The Rock Is Pivoting to Country Music (Yes, That Rock. Do You Know Another One?)

With the hierarchy of power in the DC Universe changing him right out the door, The Smashing Machine failing to bait an Oscar, and the live-action Moana remake bombing in theaters, The Rock has wisely decided to find a new passion. Randomly, that passion appears to be country music.

To promote his new song for Moana: Voices Across the Ocean, a just-released companion album for the aforementioned bomb, The Rock opened to Rolling Stone about how he’s been exploring the country music space, which has been dream ever since he… *checks notes*… collaborated with Wyclef Jean in the year 2000. Oh, and Willy Nelson once gave him a guitar. That, too.

At a very early age, my deep influences were Sam Cooke, Elvis, George Jones, Merle Haggard, even Johnny Paycheck. Guys like that who just were on top of their genres, and also Willie Nelson, who, as a matter of fact, gave me my first guitar. You know the Trigger guitar he has? The historic one? I guess Martin only made 100 of those, and as a birthday gift, ‘cause I was such a huge fan, he gave me one of those. I mean, I play like dog sh*t compared to him, but it’s still a cool gift. Anyway, that’s my musical start.

In fairness to The Rock, he did spend some hard times in Nashville when his family was struggling and hit the pavement trying to launch a singing career after a woman complimented his voice while he was shoplifting as a young teen.

I’d walk up and down these bars and I would go into these places. No guitar, nothing. Didn’t even know how to play. And I’d say, “Hey, I’m looking for a job.” They’d say, “Oh, what do you sing?” And I said, “Well, I could sing…” And I just started, I’ll sing “Old Habits” to them. I sang a Merle song like, oh, what is it? “Memories and drinks don’t mix too well…”

“Misery and Gin,” I think that’s the one.
Yeah, yeah. “Misery and Gin.” Oh, it’s the best. “Here I am again, mixing drinks.” And they would say, “How old are you?” And I was like, “15.” And they go, “Oh, you’re too young. You can’t even be in here.” Then I learned my lesson, and then a couple of bars later I was like, “Oh, I’m 22.” And they’re like, “Hmm, can we see your license?” I said, “Well, I don’t have a license.” Then it’s, “All right, get out.”

Is The Rock any good at country music singing? I honestly don’t know. There’s a video below that I could listen to, but I write these articles at the crack of dawn or the dead of night, so time is a precious commodity. Best of luck to this Rock fellow though. Seems like he could use a break.