Cody Johnson

Cody Daniel Johnson, also known as "CoJo", was born and raised in East Texas by his parents Sheila and Carl Johnson. He grew up taking an interest in acting. Later on Johnson gave up on his childhood dream of becoming an actor because he did not believe he was good enough to make it in the tough Big screen scene.[3] Johnson discovered his passion for music at the age of twelve years old and never looked back. He started writing his own songs in Jr. High when one of his teachers encouraged him to start a band with some of his friends which ended up being first runner-up in an all women's choir talent contest.[4] Johnson attended Groveton Jr-Sr High School where he continued to learn and grow as an artist. Johnson graduated from High School in 2005 and briefly attended Angelina College in Lufkin Texas. The aspiring musician then decided that college was not for him and that he was going to continue pursuing his career as a singer and songwriter. Johnson is now happily married to his current wife Brandi Johnson and has two daughters named Clara Mae and Cori.

Johnson began singing and playing guitar when he was twelve years old.[1] In 2006, he formed the Cody Johnson Band with his dad Carl and drummer Nathan Reedy.[5] Together they recorded an album, Black and White Label.[5] In 2006, the band added a lead guitar player, Matt Rogers, and recorded a live album, Live and Rocking, at Shenanigans and Confetti's Club in Huntsville.[6][7] Following the release of the album, Johnson's father quit the band.[6]

By 2009, Danny Salinas joined the band on bass guitar.[7] Their first professionally produced album, Six Strings One Dream, was released in September 2009.[6][8] Three singles from the album reached the top 10 of the Texas music charts.[1] Following the release of the album, the band added Chris Whitten on fiddle and Jeff Smith on lead guitar.[6] Jody Bartula replaced Whitten on fiddle in 2010.[7][8]

Johnson's next album, A Different Day, was released in 2011 and produced by Trent Willmon.[9] Johnson won the 2011 Texas Regional Music Award for New Male Vocalist of the Year.[5][9] After the win, Johnson 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.[10] Also in 2012, Johnson's band, now composed of Reedy, Smith, Bartula, and bassist Joey Pruski, changed their name to the Rockin' CJB's.[5]

Johnson's fifth album, Cowboy Like Me, was released on January 14, 2014.[11] The album was Johnson's second produced by Trent Willmon.[11] It sold 8,000 copies in its first week of release, debuting at number 25 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 33 on the Billboard 200.[12] As of 2014, Johnson's band comprised Smith, Bartula, Pruski, and drummer Miles Stone.[13]

The sixth album, Gotta Be Me, was released on August 5, 2016.[14] The album debuted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200,[15] and at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, selling 23,000 copies in the US in its first week.[16] It was Johnson's most successful release yet, achieved without major label support or widespread radio play.[2]

Johnson made Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo history by becoming the first unsigned/independent artist to play to a sold out crowd.[17]

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 is his first Top 40 hit on Country Airplay. The album and single were both released via Warner Bros. Records Nashville. In 2019, Johnson collaborated with Brooks & Dunn on a new version of their hit song "Red Dirt Road" which appears on their album Reboot.

• Official website
• Catalog record for Cody Johnson Band at the United States Library of Congress