harrison, who has navigated four previous marriages, spoke warmly of the Mexico ceremony as a special milestone, particularly for Angie, whose first marriage it was. "I've been reminded many times by my wife. I mean, this is my fourth marriage. You know what I mean? This is going to be my last," he shared. "She goes, 'This was my first marriage, OK. It's special.'" The beachside event featured family and friends, with Angie walking down the aisle in a setting Harrison called "absolutely beautiful." He admitted to tearing up—not from emotion, he joked, but from "a little bug" in his eye—while watching her approach.
One of the most poignant moments came during the vow exchange. Angie had written her own vows, which Harrison described as "pretty amazing." "It meant a lot to me and she looked absolutely beautiful. And I didn't even ask how much it cost," he quipped, highlighting the lighthearted side of their bond. The reception afterward turned festive, with the crowd dancing to classics like the YMCA. "At the party afterwards, when we were doing the YMCA," Harrison recalled as his favorite replay-worthy moment. "All that fun. We did all the old school songs and everything like that. It was great."
Harrison's path to this union has been marked by personal highs and lows. His first marriage to Kim Harrison in 1982 produced Corey and another son, Adam, before their 1985 divorce. Tragically, Adam passed away in January 2024 at age 39 from a fentanyl overdose, following a long battle with addiction—a loss Harrison has publicly linked to broader issues with the opioid crisis and border policies. His second marriage to Tracy Harrison in 1986 resulted in son Jake, ending in divorce in 2011. He wed Deanna Burditt in 2013, becoming stepfather to her three daughters—Sarina, Ciana, and Marissa—until their 2020 split. Most recently, his marriage to Amanda Palmer lasted from 2021 to 2023.
Angie entered Harrison's life in early 2024, both Las Vegas residents who went public with their relationship over the summer and got engaged in March. Harrison praised her intelligence and unique background: raised in a Russian family in Alaska, her first language was Russian, leading to a slight accent despite never visiting the country. "She's absolutely amazing. She has got a slight Russian accent, but she's never been to Russia," he said. "She was raised in a Russian family in Alaska. And so her first language was Russian, and she didn't actually learn English until she went to school." He added, "She's super, super smart. I can have amazing conversations with her."
The dual weddings served practical purposes as well. U.S. law required a stateside marriage before the international one, and Harrison opted against a sterile courthouse affair. "And also, you know, we wanted the big wedding," he explained. "We wanted like a destination wedding. So for the people, we had a lot of friends who – some family members who, for one reason or other, couldn't make it to Mexico. So we wanted something in Vegas where they could have come to a wedding too." The Vegas event, married "by Elvis because you got to get married by Elvis," added a fun, iconic touch, though Harrison noted the Mexico ceremony felt more "real."
"I mean, when you're getting married by Elvis in the back of a car, it was fun, and it was great, but they'll both always mean something to me," he reflected. "But it was more of a real wedding down in Mexico." This latest chapter in Harrison's life comes as Pawn Stars, which premiered in 2009, continues to draw viewers to the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, where father and son have long collaborated on deals and family dynamics on screen.
Corey's recovery remains ongoing, with Harrison expressing relief at the non-life-threatening nature of the injuries. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks inherent in motorcycling, a passion Corey shares with his father, who has often discussed safety on the show. As Corey heals, fans can expect updates via his podcast and social media, where he maintains an open dialogue about his life beyond the pawn counter.
Looking ahead, Harrison, who recently voiced support for addressing the fentanyl epidemic—a issue tied to his son's death—appears optimistic about this new marriage. At 60, he described himself as "the happiest I've ever been," blending family joys with the challenges that come with it. The couple's story, from quick engagement to dual ceremonies, underscores a commitment forged amid personal trials, offering a narrative of resilience for Harrison's audience.
While the wedding marked a celebratory peak, Corey's absence highlighted the fragility of such moments. Harrison's visits and calls bridged the gap, ensuring family ties endured. As the Harrisons navigate recovery and newlywed life, their public sharing continues to resonate, blending entertainment with raw human experience.