Cody Johnson’s lengthy discography is nothing to scoff at. The Sebastopol, Texas native has been churning out hit after hit for years, but amidst his catalog spanning nearly two decades and hundreds of tracks, a few gems truly define his career. CoJo’s repertoire includes a distinct ability to sing about the most mundane slice-of-life stories and turn them into incredible memories and feelings that the listener will undoubtedly conjure when listening to many of his records. As great as his overall catalog is, we’ve collected the ten most outstanding tunes that have hallmarked Cody Johnson’s career thus far.
10. “On My Way to You” -Ain’t Nothin to It (2019)
A beautiful love story is right in Cody Johnson’s wheelhouse. Peaking at #11 on the Billboard US Country Airplay charts, “On My Way to You” has many traits we’ve come to expect from Cody Johnson: great lyrics, great vocals, and killer guitar work. Its story is short and straightforward, following a man hitting all those highs and lows in his life that eventually led him to the girl of his dreams. Ultimately, this track and its album laid the groundwork for Johnson’s prolific career as a country radio mainstay. It hasn’t been his biggest single to date, but he wouldn’t be the star he is today without it.
9. “Diamond In My Pocket” – A Different Day (2011)
Written by Thomas Green, Trent Willmon, and CoJo, “Diamond In My Pocket” is the track that made Cody Johnson a household name in Texas. It’s a foot-tapping beauty rooted deep into country music fandom and is a permanent piece of history for Johnson. Its unbridled, confident nature has had listeners jamming out since its release over a decade ago. Never finding chart success in its time, “Diamond In My Pocket” was a cult classic for years before being discovered too late to see any real success outside of a few TouchTuneses nationwide. In recent years, this track has become an internet favorite; its touch-and-play lyrics are strong with an easygoing attitude that evokes Johnson’s life as it was at the time, back when he was a young upstart getting his feet wet in the Texas music scene.
8. “Dear Rodeo” (with Reba McEntire) – Single (2020)
In a love letter to an old-fashioned American rodeo, Cody Johnson and Dan Couch created a beautiful portrait that describes the relationship between a man and his rodeo. This relationship is complicated; Johnson seems to admit how he loves it but eventually has to leave, and both he and the rodeo know it. The original cut is excellent, but Reba adds some more weight to this song with her addition. This song is soaked in truth; before CoJo broke onto the scene as a significant player in country music, he rode bulls professionally, making this an honest and heartfelt “break-up/love song” that Johnson offers to his former job.
7. “Leather” – Leather (2023)
The title track of Johnson’s newest album, “Leather,” is a charming tune about the life of a cowboy. Written by Ian Munsick, Jeremy Spillman, and Rivers Rutherford, it’s gorgeously produced, and the song sounds a lot bigger than the track’s lyrics. In premise, the song compares Superman, known as the “Man of Steel,” and cowboys, known as the “Men of Leather,” and hits on all of the tropes that we’ve come to expect from a genuine western cowboy working hard to earn his keep. It flows like a lullaby, reminding listeners that when Cody is singing about topics near and dear to his heart, he’s always at his best.
6. “Son of a Ramblin’ Man” – Human: The Double Album (2021)
A real boot-tapping boogie, this track gets you into that whiskey-drinking mood, sharing a glimpse into the life of a proverbial apple that didn’t fall too far from the tree. This track plays with some tongue-in-cheek references to a man who might like to have a little too much fun with too many ladies. It follows a fast-paced tale of a father talking to his son about women and the son finding out that he can’t settle down. Its high-octane sound is undoubtedly catchy, and “Son of a Ramblin’ Man” is a song that will keep you smiling throughout its funny lyrics. Notably, these clever lyrics were written by country music legend Vince Gill.
RELATED: Cody Johnson, “Leather” – Album Review
5. “The Painter” – Leather (2023)
Peaking at #1 on the Billboard US Country Airplay, “The Painter” is simply a gorgeous track. Although not written by Johnson, this song is all about his wife. It’s one of the most authentic love songs we’ve heard on country radio. The lyrics describe Brandi Johnson (CoJo’s wife) as a painter, introducing him to a new, vibrant existence he had never known before. Brandi and Cody’s honest love story and their resilience before he found success gives this song so much merit. It’s a perfectly executed effort, and Cody’s connection to its premise gives this song more personality than the cheap, touch-and-go love songs the radio likes to throw on.
4. “Monday Morning Merle” – Ain’t Nothin’ to It (2019)
Songs that namecheck other songs are pretty typical these days; some are good, and some are just lazily written tracks hoping to get some success by asking the audience, “Hey, do you remember this one song by that one famous artist?” But finding one with a real story is not impossible, and this little ballad proves it. In the past few years, this song has slowly slipped away into obscurity, but for CoJo’s fans, it is a relaxing heartbreak track about a man who has a favorite artist for every day of the week. Ultimately, Sunday is his day of reckoning, restarting the pattern repeatedly, with Merle on Monday, Springsteen on Tuesday, etc. The checklist of namedrops is lifted by a smooth melody that allows this deep cut to strike a memorable chord with heartbroken listeners.
3. “Human” – Human: The Double Album (2021)
This is where it all gets tricky. Johnson’s discography is fantastic, so nailing down a definitive top 10 is tough. You could easily argue that “Human” has earned its spot at #1, but with so much competition, it wouldn’t be fair to those other songs. “Human” is easily one of the most potent songs in Johnson’s collection. It’s just a relatable song, simple as that. We’re all human; we make mistakes, hit those potholes in the road, and are just trying to figure life out. Cody Johnson makes his point as clear as tequila. This overarching theme to this song blends regret for the past and hopefulness for the future and tributes to those who have been there when the going gets tough. “Human’s” red-dirt flair stays true to Johnson’s country roots, and its execution is top-notch.
2. “Dirt Cheap” – Leather (2023)
Arguably, the best song of 2023, “Dirt Cheap,” is easily CoJo’s most extraordinary story song to date. It’s about a new neighborhood being constructed in a small town, and when the builders ask an old cotton farmer if they can buy his land for top dollar, he turns it down and gives a list of deeply personal reasons why. Its touching melody and soaring chorus are cut deep, and it uniquely displays the conflict between industry and rural sentimentality. The words read like a novel, with the lyrical twist being that the developers want to buy the older man’s land for top dollar, but the man confesses that you can’t buy the memories built on this dirt cheaply. It’s a spectacular track that could easily be his magnum opus if not for the #1 song on this list.
1. “‘ Til You Can’t” – Human: The Double Album (2021)
The very real emotional response to this song has earned this moving song its place at the top of our list. This is peak Cody Johnson. Written by Ben Stennis and Matt Rogers, “‘ Til You Can’t” is CoJo’s most commercially decorated song so far, peaking at #1 on multiple Billboard charts, US Country Airplay, US Hot Country Songs, and Canada Country, and reached #18 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It’s certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA and won CMA Single of the Year and the Grammy for Best Country Song of the 65th Annual Grammy. All of these accolades are well-earned, as the smash hit is relatable, catchy, and heartwarming, and all of that quality are only multiplied tenfold if you have lost a loved one. It comes with a sense of responsibility throughout this song, urging you to call your mom for a quick phone call, see your dad, and stop putting off forever with that girl who loves you. It has everything instrumentally that makes Johnson great, including a rocking drum and some sweet steel guitar. This is the rawest Johnson we’ve probably ever received, and as the song that skyrocketed the Texan troubadour to Nashville’s A-list, it’s earned its prestige as his biggest hit.
Honorable Mentions:
- “Ain’t Nothin to It” -Ain’t Nothin to It (2019)
- “Me and My Kind” – Cowboy Like Me (2014)
- “Watching My Old Flame” – Leather (2023)
- “Longer Than She Did” – Human: The Double Album (2021)
- “Long Live Cowgirls” (with Ian Munsick) – Single
