AlmaLinux 8 - Can't enter maintenance mode due to disabled root shell

I get this prompt: Give root password for maintenance (or press Control-D to continue). However, I can’t enter maintenance mode due to the root shell being disable.

Is there a way to set a default user instead of root? Once logged into that user, I will perform sudo commands instead.

I am looking at pam_wheel.so but it seems to case issues with Google authenticator and the nx protocol. I can’t log in through NoMachine anymore once I set pam_wheel.so.