A Lot Of Grit And A Little Bit Of Crazy With Cody Johnson

Summary

Podcast Summary: "A Lot Of Grit And A Little Bit Of Crazy With Cody Johnson"

On the Bus with Troy Vollhoffer
Country Thunder | Pod People
Release Date: November 13, 2025
Guest: Cody Johnson
Host: Troy Vollhoffer

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Troy Vollhoffer welcomes country music star Cody Johnson ("Kojo") aboard the bus for a candid, high-spirited chat. The conversation dives into Cody’s meteoric 2025, his rodeo and bull-riding roots, life changes ahead of his new child, the grit it takes to succeed, the authenticity in his music and performance, and their shared obsession with watches and remodeling woes. With anecdotes from both the music and rodeo arenas, listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at what drives “Kojo” and how he keeps it real, both on and off the stage.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 2025: A Banner Year and Major Life Changes

• New Album and Touring

  • Cody is coming off an Album of the Year win and in the midst of finishing new music. He’s touring across North America and making plans for 2026 to welcome his new son ([01:42]-[02:12]).
  • Quote: “Trying to prepare for 2026 because my wife is due with our little boy… I think it’s okay to take a little time for yourself.” — Cody Johnson [01:46]

• Juggling Family and Career

  • Cody’s shutting things down temporarily, balancing music, a house remodel, and family time ([01:59]-[02:15]).

2. Rodeo Roots & Transition to Music

• Bull Riding Background

  • Not raised on a ranch, Cody pursued bull riding in high school out of drive and affordability, even though his family tradition was working at the prison ([05:56]-[06:38]).
  • Quote: “You pay a hundred bucks and you get to get on a bull… And I was just crazy and tough enough to do it.” — Cody Johnson [06:38]
  • Rodeoing and music careers overlapped; eventually, music provided a living, but he still relishes his ranch life ([06:38]-[07:36]).

• Current Ranch Life

  • He describes a “double life” — from arena star to rancher with 20+ horses, three pastures full of cows, and organizing his own roping events ([06:39]-[08:10]).
  • Quote: “Literally getting home from being the rock star and going right back in the crowd. Yeah, I’m going to work. This is the fun stuff.” — Cody Johnson [07:35]

3. The Grit Required for Music & Rodeo

• “A Lot of Grit and a Little Bit of Crazy”

  • Both Cody and Troy reflect on sacrifice, hustle, setbacks, and the drive to “jump out of the plane and hope the chute works” ([10:14]-[11:23]).
  • Quote: “If you’re not willing to make that sacrifice… then just go sign the dotted line… I’ve known people that have done that and… They’re like: I wish I’d done it your way.” — Cody Johnson [10:41]

• The Live Show: Authenticity & No Tracks

  • Cody emphasizes that his shows are unrehearsed, mostly spontaneous, and come from the heart—relying on connection with the crowd ([11:29]-[12:30])
  • Memorable Moment: Cody recounts a night when he left the stage mid-solo, the band improvised a drum solo, and it became part of the show’s magic ([12:05]).

4. Reflections on Paying Dues

• Grassroots Beginnings

  • Playing honky tonks, dance halls, clubs, then theaters, then arenas—Cody describes learning to win over every room, from 10 people to stadiums ([13:38]-[13:59]).
  • Quote: “Every night it does. Every night… I scan this place the entire night and talk to each person even if I’m really not… go play in dive bars and you’ll figure it out.” — Cody Johnson [12:46]-[13:18]

• Industry Changes and Authenticity

  • Discussion about the TikTok-driven rise of new artists who haven’t learned the ropes live. Cody draws a clear line: “It either has authenticity or it doesn’t. If you don’t do it, it’ll do you.” ([14:31]-[14:35])

5. Creating Authentic Country Music

• Collaborative Studio Ethos

  • Contrasts Nashville “cookie-cutter” sessions to his collaborative, creative approach in the studio, always with producer Trent Willman since day one ([15:11]-[15:40]).
  • Quote: “When you listen to my album, it was created there in the studio. Then you hand it to my band and we create it again on stage… It has an organic authenticity…” — Cody Johnson [15:28]

• Trent Willman Connection

  • Anecdotes about the early careers of Trent Willman, insight into his satisfaction producing and his pivotal role in Cody’s path ([15:41]-[17:36]).

6. Looking Forward: Family, Touring, and New Ventures

• 2026 Plans

  • Cody is prepping for 5-6 stadium shows, new music, and various business ventures—including his own clothing line with Wrangler ([17:45]-[18:12]).
  • Quote: “I wanted to do this now so that whenever it is the first year of my son, I [can] be home with my wife and daughters and him and have this big hit record that comes out.” — Cody Johnson [17:55]

• Country Thunder and Bull Riding

  • Troy announces that every Country Thunder in 2026 will feature a bull riding event, inspired by Cody’s story ([19:00]-[19:30]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Grit & Ambition:
  “It takes a lot of grit. It does take a little bit of crazy. Definitely. You have to be adventurous.” — Troy Vollhoffer [11:04]

• On Doing It His Way:
  “If you’re not willing to make that sacrifice… then just go sign the dotted line… I’ve known people that have done that and… They’re like: I wish I’d done it your way.” — Cody Johnson [10:41]

• On Stage Authenticity:
  “98% of what you see on stage is stuff that just happens… And sometimes I’ll do it a completely different way.” — Cody Johnson [11:29]

• On Building a Career:
  “Honky tonks lead to dance halls. Dance halls lead to clubs, clubs lead to theaters, and then theaters lead to… arenas, stadiums, or the festivals or whatever.” — Cody Johnson [13:38]

• On Animals and Rodeo:
  “The animals that we ride and that we rope are taken care of better than some people in America… They are the rock stars.” — Cody Johnson [09:14]-[09:36]

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Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Topic/Segment | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:36 | Intro – Cody Johnson joins, 2025 highlights | | 01:46 | Balancing career, family, and prepping for new baby | | 02:40 | Cody’s background: bull riding, rodeo, and rural upbringing | | 05:56 | Transition from rodeo/bull riding to music, ranch lifestyle | | 06:39 | Building a ranch, running events, double life as rancher/star | | 08:32 | Outfitting Troy, Cody’s Wrangler line, & rodeo’s recognition | | 09:51 | Discovering music, betting on himself, no backup plan | | 10:42 | Grit, risk, and sacrifice to “make it” | | 11:29 | Authenticity on stage & spontaneous performances | | 12:46 | Playing for 10 to 75,000; eye contact with every fan | | 13:38 | “Paying dues”: the bar-to-arena journey | | 14:31 | Authenticity vs. TikTok/fake it-til-you-make-it | | 15:11 | Collaborative, organic recording process | | 15:41 | Partnership with producer Trent Willman | | 17:45 | 2026 plans: family, music, business, and touring | | 19:00 | Bull riding announced for 2026 Country Thunder |

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Final Thoughts & Tone

The episode is relaxed, candid, and humorous, with both Cody and Troy sharing real talk on the demanding, rewarding, and sometimes crazy world of country music and rodeo. Cody’s grounded philosophy and authenticity shine, as does his pride in staying true to his sound, band, and roots. Troy’s respect is evident, and their rapport gives fans a feeling of being "on the bus" right alongside them.

For listeners: If you want to understand what makes Cody Johnson one of country’s most compelling live acts and personalities—a blend of “a lot of grit and a little bit of crazy”—this episode delivers a genuine portrait.

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For more:

• Catch Cody Johnson’s tour dates at codyjohnsonmusic.com
• Check out the new single “The Fall”
• Look for Cody’s clothing line through Wrangler
• Watch for bull riding at every 2026 Country Thunder event

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

Welcome back to on the Bus with Troy Volhofer. Today, Kojo's joining us. You know Cody Johnson from number one country hits like Dirt cheap till you can't and the Painter. He's having an incredible 2025 touring across North America for the rest of the year. And next spring, you can catch him at one of his favorite places to perform. The Houston Livestock show and Rodeo. Man, what an iconic event that is. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Cody Johnson.

[A]

How's it going, Cody?

[B]

How are you, man?

[A]

Good. Long time no see.

[B]

Yeah, about a year, I think.

[A]

It has been about a year.

[B]

How you been? Great. How are you doing? Thank you.

[A]

I've got a solo over here. Feeling like, man, it's not that bad. It's just my allergies are, like, getting the flu without a fever.

[B]

Gotcha.

[A]

And I've done years of, like, the. The treatment. You drop underneath your tongue and all that. Been good until we played. We went from Texas weather to Wisconsin, Minnesota, and I came home. Where were you last night? Nowhere. Yeah, just flew in Deckle. But it's just that.

[B]

That crap. Great.

[A]

Everything's.

[B]

Thank you. Thank you.

[A]

We had.

[B]

That's how we met, you know. Right.

[A]

Talking about watches.

[B]

That freaking day at the ACMs. It was the morning after, I believe. Yeah. We love watching.

[A]

So, yeah, I've got a bunch of them now, unfortunately. Fortunately. But unfortunately, addiction.

[B]

Yeah, I know. Me too.

[A]

Well, how you guys doing? Telling you, like, how. How valuable they are, how they don't appreciate it, all that.

[B]

Anyways, thanks for doing this. Big year. 2025 has been an amazing year for you.

[A]

And just coming off of a album of the year. Yes.

[B]

Congratulations.

[A]

Thank you. It's amazing getting back in the studio. Just finished up an album. I've got some vocals and some things like that left to do, but trying to prepare for 2026 because my wife is due with our little boy.

[B]

Congratulations.

[A]

Thanks. And we're kind of shutting it down after that, so I'm really doing a lot of work now to kind of prepare for some downtime later. Won't go back to work till, like, late February next year. We're in the middle of a house remodel right now, and there's just a lot going on. I'm like, you know, I think it's okay to take a little time for yourself.

[B]

I'm doing the same thing. I'm, like, on the road. I'm looking like, send me pictures, Send me pictures. My kitchen's totally gutted now, and, I mean, it's Crazy.

[A]

It's the worst thing.

[B]

It is, right?

[A]

It's the worst.

[B]

And I gotta go home on Monday to this house that is like a skeleton now. Yeah. Oh, my God. But I totally understand that. So let's go back to the beginning. So I've totally gotten into rodeoing and bull riding, but I. I really didn't. I didn't realize you were a bull rider.

[A]

Used to be.

[B]

So who was the bull rider last year you're meeting with? What was his name? He came up to Cameros?

[A]

No, that was my friend, Cody Webster.

[B]

Cody.

[A]

He's a bull fighter from the PBR and prca.

[B]

Oh, a bull.

[A]

Okay, so he's really the crazy one. It's not the bullfighter, bull riders, just the bull fighters that are on the ground trying to save people.

[B]

It's like a rodeo clown.

[A]

Yeah. But it's escalated. Rodeo clowns used to be more for entertainment.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

And now they're cowboy lifesavers. Really?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's Cody. Funny, we just featured. Haven't told anybody this, but we just featured Cody Webster in my new video for no Way.

[B]

Yeah. So I. I didn't realize it. So when I. When I bought that gig, you know, it was in 2019. So then Covid hit and there were no shows up there in Canada at all. So it didn't play again until like 22. And I didn't really realize that. I bought this rodeo attraction also. It's called Bulls for Breakfast and it's every morning and it's a two hour performance and it's part of the circuit. Finally this year I realized I like. Yeah.

[A]

Get the real deal, right?

[B]

The real riders.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

We kind of had a, you know, pseudo tragedy.

[A]

Most dangerous point in the world.

[B]

Yeah. Kid had, you know, two vertebrates broken. Broken. But he's good.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And so I go to the gentleman who, you know, the stock provider and how is he? Oh, he's gonna be fine.

[A]

Yeah. You could probably get back on the next day.

[B]

Just a bull landed on him.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So anyway, so how did you go? So. So Houston. Let's. We. Well, kind of raised in Houston, East.

[A]

Texas, closer to Huntsville, but, you know, like we were closer to Houston. So that was the Astros games that we went to and Houston Rockets, and we were just a little too far from Arlington to go see, you know, like the Rangers and the Cowboys and stuff like that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And when I was a kid, we didn't even have a football team. It was kind of a. That lull between the Oilers and the Texans.

[B]

So you wouldn't Remember the Houston Arrows, which was the hockey team?

[A]

No, I never really got into hockey, man.

[B]

Yeah, they had.

[A]

I've been to some hockey games, and it's incredible. Yeah, you know, it's.

[B]

It's.

[A]

It's a great time. And those are probably some of the toughest dudes, you know, next to bull riders, to be honest with you.

[B]

Yeah. I. I was fortunate to play seven years professional.

[A]

You did?

[B]

Yeah, I did.

[A]

How do your knees feel now?

[B]

I was lucky. I was one of the lucky guys. Yeah. I mean, I just felt the only thing I messed up was my shoulders, you know, and. But my knees were great, my hips, great, so. But how I ended up in Nashville was I in my career there? I signed with San Jose, and they sent me to the minors, and their minor league team was in Nashville. The older municipal Auditorium we played, which wasn't even regulation ice surface.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah. So, I mean, you would have a visitor team come in, and it was small.

[A]

Right.

[B]

So it was like a Gong show because there was no room to move everyone.

[A]

They were just getting after.

[B]

And it was an unsophisticated hockey audience. You score a goal and you get the golf clap.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

There was a fight, and it went with easy beer on you.

[A]

It was crazy. Right? That's why people, like, if you don't know hockey, that's why you go to the game.

[B]

Oh, for sure. It has to be. Absolutely. And when did you get into the rodeo business? Like, when did you start bull riding?

[A]

So I didn't grow up on a ranch. I didn't grow up with cows and horses. I grew up very rural. We would squirrel hunt, rabbit hunt, deer hunt, catfish, get the white bass.

[B]

You said the hand in the mouth thing.

[A]

No, I'm not doing the noodle. We were, like, running trot lines and jugs and, you know, fishing off the shore. But that was part of our culture, was like. It was more backwood. You know, let's go hunt and provide. Put it on the plate.

[B]

Right, right.

[A]

But I always said, I'm going to be a cowboy one day. You know, I want to have a ranch. Grew up. First thing I did was go to work for the prison. My dad did, my uncle did. It's kind of like I've always used this quote, like, if I would have been born in West Virginia, I'd probably worked in a coal mine, because that's what your family did. Music just kind of started happening. And then one day I realized after we had, you know, years and years and years of being broke, I mean, really, really really broke. I realized that I could make a decent living not only for myself but for my team. Finally my wife and I, we. I started roping on other people's horses and. Well, let me back up. In high school was when the bull riding thing happened because it cost a hundred dollars. Gotcha. I could go do work for everybody.

[B]

Bail hay sport, right?

[A]

Yeah, you pay a hundred bucks and you get to get on a bull. And that was, you know, it was the cheapest thing for me and I was just crazy and tough enough to do it. And I continued doing that well out of high school. It was about five, six years of riding bulls and then that kind of went away and music took over and so I lost that arena adrenaline, that stuff that I long for and I started riding on other people's horses. You know, later on roping and I finally bought a horse and we didn't have a place to keep it. I was trying to figure out how this was going to work and my wife and I decided, look, we're going to make a lifestyle change. We're going to sell our place, we're going to buy this ranch and we're going to build it up. We're five years into building this thing up now there's 20 something horses in the barn and we've got three pastures full of cows. And doing the real tonight after the show, I'm getting on a jet going straight back to Texas. Should get back home about seven. They should have all the cattle loaded. We're going to sort all stuff for the sale. So I'm literally getting home from being the rock star and going right back in the crowd. Yeah, I'm going to work. Yeah, this is the fun stuff.

[B]

I love it, man.

[A]

It is a job.

[B]

But. But yeah, tomorrow I'm going to work. But you have to have a passion for them. You do for the farming and the cattle business.

[A]

And now I get to, you know, I rope and rodeo. And you still do? Yeah, competitively. Like we've won three, three team ropings this year, really so far. And well, congratulations kind of morphed into. In October, I have my own team roping event.

[B]

No way.

[A]

The Kojo champions, the Cody Johnson championship event. And it's a week long of every kind of team roping and roping you can think of more giving away trucks and trailers and buckles and big huge prize packages and go check it out. Go to Kojo team.

[B]

We'll check it out. Because I'm so interested in the rodeo business. So I went last week or Whenever I was a week ago or two weeks ago and where we met for the first time up at the Big Valley Jamboree and Camrose. And so I'm like, well, I guess I own a rodeo business, sort of. And so I had to go get some gear. So I got my first cowboy hat.

[A]

Heck yeah.

[B]

I have a button up shirt with the pearl, pearl buttons on it now.

[A]

And you just need to let me outfit you. Wrangler. I've got. No, I've got Wrangler, the Cody Johnson line. Wrangler, shirts, jeans.

[B]

Okay, so I need this dog.

[A]

Kojo hats. I got you covered.

[B]

Okay, good.

[A]

Top the bottom.

[B]

It's awesome. Yeah. I'm so blown away by it. And I. The physical fitness and you know, intestinal fortitude that those guys have are. They have insane. And I don't think it's recognized enough. Rodeo is becoming a real trend right now, as you see. And I don't think it got enough recognition earlier.

[A]

And oh, there's a lot of people that really didn't understand it.

[B]

Yeah, sure.

[A]

You know, they're like, I can't believe they tie a rope around that bull's balls to make him butt.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But it's not how it goes, man. It's just a flank rope to make him think he's tight and he jumps. They're these animals that we ride and that we rope are taken care of better than some people in America.

[B]

Oh, I agree.

[A]

It's the highest quality feed. It's filtered water. It's making sure when they're cold, they're not cold and when they're hot, they're not hot. And it's really rock.

[B]

Are the rock stars.

[A]

They are the rock stars. And I mean, you know, like even the cattle on my ranch, they've got it very, very well.

[B]

They got it made.

[A]

Yeah, they got made. I'm remodeling my house, living in a trailer house and they got all the feed they want and they're. They're in high cotton.

[B]

Oh, that's fantastic. So how did music come about? How did that all come about?

[A]

Singing was just always there.

[B]

It was.

[A]

Music was always there. I love performing in front of people from the time I was a little, little kid. And I just never knew what it would take me anywhere.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then I figured out that I could not only do what I love for a living, but monetize it and make a really good living. And from that moment I said, I don't have a backup plan. This is what I'm going to do. And to this day, I still don't have a backup plan.

[B]

Like, not having a backup plan probably pushes you as an artist or an individual.

[A]

I think it's great. Jump out of the plane and hope the shoot works now. You know, the award shows and TV and the big headliner shows, and everybody's like, man, I wanna. I want that. I want that. It's like, man, this is 20 years.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And most of those 20 years were not enjoyable. They're great memories now. Absolutely. But at the time, I was scared to death and wondering, how am I going to make this work?

[B]

We eat tomorrow.

[A]

Yeah. Am I going to be able to provide for my wife at home who's pregnant? You know, those are very real emotions that people don't think about. It's like, if you're not willing to make that sacrifice, put yourself in that position, then just go sign the dotted line where they say, all right, here's your name. Here's what you're going to dress like. And I've known people that have done that, and they're like, I wish I'd done it your way. And I know you. Don't you think you do, but maybe not.

[B]

I totally understand your story. And. And it's a kind of an inspiration to me that we've been able to push through all of the crap and the roadblocks. And it takes a lot of grit. It does take a little bit of crazy. Definitely. You have to be adventurous, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you have to have. You have to be inspired, and you have to, like.

[A]

I just compared it to jumping out of a plane because you have amazing.

[B]

Like, you have the passion. I mean, I'll watch your live show, and it's like, holy.

[A]

Like, yeah. It's really just from the bottom of my heart. Yeah. A lot of our show, we don't rehearse. We rehearse at the beginning of the year, especially when there's a new stage and a new album. Probably Two days max. 98% of what you see on stage is stuff that just happens. I'll just do something. And it worked. And we all kind of look at each other because we don't run tracks. And we're like, that was. That was great. And then I'll just do it the next night. And sometimes I'll do it a completely different way. The other night, for some reason, I thought my drummer during the solos fed. Let's go. And I introduced him and ran off stage. They had eight bars of what do we do?

[B]

No way.

[A]

And they made this Cool on the cuff. Just vamp into this drum solo. And I said, sorry. He goes, it actually turned out pretty well. And I'm like, well, let's just keep doing that then. You know? I mean, it is real. And when you see. Sometimes you'll see me, like, you know, kind of choke up about things. When that's. That's me on stage, you know, looking out at sometimes anywhere from 13 to 30 to 75,000 people.

[B]

All the.

[A]

All the hard times are played in my head, and that's what kind of keeps me going, you know?

[B]

So when you stand at that mic and you have 25,000 people out there, 30,000 people, do you ever have that moment flashback to I'm playing this club in front of 10 people, and I have to work for that guy's attention who's talking to his girlfriend, who's not listening to my music. Does that ever flash back in your head?

[A]

Every night it does. Every night. I had a young artist that's.

[B]

Now.

[A]

He's on a stadium tour now. Before he played his first show, he said, do you look everybody in the eye? I said, absolutely. Every one of them. He said, how do you look him in the eye? I said, I scan this place the entire night and talk to each person in here, even if I'm really not for me. I'm talking to every single person. I'm singing to every single person in here. He's like, how do you do that? I said, man, you need to go play in dive bars for you, and then you'll figure it out.

[B]

So I've had a lot of great interviews with a lot of different people and a lot of different artists, because some of them haven't growing up like you have. So you grew up and you went to the bars, you played the bars, you worked through that process, which, at least in my opinion, gives you the chops of being able to perform live. And that's why your live show, I believe, bars.

[A]

Bars with the honky tonks. Y. Honky tonks lead the dance halls. Dance halls lead to clubs, clubs lead to theaters, and then theaters lead to wherever you can go next. Arena stadiums or the festivals or whatever it may be. And then once you get to those levels, you're the first of 12 on the festival. I want to be the last one, so you got to work all the way up those ranks, too. So. Yeah, you're right. Sorry, I didn't interrupt you, but it's.

[B]

A process, and I'm intrigued. You know, the industry's changed so much, and we have Kids who like, you know, have a one hit, they're tick tock kids. Which I. It was great. I mean, it's just a new way of developing artists, right? My big question is like, how do you play live? Dude, You've never played live in your life. You came up, you put your phone on and you recorded the song and it hit, which is fantastic. I watched that so curiously and I watch these young kids and some are freaking great because they're just natural, deep. You gotta figure it out, right?

[A]

It's natural. It's authentic crap.

[B]

100.

[A]

I think that's what you're getting at.

[B]

That's exactly what I'm getting at.

[A]

It either has authenticity or it doesn't.

[B]

Or it doesn't.

[A]

If you don't do it, it'll do you in every sense of every business life, marriage, music, all of it. If you don't do it, it'll do you. Saying. I think whenever you get told this is what your band is, this is the sound you're going to go for. And I even had this conversation recently with studio musicians in Nashville because we just, like I said, we just cut this new album. At some point you think they're just blowing smoke up your ass about how much fun they're having. And they're going, no. Most of the sessions we go to, they say, here's your guitar part.

[B]

Play that and don't.

[A]

Next song, play that next song. Whereas when I go into the studio, we. What do we want to do here, guys?

[B]

Let the boys rep, huh?

[A]

Yeah. Like now I'm really kind of feeling this, but what do you think? And it may be the drummer or the bass or the steel. Somebody goes, hey, guys, hold on. Tell me.

[B]

Let's.

[A]

Let's revisit this idea. And we're actually creating music. So when you listen to my album, it was created there in the studio.

[B]

So that's why it's such a vibrant sound.

[A]

Then you hand it to my band and we create it again on stage. And it has authent. It has an organic authenticity that I don't think you get by doing the cookie cutter thing. I really don't have you worked with.

[B]

The same producer, Trent Willman?

[A]

Yep, my entire career.

[B]

So I met Trent Woolman when he was opening for Tim McGraw. I was Thanksgiving Day, we did. We shot the special. It was a Thanksgiving Day special. We shot it in Milwaukee, Green Bay, Wisconsin. So it's Trent Willman, Big and Rich and Tim McGraw. And I was doing Tim McGraw's production at the time. So we Go to this bar after. And Tim was drinking in those days, and Big and Rich were totally drinking those days. And Trent and I are sitting at the bar and freaking John Rich runs across the bar with a ball of Crown Royal and tries to hit everyone's glasses, Right? Like the glasses that you're drinking out of. And some of it hit, some landed up on you. But, I mean, those were the good old days. But what a great guy. I haven't seen him in probably 20 years. How's he doing?

[A]

He's living his best life.

[B]

He is, right. You know, he's a ranch hand for Faith Hill's Scott Hendrix. Scott Hendricks.

[A]

Scott Hendrix.

[B]

And he worked as a ranch happen.

[A]

He was actually on. He was actually working for Scott Hendricks when Scott Hendricks handed him a tape and said, listen to this tape and tell me if there's anything good on it. Three days later, he said, you got a hit song on this record, and it's called Strawberry Wine. And Scott went in and recorded Dina Carter.

[B]

Dina Carter. Yeah. Did that. Wow.

[A]

He thought he always wanted to be in that position that I'm kind of in now. And looking back, he's like, it was totally you. It was totally you that God put in my life to go. That's the kid that needs to go to do it, he said, because now I get to produce, I get to write, I get to produce other records, I get to garden. He's like, I get to be involved with my daughter and my grandkid and be at home with my wife and just live. And he's like, I'm so much happier now because he's like, I watch you half the time, and I'm going, no way. No way. All the. All the.

[B]

Everything that wasn't for him.

[A]

He thought it was, though. And it's funny just how life works out. You know, I met him, him, and at the time, he was kind of bitter about not having that chance. And now he's like, I get to produce album of the year.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, how cool is that?

[B]

But a very talented guy.

[A]

Yeah. One of my best friends.

[B]

I freaking love it. So let's talk about 20, 25 and going into 26. We're gonna have a baby. Are you gonna tour in 26?

[A]

We've got five or six stadium shows. A couple are confirmed that we're, you know, back to back arena nights. Big, big plans for it.

[B]

The.

[A]

The numbers just keep going up and it's, you know, I wanted to do this now so that whenever it is the first year of my son, I Can be able to be home with my wife and daughters and him and have this big hit record that comes out. And we've been recording a lot of surprises, kind of getting things.

[B]

Sure.

[A]

You know, I mean, there's different clothing line launches, different business ventures that we're doing. So like I said, I was ready to taper off for this year and I thought, no. After sitting down with Howie and Jackson.

[B]

You know, he's good.

[A]

He's the same old Howie.

[B]

Howie, for me, please.

[A]

He needs to get back surgery, but he's fine. Yeah, he's walking around like an old man. Jesus. We sat down and just looked at it and was like, you know, if I. If I bust my ass now, it's going to be a whole lot better later. But it's 20. I'm looking forward to 26. It's going to be a great year.

[B]

Well, I just want to thank you for coming over here. I know that, you know, you just flew in and we're at the gig right now and Cody's about ready to go on stage in the next 10 minutes. And thank you for cutting this time out. And I wish you the best.

[A]

Thank you, brother.

[B]

And I truly do. And you're gonna kill it tonight. These kids are out there waiting for you, right?

[A]

Oh, yeah. Meet and greet was. They were very, very excited.

[B]

They very emphatically love Kobe Johnson. So I'm excited about seeing the show too. No, thanks for cutting off this time.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Thank you. So.

[A]

Always good to see you.

[B]

It's great to see you too. And I want the clothing line.

[A]

I'll get you hooked up.

[B]

So this is a fun segment and my producer wants me to pick one of my favorite venues in Canada. Well, that's a hard question, and it's a hard question to answer because there's so many beautiful places in Canada. Every venue has its own identity and its own kind of vibe. We're in Calgary right now and we're sitting in the middle of the city. The beautiful skyline around us, and that's kind of the city thing. So I really like this place. I think it's awesome. And we're right off the Bow river, which is fantastic environment. I mean, this place is awesome. And then you go to, like Camrose, which is more of a fairground vibe, but still beautiful in its own way and has its own kind of unique, interesting kind of personality about it. Then you go to Craven, Saskatchewan, where we play Country Thunder. And it has. It sits in a valley that is absolutely gorgeous. Green rolling hills and absolutely silent at night because there's very low population in that area. So everything kind of has its own place. So I didn't really answer the question, but I'm just giving you a little idea of what we experienced this past summer running through Canada, which is one of my favorite countries in the whole world. Just want to thank Cody Johnson again for joining us today. Be a bull rider, professional bull rider at that takes a whole different trait of intestinal fortitude. Pretty amazing. We have incorporated for 2026 a bull riding event at every Country Thunder. Next time you're out looking for something to do and Cody Johnson's playing your town, you got to check it out because he's absolutely an amazing act and I think you'd really get a kick out of it because it's high energy and he goes out every night and gives it 110%. He's a great live act and he'll be all over the states through the end of the year. Head to codyjohnsonmusic.com for tour dates. His new single is called the Fall and it's out now. I'm Troy Voluper and as always, thanks for riding along with me on the bus. Be sure to follow Country Thunder on all our social platforms. At Country Thunder, we have new episodes dropping bi monthly. Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you know when the new episodes hit the feedback.

[A]

Y' all can't see it on the other end of the cameras, but it is sweltering in here. We're doing this. We're doing this for you.

[B]

The button right behind me.

[A]

Oh, you get the fancy one. Oh, man.

[B]

It's cool enough.

[A]

This is way nicer than my bus.