Cody Johnson’s journey to country stardom is anything but ordinary—and that’s exactly what makes his story so inspiring.
Before he was selling out arenas and topping charts, Cody was juggling life as a prison guard by day and a country musician by night. Yep, you read that right. Back in the mid-2000s, he worked at the John Wynne maximum-security prison in Huntsville, Texas—alongside his dad. But deep down, he knew music was his calling.
With six self-released albums under his belt and a growing fanbase, his big moment came in 2016 with the release of Gotta Be Me, which soared to No. 1 on the indie charts. That same year, his heartfelt single “With You I Am” made waves, proving that Cody—known lovingly to fans as CoJo—was the real deal.
In 2018, he officially signed with Warner Music Nashville and hasn’t looked back since. His rise has been powered by gritty vocals, honest storytelling, and a work ethic built from years of doing things the hard way.
So, who is Cody Johnson?
Born May 21, 1987, in Sebastopol, Texas, Cody is now 37 years old and still proudly wears his Texas roots on his sleeve. Music was always in the background growing up—his parents, Sheila and Carl, played instruments and sang in church. But Cody says he really started to take music seriously in high school, joking that “everybody starts playing—for girls and beer!”
Was Cody in the military?
Nope, not the military—but Cody did serve as a correctional officer before making the leap to music full-time. It was a warden at the prison who gave him the encouragement he needed, telling him, “You can always come back if it doesn’t work out.” Luckily, Cody never had to take him up on that offer.
What are his biggest hits?
Cody’s debut album, Black and White Label, came out in 2006, and he’s been climbing ever since. His most recent album, Leather, released in 2023, took home Album of the Year at the CMA Awards in 2024—a major milestone for the former independent artist.
With fan-favorite songs like “’Til You Can’t,” “Human,” and “Wild as You,” Cody Johnson continues to prove that real, heartfelt country music is alive and well.
And guess what? He’s headed across the pond for C2C 2025, ready to bring that signature Texas sound to fans overseas.
