Cody Johnson isn’t the flashiest personality in country music today, but he’s arguably the most consistent. That’s the biggest reason why he clocks in at the top of our list of Country Music’s 25 Most Important Modern Artists.
Maybe more than any other singer working today, he’s a student of the old-school way to build fame: Grinding upward through the bar and honky tonk (and, in Johnson’s case, rodeo) circuits.
Compared with many of his peers, social media has had little to do with Johnson’s rise, except for the videos concertgoers film at his shows to convert their friends into fans. He’s a word-of-mouth artist, and his career makes an excellent case that that’s still the best way to achieve country superstardom in 2026.
Read More: Here’s Why Cody Johnson Won ACM Entertainer of the Year
When CoJo won his first Entertainer of the Year trophy at the ACM Awards in May, we made the case that he earned it by showing up — both literally, and by consistently appearing as the artists fans know and love him to be. We’ll make the same argument as to why he’s our No. 1 entry for the 25 Most Important Modern Artists in Country Music. There’s simply no substitute for delivering on your promises to fans, at a consistently high level.
Who Is Cody Johnson?
Born in Huntsville, Texas, Johnson learned to play music from his father. He began to perform in local bars and churches while simultaneously pursuing a career as a rodeo bull rider and working as a prison guard.
Starting in the mid-2000s, Johnson became increasingly committed to music. He released albums on his own CoJo label and started to rise up the ranks to the Texas touring and radio scenes, winning New Male Artist of the Year at the Texas Regional Music Awards in 2011.
It was around this time that his backing band officially became the Rockin’ CJB. They’d eventually become one of the most-renowned backing bands in country music as Johnson rose into mainstream superstardom.
Cody Johnson’s Best Songs
Johnson’s upward trajectory gained serious momentum in the 2010s with grassroots hits such as “Me and My Kind” and “On My Way to You,” two songs that remain fan-favorites.
But the song that made him who he is today is arguably the No. 1 hit “‘Til You Can’t,” which came out in 2021 and was on the track list of his breakout Human album.
“The Painter,” “The Fall,” “Dirt Cheap” and a Carrie Underwood duet called “I’m Gonna Love You” have all served as major hits for Johnson in recent years. Even as his success in radio grows, he’s still perhaps best-loved as a live performer who consistently sells out massive venues and brings in a large, passionate and ever-growing fan base.
Scroll through the list below to see our roundup of 10 CoJo songs that show why he’s the most important country artist working in the genre today.
Criteria: This list of the 25 Most Important Modern Country Artists was curated by Taste of Country staff, who considered hard data (charts, streaming numbers, ticket sales etc.), perceived influence, awards and recognition and (most important) recent releases. We zoomed in on who is shaping country music with popular releases today.
Artists who’ve not released an album or notched a hit song on airplay or streaming charts in the last three years need to show their influence in other ways. An example is Carrie Underwood, who’s not released a new album in four years but is the most influential voice on America’s most popular singing reality show.
No: 25 Riley Green’s Top Songs | No. 24 Kelsea Ballerini’s Top Songs | No. 23 Tim McGraw’s Top Songs | No. 22 Blake Shelton’s Top Songs | No. 21 Eric Church’s Top Songs | No. 20 Jason Isbell’s Top Songs | No. 19 Kenny Chesney’s Top Songs | No. 18 Keith Urban’s Top Songs | No. 17 Dan + Shay Songs | No. 16 Jason Aldean’s Top Songs | No. 15 Megan Moroney’s Top Songs | No. 14 Tyler Childer’s Top Songs | No. 13 Carrie Underwood’s Top Songs | No. 12 Zach Top’s Top Songs | No. 11 Miranda Lambert’s Top Songs | No. 10 Kacey Musgraves’ Top Songs | No. 9 Shaboozey’s Top Songs | No. 8 Jelly Roll’s Top Songs | No. 7 Ella Langley’s Top Songs | No. 6 Chris Stapleton’s Top Songs | No. 5 Zach Bryan’s Top Songs | No. 4 Morgan Wallen’s Top Songs | No. 3 Lainey Wilson’s Top Songs | No. 2 Luke Comb’s Top Songs | No. 1 Cody Johnson’s Top Songs
Cody Johnson’s 10 Best Songs Prove He’s a Top-Tier Entertainer
Cody Johnson has a way of captivating his fans with his heartfelt delivery and powerful, rugged vocals. His ability to get a crowd fired up and also draw them in for a sentimental ballad is unmatched. Although most know him for his hits “Human” and “‘Til You Can’t,” Johnson has been rocking the stage for quite some time. Here are the 10 songs that show CoJo at his very best.
Gallery Credit: Jess Rose
