COUNTRY STAR OF THE MONTH: CODY JOHNSON

Cody Johnson is a cowboy. Not in the sense that he just wears a cowboy hat and sings country songs. He is an actual cowboy who earned his stripes on the rodeo circuit. Ropin’ and ridin’ were his forte for several years before he found music to be his career. Born and raised in Groveton, Texas Cody discovered his love of music at the age of 12 which has slowly blossomed over the years to most people. To those that follow “CoJo”, as he’s known to his biggest fans he has been a star for years. “CoJo Nation” is his legion of followers and fans that are helping him “fight to get the cowboy back on the radio”. His shows regularly sell out and he is singing songs being brought to him by songwriters that were told their songs were “too country for country” according to his website. That’s why many country music listeners are gravitating to Cody Johnson, because he embodies a form of the genre that is greatly missing nowadays. After releasing most of his albums on his own until 2019 when he released his album “Ain’t Nothin’ To It” which had his highest charting single “On My Way To You”.

CoJo is still working on being a mainstream artist and that has its ups and downs. He is also fighting against current trends in the industry that are telling him he’s not the right fit, but his underground success has finally pushed above the surface and he can no longer be ignored. True to his rebel nature he recently released a double album titled “Human: The Double Album”. Off that comes a song that has rocketed up the charts called “Till You Can’t” which is a song reminding you to take advantage of what and who you love before they are gone. The song isn’t a fully sorrowful tune, but has a wonderful slow build into a powerful message that is spreading. Cody says he regularly has people coming up to him now saying that song has affected them personally and has strengthened their commitment to not take for granted those they love and the experiences with them.

You can definitely tell Cody Johnson is a cowboy when you listen to his music. The subtle twang in his voice fits with his style and tempo. His themes and sound masks those of 70s and early 80s country songs when Haggard and Conway Twitty ruled the country airwaves. A song I strongly suggest is “Monday Morning Merle” where he references the legend and the sorrowful life of a man who has his share of regrets. It’s a soulful tune that I think really shows where Johnson gets the bulk of his inspiration. “Till You Can’t” is currently topping the charts and Cody is showing country radio – although maybe more by CoJo Nation who is demanding more and more and selling out shows that there is room for his style of country music on the radio.