And the 2024 Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year goes to…Cody Johnson, for the musical masterpiece he calls “Leather!” Let the record show that that’s Cody’s own roping hand on that album cover. This guy’s cowboy songs are legit, because he is one. And a win for him is a win for our entire Western world, because CoJo’s hell bent on keeping country in country music.
“People have poured their passion—hearts and souls—into this album,” beamed the happy CMA champ, who was quick to credit others who gave all alongside him to “Leather.”
Johnson, who sang a duet of “I’m Gonna Love You” with Carrie Underwood at last night’s CMAs, team ropes every chance he gets when not performing center stage. He poured his heart and soul into another passion project in recent times. That resulted in the inaugural Cody Johnson Championship Event, which was a weeklong rope-a-thon in Belton, Texas in October. Andrew Ward and Jake Long left the first-ever CoJo Open $32,500 richer, and pulling brand new gooseneck stock combo Bloomer Trailers with shiny new Bill Fick Ford F-350 dually trucks.
“This is such a God thing,” Ward said. “I won third at the last George Strait (Team Roping Classic with Cody Doescher in 2017), and I never thought we’d have another chance at winning a truck and trailer. It was so sad when that roping went away. What a gift this is. I can’t thank Cody enough for what he’s doing here.”
The King of Country, who loves to rope like CoJo does, also was honored at the CMAs last night. Strait received the 2024 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
“We all grew up wanting to win a gold buckle, but a win like this, where between the cash and prizes we each won over $200,000—that’s a big deal,” Long chimed in. “Cody’s a good dude, and he doesn’t act like he’s better than any of the rest of us. You’d never know he’s so dang famous, because back behind the chutes he’s just one of the guys. He’s great for the roping and rodeo industry.”
That’s a fact, and CoJo’s earned the respect and friendship of the best in the roping business.
“A lot of guys in country music want to be cowboys,” said Cowboy King and 26-time World Champion Trevor Brazile. “Cody is a cowboy. I’ve roped with him.”
@teamropingjournal CoJo was in the house tonight at the @bobfeistinvitational inside the @Lazy E Arena…because where else are the team ropers hanging out on a Tuesday night? @Cody Johnson is always welcome in cowboy country. Btw, if you were watching BFI Week live, you’d have already got to watch all the action this week, but if you didn’t, you can head to @Roping.com to rewatch all the action this weekend. (And while you’re there, you can even learn from some of the best team roping instructors in the world.) #TeamRoping #Cowboy #BFIWeek #RopingTok #CojoNation ♬ Ride With Me – Cody Johnson
“Cody knows who we are, because he’s one of us,” added World Champion Team Roper Colby Lovell. “He lives it, and he means it when he sings about it. Cody’s our concrete cowboy with the power to stand up for rodeo, ranching and cowboys in places where people judge from the outside in. He’s worked his hands to the bone, so he’s not a guy who’s ever going to forget where he came from. Cody Johnson has brought the cowboy hat back.”
“Cody’s stayed true to himself, and stuck to his guns,” said World Champion Team Roper Kaleb Driggers. “He’s not afraid to get up on that stage and talk about his belief in God, love for America and everything we stand for as cowboys.”
Cody Johnson lives it every day, and it shows.
“Team roping has all but consumed my life since 2020, and roping is what I do to get away from the smoke and lights,” Cody said. “When I’m out there horseback with a rope in my hand, I just get to be who I am at the core, and that’s a cowboy.”
Congratulations, CoJo!
