Cody Johnson And Jelly Roll: ‘The Respect Is Mutual’
Cody Johnson is a guy from Texas who sings country music in a cowboy hat in a pretty traditional style. Jelly Roll is a Nashville native who got his start…
Cody Johnson is a guy from Texas who sings country music in a cowboy hat in a pretty traditional style. Jelly Roll is a Nashville native who got his start in hip-hop and is enjoying the rewards and success of his first all-country album. You would think the two would not get along, but they are good friends.
Cody said backstage at CMA Fest earlier this month of his buddy who shares a cloudy past that includes a stint in jail, "Jelly's one of my favorite people to hang out with. You may not look at me and know this, but I have a pretty jaded past as well."
He added, "I've always said there was a time in my life when I had to make a decision, and that decision was to chase this dream professionally with a good mindset. There are a few mistakes I've made in my life and decisions in my life where I could have wound up here, or I very well could have wound up in jail."
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Johnson knows what it is like in a Texas prison. He explained, "I used to work at the prison system in Texas, so I have a very thick background on incarceration, and you know, Jelly did time; we've talked about that. We struggle with a lot of the same pressures where we put so much pressure on ourselves to be the best husband, for me to be the best father. To our guys, to try to be the best leader, the best performer, to have it turned on when I walk in here with you guys (the press)."
He concluded, "It's almost like a blessing and a curse because we put so much on ourselves. And I relate to him, and he relates to me, and we're so opposite; you've got the cowboy hat and the face tattoos... I think it's a very opposite attract kind of thing. The respect is mutual and real recognizes real."
Cody Johnson has been making waves in country music in the last few years and has been taking home some awards including winning the Single of the Year award at the 2022 CMA Awards for his 'Till You Can't." He also won a 2023 CMT Music Award for Performance of the Year.
Cody recently announced during a CMT nominations special earlier this month, that he will be releasing a 24-track double album, titled Cody Johnson: Leather. And the new project will feature a duet with Carrie Underwood. He revealed this when he was asked what it was like to compete with Underwood for a CMT Award. "I actually just recorded a duet with her yesterday for my new album coming out. And getting to know her — man, she's such a pro and everybody that she surrounds herself with are all very professional, as well. I don't mean this to sound bad, but it's kind of hard to compete with that."
The new album will be Johnson's second consecutive double album, as his October 2021 project, Human, was also a two-disc project with 18 tracks.
As Cody continues his climb in country music, heading for superstar status, we take a look at the last couple of years of this Texas country star's life in Nashville and beyond.
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Miranda Lambert With Cody Johnson & LANCO In Concert - Nashville, TN
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JANUARY 24: Country artist Cody Johnson performs at Bridgestone Arena on January 24, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)
2022 Stagecoach Festival - Day 3
Amy Sussman/Getty ImagesINDIO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 01: Cody Johnson performs onstage during Day 3 of the 2022 Stagecoach Festival at the Empire Polo Field on May 01, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach)
The 56th Annual CMA Awards - Show
Michael Loccisano/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 09: Cody Johnson performs onstage at The 56th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
2022 CMT Music Awards - Arrivals
Mike Coppola/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 11: Cody Johnson attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
CMT Giants: Vince Gill - Red Carpet
Jason Davis/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 12: Cody Johnson attends CMT Giants: Vince Gill at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on September 12, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images for CMT)
Cody Johnson With Chancey Williams In Concert - Nashville, TN
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 18: Country artist Cody Johnson performs at the Ryman Auditorium on June 18, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
2023 CMT Music Awards – Show
Rick Kern/Getty ImagesAUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 02: (L-R) Cody Johnson, Slash, and Billy Gibbons perform onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for CMT)
2023 CMT Music Awards – Winner's Circle
Emma McIntyre/Getty ImagesAUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Cody Johnson, winner of CMT Performance of the Year for "Till It Can’t" (from 2022 CMT Music Awards), attends the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for CMT)
The 53rd Annual CMA Awards - Show
Terry Wyatt/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 13: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (L-R) Morgan Wallen, Hannah Brown and Cody Johnson speak onstage during the 53rd annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images,)
2017 Stagecoach California's Country Music Festival - Day 3
Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesINDIO, CA - APRIL 30: Musician Cody Johnson performs on the Palomino stage during day 3 of 2017 Stagecoach California's Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 30, 2017 in Indio, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stagecoach)
2023 CMT Music Awards – Show
Rick Kern/Getty ImagesAUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Cody Johnson accepts the Performance of the Year Award onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for CMT)
2023 CMT Music Awards – Executives
Rick Kern/Getty ImagesAUSTIN, TEXAS - APRIL 02: (L-R) Cactus Moser, Wynonna Judd, Brandi Johnson and Cody Johnson attend the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for CMT)
The 56th Annual CMA Awards - Press Room
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 09: Cody Johnson accepts the Single of the Year award for “'Til You Can't” onstage at The 56th Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 09, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
