Canadian Singer/Songwriter John Dawson Talks About His Cody and Brandi Rhodes Inspired song, “Under All the Lights” Available Now on Spotify.
Every song has a story, “Under All the Lights” is no except but one would not expect a love song about being on the road 300 days a year where a pro-wrestler longs to return home to his wife. The story unfolds
Singer/Songwriter John Dawson playing guitar.
at WrestleMania XL in Philadelphia, PA, where singer/songwriter John Dawson attended with attended with his children. There, they witnessed the emotional conclusion of a compelling journey—a man who had the strength to walk away from something, only to return stronger, more confident, and with a clearer sense of what mattered most.
The man in question is the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes, son of the legendary American Dream, Dusty Rhodes. In 2016, Cody left World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), deciding to carve his own path. He went on to help found a new wrestling promotion, ultimately drawing the world’s attention. By 2022, he was back in WWE, quickly rising to prominence and facing off with icons like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. However, what really caught Dawson’s attention wasn’t his in-ring battles—it was a simple comment he made in an interview about how well his wife, Brandi Rhodes, would be positioned in the upcoming big show. At that moment, Dawson realized that while the world’s eyes were on him, his eyes were on her. Without knowing it then, that was what planted the seeds for “Under All the Lights“.
Dawson, a Canadian native based in the Greater Toronto Area, has worked in various parts of the music industry, from education to performance. He’s played with Juno and Grammy-nominated artists and even backed up Jackie Lomax at a Beatles Festival in 2011. Dawson is endorsed by Yamaha Canada and has a deep appreciation for Canadian talent, especially Keanu Reeves in the ‘John Wick‘ series. Over the past 20 years, he’s been involved in commissions and publishing projects on a national scale. When he’s not working on his music, Dawson enjoys spending time with his family, watching pro wrestling, and avoiding home maintenance tasks—something he’s woefully underqualified for. He also co-hosts the weekly pro-wrestling radio show “Ringside Heat“, where he’s had the chance to interview notable names in the wrestling world.
Not long after, he came across an article referencing Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wrestler‘, which perfectly suited the 2008 film of the same name. But in reading it, Dawson felt that portrayal didn’t quite match what he had witnessed or the joy it had brought his children. So, he set out to write a rebuttal of sorts—and in doing so, he discovered that the story of Cody and Brandi Rhodes was the one Dawson wanted to tell. It’s a simple love story, one of triumph over adversity, and hopes it resonates with listeners in a way that transcends the specifics.
In our interview, John and I also discussed our ideal surprise Royal Rumble entrants, a fun topic we both enjoyed. We joked about how Dawson boys are not allowed to get neck tattoos—unlike Cody Rhodes, of course. And of course, I teased John about writing a love letter to the American Nightmare, saying now he owes his wife an entire EP of love songs.
Listen to “Under All the Lights” on Spotify here.
Follow John Dawson on Instagram @johndawsonmusic.
