Cody Johnson is among the second most-nominated artists heading into the ACM Awards. Johnson is tied with Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson with seven nominations, trailing only Ella Langley, who has eight.
Johnson has a total of 17 ACM Awards nominations throughout his career, although he has yet to win a trophy. The father of two says walking away a winner would be nice, but it really does feel like a victory just to be nominated.
“Honestly, I try not to pay attention to this stuff too much,” Johnson tells Country Now. “Usually my wife tells me, or my manager will call and say, ‘Hey, by the way.’ It’s one of those things that I don’t want to put too much stock into because I guess I’m afraid of the disappointment of not [winning]. But then when you find out [you won], you’re like, ‘This is what I’ve worked for my entire life.’ So absolutely it’s cool.”
Johnson is not only nominated multiple times, but he’s also performing. The Texan will perform with Brooks & Dunn, part of a surreal friendship that began for Johnson when he sang “Red Dirt Road” on Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks’ 2019 Reboot album.
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“That was kind of the start of the relationship was when I got asked to be on the Reboot album, which was extremely cool,” Johnson says. “I believe we played outdoors at, I think it was CMA Fest downtown on Broadway in Nashville, and then just started kind of exchanging phone numbers, talking about projects and songs. And I mean, Ronnie’s hit me up several times like ‘What do you think about this song?’ And that’s actually how I got ‘Long Live Country Music.'”
“Ever since I’ve been able to pick up the phone and call Ronnie or Kix anytime of day or night and ask questions or get some advice,” he adds. “So I mean, it is a great relationship with your heroes.”
Johnson may not have any ACM Awards yet, but he does have three CMA Awards. Johnson has won for Music Video of the Year and Single of the Year, both for “‘Til You Can’t,” plus Album of the Year last year, for Leather. Johnson says none of his success would be possible without his wife, Brandi.
“If it wasn’t for Brandi, I wouldn’t be here,” Johnson said backstage at the CMA Awards last year. “I’m being dead serious when I say that. If it weren’t for Brandi, I would probably be dead or in jail. She’s the woman that encouraged me to be the man I am as a husband, as a father, as a CEO of a company, as a leader, and outlaw. Everything, I owe that woman sitting right there.”
The 2025 ACM Awards will air live on Thursday, May 8, at 8:00 PM ET. The show will stream on Amazon Prime.