Cody Johnson: ‘It’s important to remember those that came before us’
Cody Johnson talks with The Tennessean’s Marcus K. Dowling ahead of his Nissan Stadium performance during CMA Fest Friday, June 8, 2024
After a viral performance, the bar for national anthem renditions has been set quite low this week, according to fans. So who’s up next?
Cody Johnson, an award-winning country music singer, is set to perform the national anthem at the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday. Johnson’s performance follows Ingrid Andress’ rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” Monday night, which caused a stir on social media as viewers panned it as off-pitch.
Andress revealed Tuesday that she was intoxicated during the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday and says she’s “checking myself into a facility today to get the help I need.”
In 2023, Johnson won best new country artist at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, and his song “Til You Can’t” won single of the year and music video of the year at the Country Music Association Awards in 2022. He has also been nominated for numerous Academy of Country Music Awards.
Get to know both of the artists behind the national anthem during the MLB’s All-Star week.
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Johnson is set to sing after Andress received terrible reviews for her performance of the national anthem at the Home Run Derby on Monday.
On social media, fans widely mocked Andress’ rendition, with some declaring it the “worst national anthem performance of all time.”
The next day, Andress revealed on social media Tuesday that she was “drunk last night,” and issued an apology as she said she is “checking myself into a facility today to get the help I need.”
Andress, 32, is a country music singer who released her debut studio album, “Lady Like,” in 2020. It reached No. 9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and she followed it up in 2022 with “Good Person.”
Andress has been nominated for four Grammys, including best country album for “Lady Like” and best new artist. She previously appeared on the singing competition show “The Sing-Off,” and she has writing credits on songs like Charli XCX’s “Boys.”
Who is Cody Johnson?
The 37-year-old artist has been recording albums since 2006, although his first from a major label was “Ain’t Nothin’ to It.” The 2019 release hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and featured the song “Dear Rodeo,” which he performed with Reba McEntire.
Johnson followed it up with the double album “Human” in 2021, the lead single from which, “Til You Can’t,” spent nine weeks at the top of Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. His latest album, “Leather,” was released in November and featured a collaboration with Jelly Roll.
Johnson was born in Texas, and he has a background in bull riding.
“I left the rodeo because I just wasn’t good enough,” he told the country music magazine Holler. “As a bull rider, you’re either born with something like that, or you have enough athletic ability to adapt while you’re still learning the ropes. I didn’t have either. I had the passion, but that just wasn’t where God wanted me to be.”
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Johnson has performed the national anthem before, including before game 7 of the World Series in 2019. He also threw out the ceremonial first pitch during a Rangers game earlier this year.
“My manager Howie was like, ‘Would you rather sing the anthem or do the first pitch?'” he said at the time. “I was like, ‘Man, I’ve never done the first pitch.’ So this is going to be my first time ever to get to do it, and it means a lot.”
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Cody Johnson recently spoke out against ‘disgusting’ Donald Trump assassination attempt
Johnson recently went viral after delivering passionate remarks about political division during a performance on Saturday shortly after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
“The fact that any American citizen would think that what they did today would solve a problem in this country is absolutely disgusting,” Johnson said. “You want to solve a problem in this country? On election day, go in there and vote for who you want.”
He continued, “I’m tired of the hatred. I’m tired of the division. I’m tired of people talking about Trump and Biden. Let me tell you something. There’s people in this crowd that agree with Trump. There’s people in this crowd that agree with Biden. Guess what? That is your God-given American right to believe whatever you want.”