Nashville once asked Cody Johnson to take off his cowboy hat if he wanted a chance at country music fame. The Texas-born star declined a record deal when executives suggested a switch to a baseball cap. To him, this felt like a demand to change his identity before gaining success. In an interview with CBS Mornings, he said, “They wanted a baseball cap. I have nothing against it, but the approach was, ‘You’re great, but once we change you, you’ll make it.’ It angered me.” He left the meeting, politely tipping his hat and thanking them for their time.
That decision was risky, potentially costing him the shot at stardom. Instead, Johnson spent the next decade building a career on his own terms. He played in bars and honky-tonks, eventually becoming a prominent figure in country music. During his interview, Johnson candidly discussed his path to fame and the years of hard work that paved his success.
Before earning fame in arenas or industry awards, Johnson was a small-town Texas boy aiming to become a rodeo star. He faced constant injuries and setbacks while chasing a career in bull riding, eventually switching to music. He sold CDs in rodeo parking lots to grow his following, despite his own doubts about achieving such big dreams.
Johnson confessed, “Truthfully, deep down, I didn’t feel capable of becoming a huge country star or owning a cattle ranch.” After rejecting the label offer, he played in small venues, struggled financially, and spent long periods away from his family to continue his pursuit.
He explained, “The pressure of not knowing how to pay your bills, being on the road for a month without seeing your family, with nothing to show for it, is tough to face in the mirror.” Johnson remained dedicated, declaring that no matter how hard things got, he would not quit.
After a decade as an independent artist, record labels returned with opportunities that respected his image. “I get to be myself and be authentic,” Johnson noted. He built a national following, sold out arenas, and earned a place among leading country performers without changing his cowboy image.
Johnson and his wife, Brandi, have been married for over a decade. They have three children: two daughters and a son.