Cody Johnson

Cody Daniel Johnson (born May 21, 1987) is an American country music singer. He has self-released six albums, including Gotta Be Me, which debuted at number two on Billboards Country Albums chart, before releasing his first major-label album, Ain't Nothin' to It, in January 2019. He released his second major-label album, Human: The Double Album, in October 2021. His style is classified as contemporary country and neotraditional country, drawing influences from artists like George Strait and Willie Nelson. His album Leather won the CMA Album of the Year on November 20, 2024. He toured Australia in 2023 and 2025, with many shows selling out.

Early life Cody Daniel Johnson, also known as "CoJo," was born and raised in Sebastopol, northeast of Huntsville, Texas, He first taught Johnson the popular gospel song "I'll Fly Away."

Johnson learned to sing and play several instruments, such as guitar and drums, and studied how to read musical notation. He performed at schools, churches, and bars, where he discovered that people enjoyed his music. At the same time, he rode bulls professionally at local rodeos and worked alongside his father in the local prison system.

Career

2006–2014: Career beginnings Johnson's agriculture science teacher heard him play an original song and encouraged him to start a band with other Future Farmers of America (FFA) members. In 2006, Johnson formed the Cody Johnson Band with his father, Carl, and drummer Nathan Reedy. Just a few months later, the newly formed band won second place in a major Texas state talent contest. Together they recorded and released an album, Black and White Label on January 6, 2006 through his own CoJo label that paid for travel and radio ads. In 2006, the band added Matt Rogers on lead guitar and recorded a live album, Live and Rocking in 2007, at Shenanigans and Confetti's Club in Huntsville. After the release of the album, Johnson's father quit the band. and three singles from the album reached the top 10 of the Texas music charts, including "Texas Kind of Way." After the album's release, the band added Chris Whitten on fiddle and Jeff Smith on lead guitar. Johnson won the 2011 Texas Regional Music Award for New Male Vocalist of the Year. Also in 2012, Johnson's band, now composed of Reedy, Smith, Bartula, and bassist Joey Pruski changed their name to the Rockin' CJB. It was his second album to be produced by Trent Willmon. The deep cut "Me and My Kind" later went viral on TikTok in 2020, becoming a concert staple and one of his most popular songs. Johnson was a featured artist on the docu-reality television show Troubadour, TX, boosting his TV exposure. As of 2014, Johnson's band comprised Smith, Bartula, Pruski, and drummer Miles Stone. His sixth album, Gotta Be Me, was released on August 5, 2016. The album debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200, and at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, selling 23,000 copies in the US in its first week. It was Johnson's most successful release to date, achieved without major label support or widespread radio play.

Johnson made Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo history in March 2018 by becoming the first unsigned/independent artist to play to a sold-out crowd. His seventh album, Ain't Nothin' to It, was released on January 18, 2019. It includes the single "On My Way to You", which was his first Top 20 hit on Country Airplay. The album and single were both released via Warner Records Nashville. In 2019, he collaborated with Brooks & Dunn on a new version of their hit song "Red Dirt Road", which appears on their album Reboot.

2021–2025: Human: The Double Album and Leather Johnson released his most popular hit to date, "'Til You Can't" in June 2021, debuting at number 42 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart dated June 26, 2021. Johnson's eighth album, Human: The Double Album, was released on October 8, 2021. The song went on to become his first Country radio chart-topper, earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Country Song, peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified six-times Platinum. It was notably covered by Kid Rock during the All-American Halftime Show in 2026. "Human" was chosen as the follow-up single, sent to Country radio on June 6, 2022.

Johnson announced "The Painter" in an interview with iHeartRadio's Spencer Graves in July 2023, which was set to be sent to country radio on August 14 as the lead single for his ninth album. It was a major success, becoming his second chart-topper, being certified triple Platinum, and peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album went Platinum, had a sold-out tour in promotion, won the CMA Album of the Year award, and released the Leather Deluxe Edition in November 2024, adding 12 new tracks. That year, he also collaborated with Terri Clark on a new version of her song "I Just Wanna Be Mad" for her album Take Two.

In 2025, he won ACM Song of the Year for "Dirt Cheap" and CMA Male Vocalist of the Year. On November 7, 2025, Johnson released his highly anticipated viral cover of The Chicks Travelin' Soldier" in honor of the Veterans Day holiday. Upon its official release, the studio version debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest-charting song of his career.

2026–present: Banks of the Trinity Johnson announced his tenth studio album, Banks of the Trinity, which was released on June 26, 2026. The lead single "I Want You" was released on April 17, 2026, followed by multiple promotional singles including the radio single "Horseback" and "Take Me Back (Leave Me There)". The latter went viral on TikTok through a cappella romantic trend.

Artistry Musical style Cody Johnson's music is classified as contemporary country, neo-traditionalist country, or cowboy. I just always say that I'm me. I sound like what I sound like, and I'm not trying to be anything that I'm not." In an interview with Andy Langer and Texas Monthly in 2019, he said that he is inspired by two artists in particular: "The George Strait type of traditional country music is what I like, and that's what I stand for. But at the same time, Willie Nelson's unwillingness to waver on who he is means just as much." Johnson takes inspiration from his country background of bull riding and working within the prison system, which he said has influenced his songs such as "Guilty as Can Be".

Personal life Johnson married his wife Brandi on November 8, 2008. They first met as teenagers at a Future Farmers of America event and crossed paths again years later at a local bar. They have three children: daughters Clara Mae (born 2015) and Cori (born 2017), and a son, Jaycee (born October 2025).

Johnson is a Christian.

Discography

Studio albums Black and White Label (2006) Six Strings One Dream (2009) A Different Day (2011) Cowboy Like Me (2014) Gotta Be Me (2016) Ain't Nothin' to It (2019) Human: The Double Album (2021) Leather (2023) Banks of the Trinity (2026)

Awards and nominations American Music Awards

Cody Johnson Favorite Country Male Artist Human: The Double Album Favorite Country Album "'Til You Can't" Favorite Country Song People's Choice Country Awards

Cody Johnson Male Artist of 2024 Leather Album of 2024

Male Song of 2024 Storyteller Song of 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards 2023 Cody Johnson Best New Country Artist CMT Music Awards

"'Til You Can't" Male Video of the Year "Dear Rodeo" CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year

"Human" Male Video of the Year "'Til You Can't" (from 2022 CMT Music Awards) CMT Performance of the Year

Video of the Year Male Video of the Year "Human" (from 2023 CMT Music Awards) CMT Performance of the Year Academy of Country Music Awards 2020

2021

Single of the Year Song of the Year Visual Media of the Year

Entertainer of the Year Male Artist of the Year Leather Album of the Year "The Painter" Song of the Year "Human"

Single of the Year Song of the Year

Music Event of the Year Visual Media of the Year

Male Artist of the Year

Male Artist of the Year

Single of the Year Visual Media of the Year Country Music Association Awards 2019

Single of the Year Music Video of the Year

2023

Leather Album of the Year

Single of the Year

"The Painter"

Musical Event of the Year

Male Vocalist of the Year Entertainer of the Year Tours

Headlining

The Leather Tour (2024) Leather Deluxe Tour (2025) Cody Johnson Live '26 (2026)

Supporting

2019 Tour (Justin Moore) (2019) Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour (Luke Combs) (2019) Wildcard Tour (Miranda Lambert) (2020) Middle of Somewhere (Luke Combs) (2022) Luke Combs World Tour (Luke Combs) (2023) Out in the Middle Tour (Zac Brown Band) (2022)