User:Mhaus20/Cody Johnson

Early life
Cody Daniel Johnson, also known as "CoJo," was born and raised in Sebastopol, Texas, by his parents, Sheila and Carl Johnson. Johnson started learning music from his father at the age of 12. His father, Carl, performed in their local church where Cody learned to sing and play several instruments. Also, learning music taught him how to read and understand music. He started to play at school and bars, where he discovered that people enjoyed his music. At the same time, he rode bulls professionally at local rodeos and even worked alongside his father within the local prison system. At the age of 19, the prison warden eventually convinced Cody to commit to his music career full time.

Musical style
Cody Johnson’s music is classified as contemporary country, neo-traditionalist country, or Cowboy. Marcus Dowling of CMT has stated that many view Johnson as a leader within the “back to country” movement in the industry. In an interview with Brett Callwood, Johnson has described his music as drawing on multiple genres: “I’m not sure if you’d call me Texas or red-dirt or mainstream or outlaw. I just always say that I’m me. I sound like what I sound like, and I’m not trying to be anything that I’m not.” Johnson plays a multitude of genres in order to create his own sound as he talks of here.

Influences
Johnson is inspired by many artists George Strait, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, and Loretta Lynn, who are considered to be from the traditional days of country music. In an interview with Andy Langer and Texas Monthly in 2019, he has stated that he is inspired by two artists in particular: “The George Strait type of traditional country music is what I like, and that’s what I stand for. But at the same time, Willie Nelson’s unwillingness to waver on who he is means just as much.” Johnson takes inspiration from his country background of bull riding and working within the prison system, which he has said has influenced his songs such as “Guilty as Can Be”. In an interview with Brett Callwood at Westword, Johnson spoke on the influence of previous job experiences: “It [“Guilty as Can Be”] was a made-up story about a guy who catches his wife cheating, goes to prison and the whole nine yards. I paid homage to my prison years there.” Additionally, his life experiences of almost being in a plane crash influenced “Til You Can’t” and his barroom brawls influenced the song “Billy’s Brother”.