Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is venturing into a new creative direction with traditional country music, marking a departure from his established career in Hollywood and professional wrestling.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone’s Brian Hiatt, Johnson discussed his growing passion for country music. This comes on the heels of the release of “Your Dad,” a song he co-wrote with Hawaiian singer Iam Tongi, whose music video premiered with Rolling Stone.
While Johnson has dabbled in music before—including contributions to the Moana soundtrack and a collaboration with Wyclef Jean in 2000—he revealed that pursuing music was actually one of his original ambitions.
“I’m exploring that now, and I appreciate you asking that,” Johnson shared. “As you roll along in life, I’ve been real fortunate to be part of some really cool projects, and love it. But music has always been such an anchor for me, and very specifically in genres that I love, like country music, traditional country music. And we’re exploring that now.”
Johnson Pursues Music for Personal Fulfillment Rather Than Commercial Expectations
Speaking about his evolving priorities, Johnson reflected on reaching a new stage in his career where authenticity drives his choices.
“I’ve reached this point in my life and in my career where, honestly, Brian, when I wake up in the morning, I swing my legs out of bed, and whatever the thing is that I’m doing, I wanna feel like I’m just running towards it. And the most gratifying things we do are when it’s for us, because we have enough pressure to deliver for so many other entities,” he explained.
For Johnson, creating music offers a refreshing contrast to the high-stakes world of major film productions, where commercial outcomes often take center stage.
“The things we do, we must do them for ourselves, and then we must feel it in here, behind our ribcage,” Johnson said. “But they’re also always connected to some sort of commerce. You make films, especially the big four-quadrant movies, you want them to do well.”
His new song carries deeply personal significance, conceived as a heartfelt message to his daughters rather than another entertainment product.
“But this song, for me, is just a song to my daughters. Where there’s no pressure of an expectation to deliver something that, ‘Well, how are the sales, and how’s the box office? And how’s the streams?’ It’s just from me to them.”
“Your Dad” is featured on Moana: Voices Across the Ocean, a companion album to the recent live-action Moana film. Johnson served as executive producer alongside his wife Lauren Hashian, as well as Tiana Nonosina Liufau and Kayla Fa’amaligi.
Tongi, who collaborated with Johnson on the track, rose to fame after winning American Idol in 2023.