As Cody Johnson celebrates the release of his latest album, Banks Of The Trinity, the acclaimed muso has opened up about some of his past struggles, including admitting to having spent time in jail.
Johnson made his recent comments while appearing on The Kalleigh Bannen Show, during which he reflected on a number of topics, including how his success has come despite many “dark times” along the way.
"Dude, there was a lot of very dark times to get to this sunshine and rainbow experience that I'm having now," he explained. "Sleazy hotel rooms and no money and tinkering with alcoholism or drug problems or whatever, anger issues, whatever it was."
"It's like I wanted people to know, ‘Hey, when you look at me, please don't put me on a pedestal,’” he continued. “‘I'm doing the best I can just like you. I've got parts figured out. I've got parts that I don't have figured out.’”
Additionally, he also explained that those times of darkness extended to overnight stays in jail, too.
“I’ve been to jail, stuff like that,” he revealed. “People don’t know that. I’ve been locked up a few times in jail. Just overnight. I didn’t get sentenced or anything.
“There’s parts of my life that people don’t know about and I’m like, ‘Y’all look at this Cody Johnson guy like I’m some kind of saint.’ I’m not. I am just like you.
“I have daily struggles with things that you do too,” he added. “I have to really work up here a lot to get my brain disciplined to where I don’t think like that guy. Let’s be a better version of that guy. That kid’s got to grow up eventually.”
Johnson’s latest revelation came off the back of a big year for the Texan, who made his latest visit to Australia in March of 2025, and saw him awarded Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards in May.
While accepting the former award, Johnson dedicated the honour to Luke Combs, explaining how he watched Combs’ anguish as he learned his wife had given birth to their second son while he had been overseas in Australia.
“There’s a man that was up for this award that I’ve personally watched devote his life to country music,” he explained. “And I was there the night in Australia, when his wife gave birth to one of their sons, and I watched the anguish and I watched the defeat on his face for not being there because he was across the world playing music in a sold out arena.
“And the next night right after, I watched him get on stage and absolutely murder this stage, and go on stage and play country music and preach the message of country music to a bunch of Australians across the world.
“So tonight, I want to dedicate my first Entertainer of the Year award to my buddy Luke Combs, I love you brother.”
Countrytown brings you Australia’s best country music news, interviews, charts and more every week! This post was authored by Countrytown and originally published on the Countrytown website. It has been re-published with permission.
