Cody Johnson Explains The ‘Cowboy Code’
Cody Johnson is a country singer who knows the cowboy way. He has been a rodeo-riding, true Texas cowboy since he was young, growing up in the Lone Star state….
Cody Johnson is a country singer who knows the cowboy way. He has been a rodeo-riding, true Texas cowboy since he was young, growing up in the Lone Star state.
We talked with Cody a few weeks ago before she took the stage at CMA Fest, and he told us his definition of the "Cowboy Code."
Johnson said, "Cowboys love stories; country music has always loved stories. For me, a good way to explain what the cowboy code is: black is black, white is white, there's no gray, no is no, and your word is all you're based on."
He added part of that cowboy code is being true to country music, "So, when I tell people that I stand for country music, that's what I mean. It doesn't matter what dollar amount they offer to change that, doesn't matter how much fame they offer to change that. I am unapologetically who I am, and country music is what I stand for, and I think that comes from the cowboy way."
Cody is currently touring on his headlining "Leather Tour," which kicked off in April. On Friday (6/28), he plays a show at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.
Johnson's CMA Fest performance a few weeks ago was a highlight of the weekend. His buddy Jelly Roll joined him on stage to perform their collaboration "Whiskey Bent."
Backstage before his performance, Cody talked to us about his amazing year since first appearing at CMA Fest in 2023. He said, "This year has been incredible, and I think every time you have a big year, the ripples from a big year cause another big year if you stay at it. If you stay on the ground and you stay with our work ethic at its peak and stay driven, then the ripples of a big year always go into."
Johnson feels that ripple effect when he sees fans at his shows each week on tour. He noted, "For me, I've had so many moments of people singing the words to my songs and showing up almost to a hundred thousand and singing the songs all over the place I'm like, 'Wow, I was the guy who was told I wasn't gonna be on the radio.' But radio has done such a good job of playing it; look at all these new fans."
He concluded, "18 years of hard work. Look at all these new fans. I think that is the biggest takeaway."
