Cody Johnson, Clint Black, et Emily Ann Roberts

Those are the words of country superstar Cody Johnson, the former rodeo rider turned musician. In his two-disc album Human: The Double Album, Cody Johnson — also known as CoJo — opted for songs that Nashville had written off as “too country for country.”

Taking creative risks is nothing for Johnson. One might assume that earning accolades like CMA and ACM Awards nominations, a Platinum single (“On My Way To You”), more than 2 billion streams worldwide, and two RIAA-Gold-Certified tracks is best accomplished by playing by the rules. However, risk-taking is in Johnson’s DNA, and it’s something he’s not going to give up — particularly when it comes to his music.

Born in East Texas in 1987, Johnson started playing music at age 12. He loved it from the start, but his Texas upbringing also introduced him to another, more adrenaline-fueled love: riding bulls at the rodeo. Even as he formed the Cody Johnson Band in 2006 with his father and drummer Nathan Reedy, rodeo pulled at Johnson’s heart.

Later in his career, Johnson would immortalize this journey in song. “All that rodeo, that intense high of riding bulls and thinking that was what I was going to do, and that intense low of that instant realization at a young age that I wasn't good enough and I didn't finish that," says Johnson, "That almost depressed area of my life... all that was allowed to happen to me for one song."

Perhaps music had its own way of rectifying this struggle. On May 15, 2019, Johnson made history by becoming the first unsigned musician ever to sell out the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. If ever there were a case of fate assuring someone that they’re on the right course, this would be it.

Earlier that year, Johnson had released his seventh studio album Ain’t Nothin’ To It with Warner Bros. Records Nashville. This album gave him his first Top 40 hit on Country Airplay. There was plenty of touring to be done on such a monumental record, which is perhaps what led to the nearly three-year gap between this and his subsequent record.

When Human: The Double Album arrived in October 2021, it was the result of the years Johnson spent writing and retracing his songwriting roots. The result was a selection of authentic country songs that Johnson felt particularly attached to. When it came time to choose which ones were going on the record, Johnson says he tagged all of them as necessary to the album. That meant a true double album, each with an A and a B side.

“What I did was put the songs together in sequential order as if it was a set list, and I was going to play you this album live. If there’s a theme to this project, it’s that the album is a set list.”

A year after Black’s birth, his family decided to leave the East Coast and head south down to Texas. Clint spent his childhood fascinated by music, self-teaching himself how to play the harmonica and guitar, as well as playing in a band with his three elder brothers, before deciding to try his hand as a solo act when he dropped out of high school.

Inspired by old school country crooners such as George Strait and Willie Nelson, Black played at bars and lounges, whilst working a variety of jobs to support himself, from construction worker to fishing guide. In 1989 he was picked up by country label RCA Nashville, and his musical career took off.

He released his debut album “Killin Time” shortly after, which was met with critical and commercial success, turning Clint Black into an overnight country star. The album topped Billboard charts, as did both lead singles, and it was certified platinum a year later. Black married Texan actress Lisa Hartman around the same time.

After a successful start, which also saw Clint take home a slew of country music awards, he didn’t rest on his laurels, releasing albums every year for the following three years, up till 1994. After a short break, he released a further two albums, including 1999’s “D’lectrified” before taking a five year sabbatical to take care of his newborn daughter.

His comeback album, “Spend My Time” was released on his newly formed record label Equity Music Group. Black’s most recent musical output was 2005’s “Drinkin’ Songs and Other Logic”, his ninth studio album.

Black has also had a variety of TV and film appearances, in acting roles and as himself. Notable roles include parts in TV show “Wings”, comedy movie “Anger Management” and reality TV contest, “Celebrity Apprentice”.