November 15, 2016 8:03AM EST

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Named ‘People’ Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2016

The Rock Sexiest Man Alive — Dwayne Johnson (Courtesy of People Magazine) Courtesy of People

Cast member Dwayne Johnson poses for photographers at the Los Angeles premiere of "Jumanji: The Next Level," at the TCL Chinese Theatre, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Dwayne Johnson
'Good Morning America' TV show, New York, USA - 31 Jul 2019

Dwayne Johnson seen at Universal Pictures World Premiere of FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, CA on Saturday, July 13th, 2019.
Universal Pictures presents the World Premiere of FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW, Hollywood, CA, USA - 13 July 2019
Wearing Ralph Lauren

Dwayne Johnson - Generation Award recipient
MTV Movie & TV Awards, Show, Barker Hangar, Los Angeles, USA - 15 Jun 2019

Ooh la la! In the best decision ever, ‘People’ magazine has bestowed its coveted 2016 Sexiest Man Alive title to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. He is beyond deserving of this recognition, so keep reading for how the hunky star feels about the huge honor.

Good looks, brawn, brains and charm — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, 44, has got it all and is such a perfect choice for PEOPLE magazine’s 2016 Sexiest Man Alive! The mag revealed their choice for this year on Nov. 15 with a sneak peek at this week’s cover. So, how did the superstar feel about the honor? “I said, ‘That’s awesome,'” he admits. “And then what went through my mind was just how cool and exciting it is. And then I thought, ‘Wow, we’ve pretty much reached the pinnacle.’ I’m not quite sure where to go from here. I’ve done it all. This is it.”

The Rock is coming off such a massive year, with his box office blockbuster Central Intelligence, his HBO sports drama Ballers, and he’s about to blow our minds voicing the demigod Maui in Disney’s highly anticipated animated musical Moana due out this Thanksgiving. The hardest working man in show business has an incredible 2017 already lined up, starring in the latest flick in the Fast and the Furious franchise Fast 8, playing the big screen hero in the movie version of Baywatch and he’s currently filming the live action version of Jumanji. There’s nothing this incredibly talented hottie can’t do and he’s absolutely the Sexiest Man Alive!

Pics: See Dwayne and his adorable daughter

What’s so cool is that PEOPLE has finally named a non-white actor for the SMA honor, as in their 31 year history of handing out the title, only one other star of color has been given the recognition. Denzel Washington, 61, received the coveted honor, but that was way back in 1996 – twenty years ago!!! It’s great that the mag is getting with the times and being inclusive.

The Rock also has support from his former co-star Vanessa Hudgens who we spoke with EXCLUSIVELY at her Friendsgiving dinner in support of Just Dance 2017 as she said about the honor, “He is! Really! I think that is amazing, hysterical! I love him! He is one of the most hard working dedicated men that I have met. I don’t know anyone that works harder than him. If his call time is like four in the morning, then he will work out at two in the morning. He has his eye on the prize all the time but he is also like the sweetest human being and also so funny!”

The Rock takes over from 2015’s dreamy Sexiest Man Alive David Beckham, 41, and joins the ranks of recent winners like Channing Tatum, 36 Chris Hemsworth, 33, and Adam Levine, 37, as well as two-time winners Brad Pitt, 52, George Clooney, 55, Johnny Depp, 53, and Richard Gere, 67. PEOPLE has handed out the annual honor ever since 1985, when they named a young Mel Gibson the SMA. The magazine tends to go with someone who’s hot at the moment or has a big new project to promote, and in The Rock’s case he ALWAYS has something to talk up because this guy works absolutely non-stop!