Have you ever wondered if a Christmas song could actually have enough “cool” to make a cowboy trade his horse for a Harley? Most Christmas music is soft and slow, but Cody Johnson decided to change that during his CMT holiday special. He took the stage with a massive brass section to perform “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” for a crowd that could not stay in their seats.
The energy in the room changed when the drums started thumping heavy beats. Cody Johnson wore his signature cowboy hat and leaned into every note. He did not just sing the words. The growl in his voice felt more like rock and roll than country.
One viewer mentioned that this was the best version of the song they had heard in decades because it felt so alive. Another person commented that Cody has a way of making old songs feel brand new without losing their history. It is rare to see a modern star tackle a legend like Elvis Presley and actually match that level of cool.
Cody Johnson Performs “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” | CMT Presents: A Cody Johnson Christmas
Cody Johnson clearly had a blast bringing that big sound to the stage, but he was actually following a trail blazed by a leather-clad icon decades ago. That modern country swagger was born from a very specific moment in history when holiday music stopped being polite and started being powerful. To see where Cody got his inspiration, you have to watch the original king of cool reclaim his throne.
Elvis Presley – Santa Claus Is Back In Town (’68 Comeback Special)
In the famous footage from 1968 Elvis Presley proved that Christmas could be soulful and even a little bit dangerous. He sat right in the middle of the audience and poured incredible strength into every single line while his band kept a steady rhythm. Fans at the time were stunned by his raw energy and people still watch this today to see what a true legend looks like.
Cody Johnson carries that same fire today by staying true to the roots of real music.
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