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Cody Johnson

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For the English footballer, see Cody Johnson (footballer).

Cody Johnson
Johnson during an interview in 2024
Johnson during an interview in 2024
Background information
Birth nameCody Daniel Johnson
Born (1987-05-21) May 21, 1987 (age 37)
Sebastopol, Texas, U.S.
OriginHuntsville, Texas, U.S.
GenresCountry, country rock
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active2006–present
LabelsCoJo, Warner Nashville
SpouseBrandi Johnson
Websitecodyjohnsonmusic.com

Cody Daniel Johnson (born May 21, 1987)[1] is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has self-released six albums, including Gotta Be Me, which debuted at number two on Billboard's Country Albums chart,[2] 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.[3] His style is classified as contemporary country and neo-traditionalist country, drawing influences from artists like George Strait and Willie Nelson.[4][5] His song "'Til You Can't" won two awards at the Country Music Association Awards in 2022.[6]

Early life

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Cody Daniel Johnson, also known as "CoJo," was born in Sebastopol northeast of Huntsville, Texas[4] to Sheila and Carl Johnson. Cody grew up there. He began playing music at the age of 12.[7] He learned from his father[8] who performed in their local church.

Cody learned to sing and play several instruments;[8] he also learned how to read and understand music.[8] He performed at school and bars, where he discovered that people enjoyed his music.[8] At the same time, he rode bulls professionally at local rodeos and even worked alongside his father in the local prison system.[8] At the age of 19, the prison warden eventually convinced Cody to commit full time to his music career.[4]

Career

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In 2006, Cody Johnson formed the Cody Johnson Band with his dad, Carl, and drummer Nathan Reedy.[9] Together they recorded an album, Black and White Label.[9] 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.[10][11] After the release of the album, Johnson's father quit the band.[10]

By 2009, Danny Salinas joined the band on bass guitar.[11] Their first professionally produced album, Six Strings One Dream, was released in September 2009,[10][12] and three singles from the album reached the top 10 of the Texas music charts.[1] After the album's release, the band added Chris Whitten on fiddle and Jeff Smith on lead guitar.[10] Jody Bartula replaced Whitten on fiddle in 2010.[11][12] Cody Johnson's next album, A Different Day, produced by Trent Willmon, was released in 2011.[13] Johnson won the 2011 Texas Regional Music Award for New Male Vocalist of the Year.[9][13] Then he left his day job with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to focus on music full-time.[1] He teamed with Kyle Park in 2012 for the Dancin' and Drinkin' at Johnson Park Tour.[14] Also in 2012, Johnson's band, now composed of Reedy, Smith, Bartula, and bassist Joey Pruski changed their name to the Rockin' CJB's.[9]

Johnson's fifth album, Cowboy Like Me, was released on January 14, 2014.[15] It was his second album to be produced by Trent Willmon.[15] 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.[16] As of 2014, Johnson's band comprised Smith, Bartula, Pruski, and drummer Miles Stone.[17] His sixth album, Gotta Be Me, was released on August 5, 2016.[18] The album debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200,[19] and at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, selling 23,000 copies in the US in its first week.[20] It was Johnson's most successful release to date, achieved without major label support or widespread radio play.[2]

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.[21] 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.[3]

Artistry

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Musical style

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Cody Johnson's music is classified as contemporary country, neo-traditionalist country, or Cowboy.[4] Marcus Dowling of CMT said that many view Johnson as a leader within the “back to country” movement in the industry.[4] 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.[5] 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.”[5]

Influences

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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.[22] 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.”[23] 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”.[5] 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.”[5] Additionally, his life experiences of nearly being in a plane crash influenced “Til You Can't” and barroom brawls he was in influenced the song “Billy's Brother”.[24]

Discography

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Main article: Cody Johnson discography
Studio albums

Awards and nominations

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American Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2022 Cody Johnson Favorite Country Male Artist Nominated
Human: The Double Album Favorite Country Album Nominated
"'Til You Can't" Favorite Country Song Nominated

People's Choice Country Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2024 Cody Johnson Male Artist of 2024 Nominated
Leather Album of 2024 Nominated
"Dirt Cheap" Male Song of 2024 Nominated
Storyteller Song of 2024 Won

iHeartRadio Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2023 Cody Johnson Best New Country Artist Won

CMT Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2022 "'Til You Can't" Male Video of the Year Won
"Dear Rodeo" CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year Won
2023 "Human" Male Video of the Year Nominated
"'Til You Can't" (from 2022 CMT Music Awards) CMT Performance of the Year Won
2024 "The Painter" Video of the Year Nominated
Male Video of the Year Nominated
"Human" (from 2023 CMT Music Awards) CMT Performance of the Year Nominated

Academy of Country Music Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2020 Cody Johnson New Male Artist of the Year Nominated
2021 Nominated
2023 "'Til You Can't" Single of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
Visual Media of the Year Nominated
2024 Cody Johnson Entertainer of the Year Nominated
Male Artist of the Year Nominated
Leather Album of the Year Nominated
"The Painter" Song of the Year Nominated
"Human" Visual Media of the Year Nominated

Country Music Association Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 Cody Johnson New Artist of the Year Nominated
2022 Nominated
"'Til You Can't" Single of the Year Won
Music Video of the Year Won
Cody Johnson Male Vocalist of the Year Nominated
2023 Nominated
2024 Pending
"Dirt Cheap" Single of the Year Pending
Music Video of the Year Pending
"The Painter" Pending

References

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  1. ^ a b c Leggett, Steven. "Cody Johnson | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Parton, Chris (August 16, 2016). "Cody Johnson on Beating Music Row at Its Own Game". Rolling Stone.
  3. ^ a b Cox, Brady (June 8, 2021). "Cody Johnson Teases Two New Songs From His Upcoming Double-Album, 'Human'". www.whiskeyriff.com.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Cody Johnson Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e Callwood, Brett. "Cody Johnson Was a Prison Guard. Now He's an Outlaw Country Singer". Westword. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  6. ^ Montesino, David (November 10, 2022). "Cody Johnson leads Texas contingent at CMA Awards, winning single, music video of the year". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "Cody Johnson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d e Cody Johnson on the Early Stages of His Career & the Job He Had Before Pursuing Music, August 2022, retrieved November 30, 2022
  9. ^ a b c d Griffin, Andrew W. (March 2, 2012). "Up-and-coming Texas musician Cody Johnson talks to Red Dirt Report". Red Dirt Report. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c d "Cody Johnson Bio". Red 11 Music. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  11. ^ a b c Spencer, Haylee (April 15, 2011). "The Cody Johnson Band performs Saturday at the fair". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  12. ^ a b Dotson, Maggie (April 7, 2011). "Chilifest: Cody Johnson Band". Maroon Weekly. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  13. ^ a b Tarradell, Mario (May 30, 2013). "Spotlight on Texas Artists: Cody Johnson builds a country-music career with the right foundation". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  14. ^ McDonnell, Brandy (February 29, 2012). "Kyle Park does 'Whatever It Takes'". NewsOK. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  15. ^ a b Webb, Penny Lynn (January 14, 2014). "Cody Johnson Brings Back Country With New Album "Cowboy Like Me"". County Life Magazine. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  16. ^ Bjorke, Matt (January 22, 2014). "Country Album Chart News: The Week of January 22, 2013: Jennifer Nettles, Jon Pardi, Rosanne Cash Debut In Top 5". Roughstock. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  17. ^ Wilderman, Jill (March 3, 2014). "Spot On: Cody Johnson". Spotlight Country. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  18. ^ Betts, Stephen L. (August 5, 2016). "Hear Cody Johnson's Autobiographical 'Gotta Be Me' Album". Rolling Stone.
  19. ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. August 27, 2016.
  20. ^ Asker, Jim (August 16, 2016). "Jon Pardi's 'Boots' Kicks Up First Country Airplay No. 1". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Cody Johnson Makes Rodeo Houston History". KPRC. March 12, 2018.
  22. ^ Cody Johnson Shares His Feelings on the State of Country Music, June 19, 2019, retrieved November 30, 2022
  23. ^ Andy Langer August 2019 0 (July 23, 2019). "George Strait Comparisons Aside, Cody Johnson Is 100 Percent Cody Johnson". Texas Monthly. Retrieved November 30, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Cody Johnson, 'Til You Can't' + the Near-Death Experience That Inspired It, October 13, 2021, retrieved November 30, 2022
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