The Rock Shares Emotional Message After Missing Out on Golden Globe for The Smashing Machine

After missing a Golden Globe win, The Rock reflects on family, gratitude, and what truly defines success beyond trophies.

The Rock Shares Emotional Message After Missing Out on Golden Globe for The Smashing Machine

The Rock as Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine (via Imago and BBC)

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The Rock experienced a bittersweet moment at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, where he was nominated for the first time in his acting career. Dwayne Johnson earned the nomination for his portrayal of MMA legend Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine, competing in the Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama category at the ceremony held on January 11, 2026. 

Ultimately, the award went to Brazilian actor Wagner Moura for his role in The Secret Agent. Widely viewed as one of the frontrunners, the 53-year-old had aggressively promoted The Smashing Machine in the lead-up to awards season, making the loss a disappointing outcome. 

Still, Johnson handled the moment with perspective and grace, later taking to social media to share an emotional reflection on the night and reveal that he had prepared something special had his name been called. 

Following the ceremony, Johnson posted a heartfelt video showing himself speaking with his family, where he revealed a handwritten note given to him by his 10-year-old daughter, Jazzy, earlier that morning. He explained that he had planned to read the note on stage if he won.

After dinner and before dessert, I felt compelled to share a few words of my own – and show my family the note I was planning on pulling out of my pocket if my name was called, and I was standing on that stage. It was a note written from my 10-year-old daughter, Jazzy, given to me that morning of the Globes. ‘If you can dream, you can do it.’ It’s the little things in life – like this note from my kid, or having my family all together like this, that reminds me that I’ve already won.

The Rock via Instagram

The post resonated deeply with fans and fellow wrestlers alike. WWE stars, including B-Fab, Titus O’Neil, and Natalya, commented on the video to express their pride and support, while Rey Mysterio, Bronson Reed, Pat McAfee, and Joe Hendry were among those who liked the post. 

Johnson’s daughter Ava’s partner and NXT star Tatyanna Dumas, along with WWE personality Sam Roberts, also shared supportive reactions. Though the Golden Globe eluded him, Johnson’s emotional response and family-first perspective once again underscored why he remains one of the most respected figures in both Hollywood and professional wrestling.

The Rock gets vulnerable talking about his father at the 2026 Golden Globes Red Carpet event

Dwayne Johnson opened up about his deeply personal relationship with his father while walking the red carpet at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards. The Rock revealed that the film profoundly impacted his personal life, particularly the way he views his late father.

The Rock, Rocky Johnson and Ata Johnson
The Rock, Rocky Johnson, and Ata Johnson (via People)

Speaking with E! News reporter Zuri Hall, Johnson was asked how the role allowed fans to see a more vulnerable side of him. The Rock responded with heartfelt honesty, explaining that the project was especially meaningful given the personal loss he has endured in recent years. 

He shared that he has lost more than 15 friends to addiction and suicide over the past decade, describing the film as a love letter to their memory. Johnson went on to explain how portraying Kerr forced him to reassess his own complicated relationship with his father, WWE legend Rocky ‘Soulman’ Johnson, who struggled with addiction.

I thought I was an empathetic guy before the film. What the film pushed me to do was to be radically empathetic to those who are struggling, because I had a complicated relationship with the human being who struggled with addiction, and that’s my dad. He’s no longer here, and he struggled with his addictions. So through this film, I learned a deeper level of empathy for people who are out there, who are struggling.

The Rock via E! News

The reflections echoed a deeply emotional black-and-white video Johnson shared on Instagram in January 2025, marking the fifth anniversary of his father’s death. In the post, Johnson revealed that he and his father were not on the best of terms when Rocky Johnson passed away, admitting the unresolved nature of their relationship still weighs on him. 

He explained that he woke up that day feeling unsettled, realizing he would never get the chance to fully make peace with his father. Johnson also shared that the two had a heated argument on Christmas Eve, just three weeks before his father’s passing, leaving him without the opportunity to tell his dad that everything was okay. 

Despite the lingering pain, Johnson expressed a sense of acceptance and continues to honor his father’s legacy with gratitude and respect. Rocky Johnson, who wrestled in WWE from 1982 to 1985, passed away in January 2020 at the age of 75 after suffering a pulmonary embolism. 

Born Wayde Douglas Bowles, he made history in 1983 alongside Tony Atlas by becoming one of the first Black tag team champions in WWE history, a groundbreaking achievement that cemented his place in professional wrestling history.

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