Dwayne Johnson recalls getting first guitar from Willie Nelson on birthday
Dwayne Johnson has recalled receiving his first guitar from country music legend Willie Nelson, describing the gift as an early milestone in his musical journey.
Speaking to Rolling Stone after releasing Your Dad for the Moana: Voices Across the Ocean album, Johnson reflected on the musical influences that shaped him.
He performs the song for the new live-action Disney film, in which he reprises his role as Maui.
“I always like to say I sing from the heart — and I sing in keys that don’t exist. So it’s a good combo,” Johnson said, recalling how he grew up surrounded by “a lot of singing” and “ceremonial dancing” through his Polynesian family.
The actor also named Sam Cooke, Elvis Presley, George Jones, Merle Haggard and Johnny Paycheck among his early musical influences, along with Nelson.
“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,” he said.
Johnson recalled that Nelson gave him the instrument as a birthday present because of his admiration for the singer.
“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,” he said. “I mean, I play like dog s— compared to him, but it’s still a cool gift. Anyway, that’s my musical start.”
Following “Your Dad,” Johnson said he hopes to explore music further, particularly “old-school soul” with “some country flavor.”
