Carrie Underwood is speaking out about her “I’m Gonna Love You” duet with Cody Johnson. The two recently celebrated the song’s success at a No. 1 party in Nashville. “I’m Gonna Love You” was written by Travis Denning, Kelly Archer and Chris Stevens nine years ago, in 2016

“I am not a good public speaker … I love hearing all of the stories and the details of this song’s journey, your journey and all the hands that have touched it,” Underwood says, addressing Johnson and the three writers, along with producer Trent Willmon. “And all of the channels it had to go through, in order for us to be celebrating it and you guys here today. I feel like that’s just a testament to, God’s got it. There’s so much about the music business, so many things that are unsure. You write a song that you think is incredible, and then you might not ever hear it again, or it might not find a home, until it does.

“No matter what happens, God knows what He’s doing,” she continues. “And I feel very blessed and honored today to have played a small part in your journeys, and the song’s journey and all the hands that have touched it. It’s very beautiful. I learned a lot that I didn’t know about today. So thank you for writing it. Thank you so much for asking me.”

Carrie Underwood Is A Big Fan Of Cody Johnson

Johnson has said he only wanted to record “I’m Gonna Love You” if Underwood agreed to sing on it with him. Fortunately, Underwood immediately agreed.

“It was never a question,” Underwood says. “From the first time I met Cody –  I didn’t know much about him. But.I was like, ‘I know I like this guy.’ And when we got the phone call, it was like, ‘Would you be interested?’ I was like, ‘Yeah. Of course.’ There’s just so much talent. Thank you for making us sound good. And thank you to each and every person who had their hands on it. And thank you to the good Lord for today, and for us getting to celebrate it. What an honor.”

@everythingnash @Carrie Underwood is so grateful @Cody Johnson asked her to sing this song with him. #countrymusic #carrieunderwood #codyjohnson ♬ original sound – EverythingNash

The Story Behind “I’m Gonna Love You”

Denning originally pitched the song to Underwood, soon after it was written, either as a duet with him or on her own. At the time, Underwood said she the timing wasn’t right.

“I thought it was a beautiful song, but I felt like it might be better for a male artist to sing,” Underwood tells Billboard. “Plus it didn’t really fit with the direction of where my new album at the time was going.”

It was Underwood who had the idea for her and Johnson to sing the song live, after they both agreed that the song was missing somethingin the studio.

“She’s like, ‘I think we should sing it live. Let’s just go in and sing it live together.’ So, glass between the two microphones. Well now, we’re singing in church,” Johnson recounts.

“I’m Gonna Love You” is on Johnson’s latest Leather Deluxe Edition album,