Dwayne Johnson Releases “Your Dad” and Says He’s Exploring a Music Career

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson debuted the ballad “Your Dad,” co-written with 2023 American Idol winner Iam Tongi. The track appears on *Moana: Voices Across the Ocean*, a companion album to the live-action remake of Disney’s *Moana*. The album, executive-produced by Johnson and his wife Lauren Hashian, was released on July 31 and features 25 Pacific artists. “Your Dad” is dedicated to Johnson’s three daughters—Simone Alexandra, Jasmine Lia and Tiana Gia (8)—and the music video intercuts studio recording footage with home movies of the family.

Dwayne Johnson Teases Music Career Inspired by Old-School Soul, Country

Johnson’s musical résumé includes a 2000 feature with Wyclef Jean on “It Doesn’t Matter,” a 2021 rap verse on Tech N9ne’s “Face Off,” and the 2016 Disney hit “You’re Welcome,” written by Lin-Manuel Miranda for the animated *Moana*. Those earlier forays established a pattern of occasional vocal contributions, but “Your Dad” marks his first solo release tied to a major film soundtrack.

Dwayne Johnson Teases Music Career Inspired by Old-School Soul, Country

In a Rolling Stone interview, Johnson described music as a personal “anchor,” emphasizing his attraction to “traditional country music” and “old-school soul.” He explained that the song’s lyrics were rewritten from Tongi’s original “My Dad” (about Tongi’s late father) into a tribute to his own daughters, noting a “complicated” relationship with his late father, Rocky Johnson. He framed the endeavor as artistic freedom distinct from the high-stakes metrics that accompany his blockbuster films.

Billboard

• Album release date: July 31 (companion to the live-action *Moana*).

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• Film opening: Disney’s live-action *Moana* opened on July 10, earning $43 million domestically.

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• Co-writer: Iam Tongi, winner of the 2023 season of *American Idol*.

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• Family dedication: three daughters—Simone Alexandra, Jasmine Lia, Tiana Gia.

Billboard

Johnson’s pivot underscores a shift from large-scale, revenue-driven projects to a personally driven creative outlet. By positioning music as an “anchor” separate from box-office performance, he signals a willingness to explore genres—country and soul—that have shaped his upbringing. The move also illustrates how a celebrity known for physical and cinematic spectacle can leverage personal narrative to enter a new artistic arena without the usual commercial pressures.

Dwayne Johnson Teases Country & Soul Music Career with New Single ‘Your Dad’

• “Music has always been such an anchor for me, and very specifically in genres that I love, like country music, traditional country music,” — Rocky Johnson

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Is Exploring a Country Music Career With an ‘American Idol’ Winner—and a Little Help From Willie Nelson

• “I’m exploring that now… As you roll along in life, I’ve been real fortunate to be part of some really cool projects, and love it,” — Rocky Johnson

Dwayne Johnson Teases Country & Soul Music Career with New Single ‘Your Dad’

• “I've reached this point in my life and in my career where, honestly ... 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,” — The Rock

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• “You make films, especially the big four-quadrant movies, you want them to do well. But this song, for me, is just a song to my daughters,” — Rocky Johnson

Dwayne Johnson Teases Music Career Inspired by Old-School Soul, Country