Cody Johnson is leaning on his faith now more than ever. As his career continues to soar, and he continues to add dates to his touring schedule, the father of three admits he can’t do any of it on his own.
“At this point in my career, I don’t know where I’m supposed to be,” Johnson admits. “I’m really trying my best to trust God, trust His path for me. There’s things that you go through in life, ‘the ride is worth the fall fits,’ that make you stronger and make you better. And I don’t know what’s next.”
Johnson has been vocal about his Christian faith. In January, Johnson released “When A Cowboy Prays,” a collaboration with Brandon Lake. The song says in part, “When a cowboy prays / It starts raining in Oklahoma / Long-lost sons come home to mama / And those stubborn horses break / When a cowboy prays / It’s a whisper and a rumble / And it’s as strong as it is humble / This old world just ain’t the same / When a cowboy prays.”
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The Story Behind “The Fall” by Cody Johnson
Johnson has a hit single at radio with “The Fall.” From his Leather Deluxe Edition album, the song is written by Bobby Pinson, Jeremy Stover and Ray Fulcher.
“I was in the mode of cutting an album, and saying, ‘This is what I want people to hear,’” Johnson says. “I want people to know that the ride is worth the fall, the hardships, the things that you can look that, yeah, it feels like hell when you’re going through the hardships. When you look back at them, without those hardships, you wouldn’t have the successes that you have, and you wouldn’t appreciate them as much.”
Cody Johnson’s Goal in Country Music
Johnson wants to have success in country music. But he also wants to make the genre more opening and accepting, for everyone.
“I grew up in a culture in Texas where we were used to the word no,” Johnson shares. “You’re just a cowboy hat, you’re just Texas, you’re just this. And there was a lot of discussion with myself and my brain of, what is the goal? And I think over time, my goal became, let’s build the bridge. Let’s prove that in country music, you can come from anywhere. You can be from any orientation or any color. You can dress any way you want, and you can cross the bridge, because the bridge that I crossed and left intact is still intact.
“And I want people to know that bridge is not burned the way that it used to be,” he adds. “Let’s go. Let’s bring it to country music. We are a very versatile genre.”
Johnson is spending much of the year on his Cody Johnson Live 26 Tour.
Photo Credit: CMA / Josh Brasted