Dwayne Johnson Puts A Unique Spin On A Tanya Tucker Classic
Did you know that “The Rock” is a big country music fan?
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson; Photos via X
Dwayne Johnson, also known as “The Rock,” delivered a unique rendition of a Tanya Tucker classic while in Dallas, Texas for WWE Smackdown.
A Message From The Outlaw People’s Champ
Ahead of the exciting event, which took place on Friday, March 8 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, The Rock delivered a nearly 11-minute message to his social media followers dubbed “A Message From the Outlaw People’s Champ.” This message came hours before The Rock, who participated in a tag team match with Roman Reigns versus Cody Rodges and Seth Rollins during WrestleMania 40.
Sporting a cowboy hat, black jeans, a large belt buckle, and a cut-off shirt that says “The People’s Champ The Rock,” he addressed his opponents for the “biggest Wrestle Mania match of all time.” At the end of his speech, The Rock sang the chorus of Tanya Tucker’s “Texas (When I Die)” with a minor lyric change.
“When I die I may not go to heaven/ I don’t know if they let outlaws in/ If they don’t just let me go to Texas, boys / ‘Cause Texas is as close as I’ve been,” The Rock sang.
The original version, released by Tanya Tucker in 1978 goes, When I die I may not go to heaven/ I don’t know if they let cowboys in/ If they don’t just let me go to Texas, boys/ ‘Cause Texas is as close as I’ve been.”
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He’s A Jelly Roll Fan
This isn’t the first time Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has publicly expressed his love for country music. Last summer, he took to social media to share his love for Jelly Roll’s album, WHITSITT CHAPEL, while applauding the genre-bending star for his authenticity and dedication to his career.
“I’m so f’n proud of my brother Jelly Roll for his latest achievement of his phenomenal new album WHITSITT CHAPEL,” Johnson wrote. ”My guy is blowing up the industry and moving the crowds.”
He continued, “He’s a real authentic artist who brings PASSION & MANA to his music – and he brings a joy and gratitude that can only come from experience and living the life.”
The Rock held nothing back when he went on to explain how Jelly Roll’s music previously got him through a tough moment in his life.
”Many years ago, before [Jelly Roll] blew up, his music helped me get a through a rough patch in my life. I’ll never forget it. Grateful. Proud of you my brother – keep doing it big and keep lifting the people up,” Johnson added.
Dwayne Johnson Had Aspirations To Become A Country Singer
Some may not realize that Johnson grew up listening to country music and once made his way to Nashville with hopes to pursue a career in the genre. He opened up about that time in his life during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
“You had country music star-like ambitions, you wanted to be a country singer and I had no idea,” Clarkson said, asking Johnson about his country music dreams.
“I did! As wild as that sounds, and you’ll appreciate this obviously cause your love for music and certainly country music too,” Johnson revealed. “I grew up loving blues, hip-hop of course but then country but traditional like that three chords and the truth, steel guitar kind of country.”
He Once Moved To Nashville
Johnson also recalled a time when he was living in Music City and found himself frequenting Lower Broadway honky tonks as well as singing country songs in unexpected places.
“I was at a grocery store and I was shopping and when I say shopping I was doing a little five-finger discount at that time because I couldn’t afford anything and I was in the middle of the row in a shopping aisle and I was belting out this song, not caring who was listening to me,” he explained. “Then, a woman comes around the corner and she sticks her head around the corner, she looks and I stopped singing, she looks at me, her eyes go wide and she’s like ‘wow I did not expect to see someone who looks like you singing that song.’ And I said ‘oh, thank you,’ then we had this chat and she was like ‘so clearly you should go down to Broadway cause that’s where all the country singers are.’”
He was only 15 at the time and had “no business” being in bar, but would often hang out on Broadway listening to live music.
While his country music career didn’t exactly pan out, Dwayne Johnson remains a fan and often shows support for country artists online, including Chris Janson.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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