Cody Johnson just sold out the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. Over 15,000 fans are heading to the arena this Friday night to see if the rumors of his burgeoning mastery are actually true. This is not a polished pop show. It is a high energy explosion of fiddle and steel guitar that starts long before the lights go up.
Cody looks like a man about to go to work in the cedar brush rather than a superstar with CMA nominations for Entertainer of the Year. He does not use backing tracks to hide his voice. Instead, he leans into the quiet moments of the afternoon to find the fire he needs for the stage. It is a rare look at a man who knows that tomorrow is never promised so he gives everything to today.
You need to see the preparation and the grit behind the scenes before the first chord strikes:
Just Getting Warmed Up. See Y’all Tomorrow.
One viewer said that Cody is the only one keeping real country music alive for the next generation. Another fan mentioned that they drove six hours just to hear that specific growl in his voice. It is a bond built on the fact that he was a bull rider before he was a singer. He knows what it feels like to hit the dirt and get back up again.
That same grit follows him from the quiet rehearsals right onto the biggest stages in America. The transition from a private ‘warm up’ to a stadium full of screaming fans is enough to give anyone chills. Cody brings that same energy to every city, but there is something special about this stop in Illinois.
Cody Johnson – The Fall (Live at CMA Fest 2025)
When he stands on the stage at Nissan Stadium to sing ‘The Fall,’ the world seems to stop spinning for a moment. He is joined by the powerhouse Randy Houser to make sure the night is as loud and authentic as possible. The crowd becomes a choir of thousands of voices all singing about the beauty of getting back up. It is a victory lap for a man who just won CMA Album of the Year for his record Leather.
Cody Johnson is the real deal. His journey from the prison system to the spotlight proves that hard work still matters in this world. You should follow Cody Johnson on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to see where the road takes him next. He is just getting started.
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