How Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Changed Lilian Garcia’s WWE Career Forever

Longtime WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia has revealed a little-known story about how Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson helped her break into singing at WWE events. In a recent episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Garcia credited The Rock for giving her the nudge she needed to showcase her musical talents in front of the WWE audience.

How The Rock Encouraged Garcia to Sing

Known for her years of announcing on Monday Night RAW, Garcia explained that The Rock was among the first WWE superstars to welcome her when she joined the company. During a conversation, she mentioned her singing background. The Rock’s immediate reaction was to urge her to bring that talent to the WWE stage. “He’s one of the first ones that friended me. So I told him a little bit about me, and singing came up,” Garcia recalled. “He’s like, ‘Oh, you sing?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah.’”

The Rock suggested that Garcia speak with WWE producers about singing the national anthem at live events. Initially, the anthem was played instrumentally before shows began, but The Rock believed that a live rendition could take the atmosphere to another level. “He said to me, ‘Why don’t you talk to the producers to see if you can sing it?’”

A Memorable First Performance

Garcia took his advice and approached the WWE producers. Her live rendition of the anthem during a San Jose show impressed both the producers and Vince McMahon himself. “The producers told Vince McMahon, ‘You got to see her do this. She knocked it out of the park. The crowd went crazy,’” Garcia said. That performance was a turning point, leading to more singing opportunities at events across the WWE calendar.

An Iconic Singing Legacy

Beyond announcing, Garcia became known for her stirring renditions of the national anthem and other patriotic songs, including America the Beautiful. From February 2000 until her departure in August 2016, she sang at countless events, cementing her place in WWE history. Her standout moment came at WrestleMania 28, where her performance marked a record number of musical appearances at the event, surpassing legends like Aretha Franklin.

A Career that Crossed Boundaries

Garcia’s journey began far from the wrestling ring. Born in Madrid, Spain, she discovered her love of music at an early age. However, her ability to transition from announcer to singer at WWE shows demonstrated her versatility and passion for performance. Thanks in part to The Rock’s encouragement, Garcia carved out a unique place for herself in WWE lore—one where she wasn’t just introducing matches, but also leaving audiences moved with her voice.

Today, as fans reflect on her career, Garcia’s story serves as a reminder that opportunities can come from the most unexpected places and that a few encouraging words from a friend can help unlock a hidden potential.a