[EXCLUSIVE] How Luke Combs Helped Launch Cody Johnson Worldwide

The 61st Annual ACM Awards proved to be the biggest night of Cody Johnson’s career, as he took home the coveted Entertainer of the Year award.

Back when he was nominated for the same award at the 59th Annual CMA Awards in November 2025, Johnson told me that he would not be where he is today if it weren’t for Luke Combs and what he did for him.

How Did Luke Combs Help Cody Johnson’s Career?

In an exclusive interview with me on Taste of Country Nights, Johnson revealed the exact thing he believes led him to where he is now in his career: becoming this year’s ACM Entertainer of the Year.

Johnson said, “The only reason I’m doing a headliner world tour is because he [Combs] allowed me to go open for him on his headliner world tour. He’s been taking country music across the pond for a long time.”

When Was Cody Johnson’s First Headlining World Tour?

Cody Johnson’s first headlining world tour was The Leather Tour, which launched in January 2024.

The “The Fall” singer brought along Justin Moore, Chris Janson and Dillon Carmichael, thrusting them into the global spotlight and potentially opening the door for them to headline a world tour of their own one day, just like Combs did for him.

Johnson’s current Cody Johnson Live 26 Tour also takes him international.

Read More: Country Music Tours Scheduled for 2026: Full List

Cody Johnson’s 2026 ACM Entertainer of the Year Speech

As Johnson stepped up to the microphone to accept the Entertainer of the Year award, he joked that he had nothing left to say because he had already used up his speech earlier in the night after winning Male Artist of the Year.

Johnson still delivered a some memorable lines during the speech, saying:

“All I’ve ever wanted to do is be in front of a crowd and entertain. They say that music is the sound of emotion, and I get to use my platform to not only promote positivity in this country, but all over the world.”

Proving he meant what he told me back in November 2025, Johnson dedicated his Entertainer of the Year award to Combs, saying, “I want to dedicate this to somebody you guys probably didn’t expect me to dedicate this to. There’s a man that was up for this award that I personally watched devote his life to country music, and I was there the night in Australia when his wife gave birth to one of their sons.”

He continued, “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. So tonight, I want to dedicate my first Entertainer of the Year award to my buddy Luke Combs. I love you, brother. Thank you.”