You know it is a tough pill to swallow when a cowboy like Cody Johnson has to sit out a performance at the biggest country music show of the year.
Cody Johnson is heading into the 2025 CMA Awards with four major nominations, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year. For any artist, that alone is a career-defining moment. But for a guy like Johnson who clawed his way up from Texas honky-tonks and flat-out refused to play Nashville’s political game for years, it hits different. That long-overdue industry recognition is finally rolling in. Still, he is not stepping on stage to perform this time, and it is not for lack of opportunity or willingness.
Just last month, Johnson underwent surgery for a ruptured eardrum. It was a necessary procedure that sidelined his tour and forced him to cancel all remaining 2025 dates. And while he probably could have gutted it out and forced a CMA performance, he chose not to. Speaking with Lon Helton on Country Countdown USA, Johnson said flat out, “I had an opportunity and maybe I could but we did not want to risk my recovery process.” More importantly, he did not think it would sit right with his fans.
That is where CoJo separates himself from most artists. Plenty would take the CMAs stage even while canceling shows left and right. But not Cody. He said, “I did not think it would be fair for the fans who had their shows canceled.” That is what you call integrity in a business where it is too often missing.
This is not just another awards show for Johnson. It comes after a hell of a run. In the past year alone, he dropped Leather Deluxe Edition, an album that hammered home traditional country with fiddles, banjos, and steel guitars. He landed multiple number-one singles, including a fiery duet with Carrie Underwood called “I’m Gonna Love You” that turned into one of the most memorable CMA moments last year. The man has been on a tear, and it all led to four nominations this year, including Male Vocalist of the Year, Music Event of the Year, and Music Video of the Year, along with that Entertainer of the Year nod.
This was supposed to be his moment to take center stage and show Nashville why he deserved that title. But instead, Johnson will be in the crowd cheering on his peers and still part of the night by announcing Lainey Wilson’s performance. He is doing it the right way. No shortcuts. No fake smiles. Just doing what is best for his health and what is right by the people who have supported him from day one.
Of course, Johnson’s road back to that stage is already in motion. He confirmed that his eardrum has healed, and he is slowly getting back to singing. He even joked that his voice sounds better now after the forced rest. His team is planning a full return in early 2026 with a new album on the horizon that already includes guest appearances from Luke Combs and Brothers Osborne. The man may be down for now, but he is not staying there for long.
Oh, and in the middle of all this, he and his wife, Brandi, welcomed their third child and first son, Jaycee Daniel. That quiet bit of joy went unannounced for three weeks. Johnson kept it private, just like he keeps most of his life outside the stage. “When I’m on stage with the guitar, I interact with the world. But when I take my hat off I’m very private,” he said.
So when Cody Johnson sits at the 2025 CMA Awards and watches the show instead of performing, do not think for a second it is a sign of weakness or regret. It is a man standing firm in who he is, choosing to honor his fans, his health, and his values. That is not just country. That is the real deal.
