Cody Johnson Credits the Rodeo With His Country Music Success

Photo byCourtesy of the CMA

Music was not Cody Johnson‘s first career. Always a passion, the 37-year-old rode bulls professionally in the rodeo, an unusual job that ultimately prepared him for a career in country music.

“I think when you rodeo, you have to have a degree of an ability to deal with fear, physical fear, getting hurt,” Johnson tells his record label. “Once you’ve accomplished how to compartmentalize that, and you can take that fear and use it as a fuel for your fire, it gives you a sense of work ethic.”

From the beginning of his career, Johnson determined to do things his own way, without bowing to what the industry seemed to expect from him. It was a risky move, one he may not have been able to follow through with, if not for his experience in the rodeo.

“When you can look at the odds stacked against you, which they have been in my music career, most of my career, you look at those odds stacked against you, and you just smile and go ‘Bring it on buddy,'” Johnson reflects. “I think that’s 100 percent where it comes from, is rodeo.”

Photo byCourtesy of the CMA

Not only did being part of the rodeo teach Johnson to prepare for insurmountable odds, but it also taught him to work hard, harder than most. It’s a career and life lesson that he is still reaping the benefits of, years later.

“This year has been incredible,” he tells the Country Music Association. “I think every time you have a big year, the ripples from the big year cause another big year, if you stay at it. If you stay on the ground, if you stay with your work ethic at its peak, and you stay driven, then the ripples of a big year always go into the next big year. For me, this year I’ve had so many moments with people singing the words to songs, and showing up almost by the 100,000, all over the place.

“They’re singing the songs, and I’m going, ‘Wow,’” he adds. “I was the guy that was told I wasn’t going to be on radio, but radio has done such a good job of playing it. Look at all these new fans. After 18 years of hard work, look at these new fans. I think that’s the biggest takeaway.”

Johnson currently has the No. 1 song in the country, with “Dirt Cheap.” It’s a song, from his latest Leather album, which resonated deeply with the Texan, even though he didn’t write it.

“That’s one of my favorites,” Johnson tells Yahoo, speaking of “Dirt Cheap.” “The first time I heard it I cried because I’m a cattle rancher. I breed roping horses and we work on a ranch in Texas and it is a lot. I’ve made a joke ever since we bought this ranch. I told my wife, ‘I hope you love this house because I’m never moving. I’ve already got the oak tree picked out where I’m going to be buried.’

“Being on that cattle ranch and having those places you hold dearly, to have the memories of your kids and your horses and dogs and your wife, that’s a big deal,” he continues. “So I really related to that song. I took that song to the first five toughest guys I know and played it for them, and they all cried, so I said, “Well we’ve got a winner here.”

Ashley McBryde will join Johnson for the fall dates on his Leather Tour. Find all of his music and upcoming shows at CodyJohnsonMusic.com.