Dwayne Johnson Career Change: Is The Rock Switching Gears?

• The song Your Dad in Moana.
• Career change?
• His musical background.
• His musical influences.

Dwayne «The Rock» Johnson is adding a new string to his bow. Already known as one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling and a staple in Hollywood, the 54-year-old powerhouse is reconnecting with music today through a deeply personal song.

Titled «Your Dad», this emotionally charged pop ballad appears on Moana: Voices Across the Ocean, a new album inspired by the Moana universe and accompanying Disney’s recent live-action adaptation.

For this track, Dwayne Johnson teamed up with Iam Tongi, the 2023 American Idol winner, with whom he co-wrote the song. Far from the muscular, spectacular persona that built his fame, the former WWE champion reveals a much gentler side: a father deeply devoted to his daughters. With “Your Dad,” Johnson turns his “girl dad” experiences into a heartfelt tribute to the bond between a father and child.

Career Change?

This foray into the music world could very well be more than a one-off stint for Dwayne Johnson. After lending his voice to several Moana-related songs, the star now seems open to continuing this momentum, as he recently told Rolling Stone.

Without confirming plans for a full album or a specific project, “The Rock” says he might consider a more serious return to music if the right opportunity presents itself soon.

“I’m exploring this right now, and I appreciate you asking. Over the years, I’ve been lucky to be involved in some really cool projects, and I love that. But music has always been such an anchor for me, and especially in the genres I adore, like traditional country. And we’re exploring that at the moment,” he shared enthusiastically.

In Familiar Ground

Dwayne Johnson isn’t venturing into music for the first time. As far back as 2000, when he was best known for his wrestler persona The Rock, he contributed to the track “It Doesn’t Matter” by Wyclef Jean.

That song enjoyed solid commercial success, climbing to the UK singles chart’s top three. More than twenty years later, Johnson again surprised fans by swapping movie lines for rhymes.

In 2021, he dove into rap on “Face Off,” a track by Tech N9ne that also features Joey Cool and King Iso. These experiences, along with his Moana performances, show that music has accompanied his career for many years.

The Influence of His Father

If he takes the musical journey further, Dwayne Johnson already knows the direction he’d like to head in.

The actor would like to explore a blend of old-school soul and country—two genres that left a lasting imprint on his childhood. He cites notably Sam Cooke and Merle Haggard among his major influences, artists his father introduced him to when he was growing up. As a professional wrestler, Rocky Johnson spent a lot of time on the road, traveling from city to city for his bouts.

Johnson recalls growing up largely on the backseat of a car, rocked by that music on long road trips.

Those memories today fuel his desire to write, sing, and further explore the sounds that have accompanied him all his life.