Cody Johnson unveiled the deeply personal music video for his Top 10 and climbing single, “The Painter,” a tune that serves as a heartfelt tribute to his wife of 15 years, Brandi Johnson. On Friday (Jan. 19), the platinum-selling country superstar offered fans a glimpse into the love story that inspired the song.
Directed by Dustin Haney, who filmed Johnson’s “‘Til You Can’t” and “Human” music videos, the video was filmed on Cody’s Texas ranch just before the holidays. The outdoor setting, captured in black and white, serves as the perfect canvas for Cody Johnson’s emotive performance of the song. As the video’s narrative unfolds, early moments of Cody and Brandi’s relationship were unveiled, showcasing her unwavering belief in and support of his dreams.
These poignant scenes of his wife are portrayed in vibrant color, symbolizing Brandi as ‘The Painter’ of their shared dreams. The video concludes with a special cameo by Johnson’s wife, marking a significant turning point in the video, as Cody’s performance slowly transitions into a burst of color.
“I hope my fans are encouraged to take the time to appreciate the people they have around them. The ones who make their life beautiful and bring all the beautiful colors to their world when it could just be black and white and dark. Remember them and tell them you love them,” he previously shared in a press release.
Watch Cody Johnson’s “The Painter” Music Video Below
Performed The Tune During 2023 CMA Awards
In November 2023, Johnson brought the song to life during a live performance at the 2023 CMA Awards. Brandi, who was present for the performance, gave her husband a standing ovation with a teary-eyed glance of love at the end of his powerful performance. As he sang the intense lyrics against the emotionally charged instrumentals, a captivating piece of artwork emerged, featuring a stunning painting of the country star’s wife, Brandi, blended into the background.
Brandi, who was present for the performance, gave her husband a standing ovation with a teary-eyed glance of love at the end of his powerful performance.
Story Behind Cody Johnson’s Single, “The Painter”
Written by Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins, and Ryan Larkins and produced by Trent Willmon, “The Painter” plays out like an affectionate love letter to Johnson’s wife, Brandi Johnson, who has always stuck by her husband’s side through a series of life changes, including before and after he rose to fame.
The thoughtful track finds Johnson describing his other half as someone who fully supports him with lyrics like, she “Gets excited about all my crazy dreams.” Johnson, a 36-year-old Texan, goes on to praise Brandi for remembering every little moment, including each “sunset that she’s ever seen” before heading into the chorus, which treats listeners to the distinctive neo-traditional sound he is best known for.
“I don’t remember / life before she came into the picture / Brought the beauty I was missing with her / Showed me colors I ain’t ever seen,” Johnson sings over a driving beat and acoustic instruments. “She took chances / With every wall, I built she saw a canvas / I thank god every day for how he made her / My life was black and white, but she’s the painter.”
While He Didn’t Write The Tune, He Connects With It
Although Johnson didn’t write “The Painter,” he discussed the parallels between the character in the song and Brandi.
“My wife, she has this uncanny memory. She’ll tell you things like, ‘One time, I was in the third grade, and it was 68 degrees outside, and it was Friday the 3rd, and I was wearing a green sweater, and I was walking down Jefferson Street.’ And, you’re like, ‘I don’t remember where I played two weeks ago.’ She’s one of those people that remembers everything, always remembers everybody’s name, and I’m horrible with names,” Johnson explained in a new episode of Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen on Apple Music Country, referring to the beginning verse of the romantic tune. “I feel like the world should wear name tags. It’s like, she’s got every sunset she’s ever seen memorized. As soon as I heard that, I was like, ‘Well, that’s Brandi.’”
How Did Cody Johnson And Brandi Johnson Meet?
Johnson met Brandi years ago when he worked as a professional bull rider, later transitioning into the role of a prison guard. Noticing his musical talents early on, Brandi encouraged Johnson to pursue music full-time and quit his day job. Now years later, Johnson sees the canvas that Brandi saw before it was ever complete.
“My favorite lyric in ‘The Painter’ is, ‘for every wall I built, she saw a canvas.’ If there’s anything that describes my marriage with my wife, Brandi, it’s that line,” Johnson shared in a press release. “And that’s why we’ve been together for 15 years.”
Cody Johnson’s Wife Brandi Motivated Him To Keep Going
Brandi has been with Johnson throughout his career, long before he earned his first chart-topping hit, “‘Til You Can’t.” And while the journey to stardom is tough for any artist, Johnson says that Brandi has always motivated him to ‘start again,’ even when he had career doubts and wanted to quit.
“There’s always been start agains. In my music career, you get to the point where you’re like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this anymore. I’ve been traveling up and down the roads making $100 a night in a van and can’t afford to put gas in it,’” he said. “And she’s going, ‘Yes, you can. You left your steady job for a reason, and yes, you can do it.’ And so it’s like you start again. Okay. I’m gonna keep going.”
“Even in our marriage… There’s been times when we’ve had to stop, regroup with each other, and go, ‘Hey, we’re not going anywhere,’ so let’s just pick this stopping point right here. Let’s start over and say, ‘We’re going to approach this together because we know that it’s what’s supposed to happen’,” he continued. “I think that’s a very vulnerable line, and also, it brings to light for me how a man should take the time to stop and recognize the fact that she can make you remember what’s right and what’s wrong.”
“She’s Definitely The Motor Behind A Lot Of This”
Crediting Brandi for keeping him going when his career gets busy.
“It’s not all frills and rainbows. But yeah, she’s definitely the motor behind a lot of this, and I admit that,” Johnson added. “There are times when I come home, and I’m like, ‘I am so overwhelmed. There’s so much going on, and it’s all good stuff. I’m releasing a record. I’m going out of the country to go play. We’re on this award show, and we’re traveling to here, and I just can’t take it anymore.’ She’s going, ‘Yeah, you can. You’re doing a great job.”
New Album, Leather
“The Painter” serves as the lead single on his latest album, Leather, a 12-track project Johnson released in November 2023. The album features fan-favorite tunes such as “Dirt Cheap,” “Make Me A Mop,” “Whiskey Beat (feat. Jelly Roll),” “Love Live Country Music (feat. Brooks & Dunn)” and more.
Earlier this year, Cody Johnson told us that there will be a deluxe version of the album coming in the near future, which will feature 12 more new songs in addition to the project’s original 12 tracks. “I would like to release twelve to give people a chance to digest, to really go through these twelve songs and figure out what their favorites are, what their least favorites are, and live with it for a little while, then they can have the next twelve,” he revealed, describing the release as “kind of an appetizer-entree situation.” One song that we know will appear on the forthcoming deluxe edition of the album is his highly-anticipated collaboration with Carrie Underwood.
Leather follows the release of Johnson’s 2021 album, Human The Double Album, which includes the chart-topping hit “‘Til You Can’t,” as well as “Human,” “Stronger,” and “Buy Your Grace,” among others.
Headlining Leather Tour
Additionally, Cody Johnson will kick off his highly-anticipated Leather Tour this weekend with back-to-back sold-out concerts in Sacramento and Anaheim, California. Joining Johnson as support on select dates of the trek are Justin Moore, Dillon Carmichael and Chris Janson. The trek currently runs until September, with numerous sold-out dates, including a performance at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on February 2. This marks Cody’s inaugural headlining concert at the Nashville arena. The preceding night, Cody is set to grace the stage at the Grand Ole Opry.
For more information on Cody Johnson’s new music and upcoming tour dates, visit his official website, at codyjohnsonmusic.com.
