Cody Johnson is currently putting the finishing touches on his upcoming double album, Leather, but the Texas-based star recently revealed that he has another project up his sleeve.
Honor Country Music Legends With Covers Album
During a recent interview with iHeartRadio’s Spencer Graves, Johnson revealed that fans can expect to hear a covers’ album from him at some point in the future.
“I’m doing a concept album called The Cowboy Sessions, and it’s nothing but old cowboy songs like Marty Robbins and Willie Nelson,” he said. “The entire record is just covers. I’m covering Chris Ledoux, I’m covering George Strait. I’m covering Tom Russell and all this stuff. That’s kind of close to what you’re seeing.”
Teased Bluegrass, Gospel And Full-Blown Rock Albums
The 36-year-old also opened up about a few more projects he hopes to take on down the road.
“In my future, I think a bluegrass album, I think a gospel album,” he shared, adding that “it would be really fun one time to just record a full-blown rock album.”
“I would never tour it,” he noted. “If I did, I might play three shows. We could go to New York, L.A. and Chicago or somewhere crazy like Austin.”
New Album, Leather
The first part of Leather is expected for release in the fall and the full project will include 24 songs. It will be Johnson’s second consecutive double album, following 2021’s Human.
Along with the traditional country fans have come to expect from Johnson, Leather will also include a gospel track, according to the singer, as well as a handful of songs recorded specifically for his live shows.
“That’s because I wanted to,” Johnson explained. “That’s because it’s so country I wanted to, that’s because it’s so country nobody else would cut it. These songs right here we’d probably put on the radio. Because that’s what we’re here to do is make country music. And I think that’s what’s gonna separate us from a lot of people.”
He first announced the double album in April, calling it “the best round of songs I have ever recorded” during an interview with Audacy’s KMLE Country 107.9, adding that he believes “each album should outdo the last one.”
“There’s some fun stuff, I think the theme of this new album is fun,” he revealed when asked about the album’s thematic content. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a ballad or whether it’s tongue-in-cheek kinda fun. It all has to be fun, it all has to make you kind of want to move around and bob your head a little bit.”
New Single, “The Painter”
Along with his upcoming projects, Johnson has current music impacting country radio, with his new single, “The Painter,” officially going for spins.
The song is dedicated to Johnson’s wife, Brandi, who worked two jobs to support their family when Johnson was beginning his music career.
Speaking on Apple Music’s Today’s Country Radio with Kelleigh Bannen, Johnson recalled how Brandi has always been an integral part of his support system.
“There’s always been start agains,” he said. “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.’ And she’s going, Yes, you can. You left your steady job for a reason and yes, you can do it.’”
Johnson added that he and Brandi, who share two daughters, have applied the same mentality to their marriage.
“There’s been times where 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 said. “I think that 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.”
