Cody Johnson

Cody Johnson
Cody Daniel Johnson (born May 21, 1987) is an American country music singer-songwriter. 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. Johnson's style is classified as contemporary country and neo-traditionalist country, drawing influences from artists like George Strait and Willie Nelson. His song Til You Can't won two awards at the Country Music Association Awards in 2022.
Early life
Cody Daniel Johnson, also known as "CoJo," was born in Sebastopol, Texas, and raised there by his parents, Sheila and Carl Johnson. He began playing music at the age of 12. He learnt from his father, who performed in their local church. Cody learned to sing and play several instruments there, and he also learned how to read and understand music. He started to play at school and bars, where he discovered that people enjoyed his music. At the same time, he rode bulls professionally at local rodeos and even worked alongside his father within the local prison system. At the age of 19, the prison warden eventually convinced Cody to commit, full time, to his music career.
Career
In 2006, he formed the Cody Johnson Band with his dad, Carl, and drummer Nathan Reedy. Together they recorded an album, Black and White Label. In 2006, the band added Matt Rogers on lead guitar, and recorded a live album, Live and Rocking, at Shenanigans and Confetti's Club in Huntsville. Following the release of the album, Johnson's father quit the band.
By 2009, Danny Salinas joined the band on bass guitar. Their first professionally produced album, Six Strings One Dream, was released in September 2009, and from the album, three singles reached the top 10 of the Texas music charts. Following the album's release, the band added Chris Whitten on fiddle and Jeff Smith on lead guitar. Jody Bartula replaced Whitten on fiddle in 2010.
Johnson's next album, A Different Day, produced by Trent Willmon, was released in 2011. He won the 2011 Texas Regional Music Award for New Male Vocalist of the Year, and following this, left his day job with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to focus on music full-time. He teamed with Kyle Park in 2012 for the Dancin' and Drinkin' at Johnson Park Tour. Also in 2012, Johnson's band, now composed of Reedy, Smith, Bartula, and bassist Joey Pruski, changed their name to the Rockin' CJB's.
Johnson's fifth album, Cowboy Like Me, was released on January 14, 2014. It was his second album to be produced by Trent Willmon. Selling 8,000 copies in its first week of release, it debuted at number 25 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 33 on the Billboard 200. As of 2014, Johnson's band comprised Smith, Bartula, Pruski, and drummer Miles Stone.
The 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.
Johnson's 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 40 hit on Country Airplay. The album and single were both released via Warner Bros. 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.
Johnson's eighth album, Human: The Double Album, was released in October 2021.
Artistry
Musical style
Cody Johnson’s music is classified as contemporary country, neo-traditionalist country, or Cowboy. Marcus Dowling of CMT has stated that many view Johnson as a leader within the “back to country” movement in the industry. In an interview with Brett Callwood, Johnson has described his music as drawing on multiple genres: “I’m not sure if you’d call me Texas or red dirt or mainstream or outlaw. 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.”
Influences
Johnson is inspired by many artists who are considered to be from the traditional days of country music: George Strait, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, and Loretta Lynn. In an interview with Andy Langer and Texas Monthly in 2019, he has stated 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 has said has influenced his songs such as “Guilty as Can Be”. In an interview with Brett Callwood at Westword, Johnson spoke on the influence of previous job experiences: “It (Guilty as Can Be) was a made-up story about a guy who catches his wife cheating, goes to prison and the whole nine yards. I paid homage to my prison years there.” Additionally, his life experiences of almost being in a plane crash influenced “Til You Can’t” and his barroom brawls influenced the song “Billy’s Brother”.
Discography
Albums
Singles
Other charted and certified songs
Music videos
Awards and nominations
American Music Awards
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|rowspan=3| 2022
|Cody Johnson
|Favorite Country Male Artist
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|Human: The Double Album
|Favorite Country Album
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|"'Til You Can't"
|Favorite Country Song
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CMT Music Awards
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|rowspan=2| 2022
|"'Til You Can't"
|Male Video of the Year
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|"Dear Rodeo"
|CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year
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|rowspan=2| 2023
|"Human"
|Male Video of the Year
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|"'Til You Can't" (from 2022 CMT Music Awards)
|CMT Performance of the Year
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Academy of Country Music Awards
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|2020
|rowspan=2| Cody Johnson
|rowspan=2| New Male Artist of the Year
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|2021
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|rowspan=3| 2023
|rowspan=3| "'Til You Can't"
|Single of the Year
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|Song of the Year
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|Visual Media of the Year
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|}
Country Music Association Awards
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|2019
|rowspan=2| Cody Johnson
|rowspan=2| New Artist of the Year
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|-
|rowspan=4| 2022
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|rowspan=2| "'Til You Can't"
|Single of the Year
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|Music Video of the Year
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|rowspan=2| Cody Johnson
|rowspan=2| Male Vocalist of the Year
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|2023
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|}
References
External links
1987 births
American country singer-songwriters
American male singer-songwriters
Country musicians from Texas
Living people
People from Huntsville, Texas
Singer-songwriters from Texas
People from Trinity County, Texas
21st-century American singer-songwriters
21st-century American male singers
Warner Records artists