Cody Johnson Refused to Change Cowboy Image for Nashville Record Deal
The country music star said executives wanted him to swap his signature hat for a baseball cap, leading him to walk away and build his career on his own terms.
Country music star Cody Johnson revealed that Nashville executives attempted to alter his image before he could achieve stardom, suggesting he replace his iconic cowboy hat with a baseball cap. Johnson recounted in an interview with "CBS Mornings" that this proposed change was part of a larger demand to modify his identity before granting him a record deal.
"They wanted a baseball cap, which I have nothing against, but it was the approach. It was the 'you're great, but once we change you, you'll make it.' And it pissed me off," Johnson stated. He explained that he declined the offer, saying, "I tipped my hat and said, 'Thank you for your time.'"
Following this decision, Johnson dedicated the next decade to establishing his career independently, performing in bars and honky-tonks. He shared that he initially dreamed of being a rodeo star but turned to music after experiencing injuries and setbacks. Early in his musical journey, he sold CDs at rodeo parking lots to build a fanbase.
Johnson admitted that he grappled with self-doubt regarding his aspirations. "Truthfully, in my core, I didn't feel I was capable of attaining a goal that big, you know, to be a huge country music star, to own a cattle ranch," he said.
He described the financial hardships and personal sacrifices, including extended periods away from his family, that characterized this challenging period. "The pressure of knowing that you don't know how to pay your water bill, and you've just been on the road for a month and haven't seen your wife or your child, and you have nothing to show for it. That's that's tough to look in the mirror."
Despite these difficulties, Johnson remained resolute. "I think that I just had decided at that point that no matter what, no matter how hard, no matter how high the mountain, I will not back down. I will not quit," he asserted.
After approximately ten years of operating as an independent artist, Johnson found that record labels approached him again, this time without the insistence on altering his established image. He expressed satisfaction with this development, stating, "I just get to be myself and be authentic."
Johnson has since achieved national recognition, selling out arenas and becoming a prominent figure in country music, all while maintaining the cowboy persona he initially refused to compromise. He has been married to his wife, Brandi, for over a decade, and they have three children.