Dakota Johnson Delivers Flirty Spoken-Word Cameo on Role Model’s New Album Amid Romance Rumors

Who needs a "Sally" when you’ve got Dakota Johnson?

Role Model, the stage name of 29-year-old singer-songwriter Tucker Pillsbury, is set to release his highly anticipated new album, Chuck Timely & the Hourglass, on August 7. The project features a special spoken-word cameo from Johnson, 36, with whom Pillsbury has been romantically linked since December 2025. However, according to a new interview with NYLON, the collaboration wasn’t exactly part of the master plan—at least not initially.

Pillsbury revealed that he had always intended to include a female voice on the track “Love I You” and had a long list of potential collaborators in mind. But when Johnson visited the studio one day, the opportunity presented itself spontaneously.

“Mason [Stoops, guitarist and producer] was like, ‘Why don’t you do it?’” Pillsbury told NYLON. “I was like, ‘Stop! We’re not mixing work and relationships.’”

Despite Pillsbury’s reluctance to blur the lines between his romantic life and his art, Johnson was game. “She was like, ‘I’ll do it,’ and stood right up and got in the booth and knocked it out better than we could have imagined,” he said. “So I was like, okay, if she’s down I mean, that’s an amazing cameo.”

A Playful Exchange

The resulting track features a charming, flirty dialogue between the two during a spoken bridge. In the clip, Pillsbury says, “Hey, I think you’re perfect,” to which Johnson dryly replies, “You say that to everyone.”

Undeterred, Pillsbury asks, “K, well is it working?”

“Yeah, but don’t tell anyone,” Johnson responds with a smirk in her voice. She then teases him further, asking, “Oh, you think you’re big time?” and affectionately calling him “Mr. Big Night.” The segment ends with Pillsbury singing, “Aw, f---, you don’t know me,” capturing the playful dynamic that has defined their public appearances together.

Pillsbury debuted the song live at a show in Chicago on July 30, giving fans a sneak peek ahead of the album’s official release next week.

Romance in the Spotlight

Pillsbury and Johnson have been the subject of dating rumors since late last year, having been spotted together on numerous occasions in Los Angeles and New York. A source previously told PEOPLE in April that the couple is “very much on the same page and it just feels easy,” adding, “She thinks he’s cute and he treats her incredibly well.”

Their relationship appears to be going strong, with Johnson even supporting Pillsbury’s creative process by stepping into the recording booth. The cameo serves as a sweet, public nod to their partnership without overshadowing the music itself.

Themes of Time and Stagnation

Beyond the romance, Chuck Timely & the Hourglass delves into deeper existential themes. Pillsbury recently opened up to PEOPLE about the inspiration behind the album, including the creation of his time-traveling alter ego, Chuck Timely.

“I’m hitting that age now where a lot of people are getting married around me, and there’s a lot of feeling stagnant and feeling like everybody’s moving ahead in their lives and taking those steps and starting families or just falling in love or moving away,” Pillsbury explained. “So that’s a lot lyrically about that. There’s a lot about wanting to go back in time and change other things in my life. It just seemed like time was obviously very much on my mind throughout all the songs I wrote.”

With its mix of introspective lyrics, catchy pop melodies, and now, a celebrity cameo from his real-life partner, Role Model’s latest project promises to be both personally revealing and sonically engaging. As the album rollout continues, fans will be listening closely to see if any other hints of his relationship with Johnson make it into the final tracklist.