Nashville crowned a new king of country vocals on Wednesday night, and his name is Cody Johnson.
At the 59th Annual CMA Awards inside Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday (November 19), the multi-platinum superstar officially took home Male Vocalist of the Year, marking his first-ever win in the category and a defining moment in an already decorated career. The honor also makes this victory especially meaningful, as it’s Johnson’s first CMA win since welcoming his newborn son, turning an already historic night into a deeply personal one.
“This one hits different,” and honestly? You could feel it.
CODY JOHNSON
Taking the stage to accept the award, Johnson delivered a heartfelt, faith-forward speech that instantly became one of the night’s most memorable moments.
“Thank you, Lord, for the guidance you’ve given me,” he shared. “Without His hand or grace on my life, I wouldn’t be here tonight.”
Reflecting on his childhood dreams, Johnson painted a picture that longtime fans know all too well — a kid with a microphone taped to his bunk bed, singing everything from Boyz II Men to Merle Haggard, dreaming big in a small space.
“To get this award and be in a vocalist category with Chris Stapleton — one of the greatest vocalists of all time in any genre — thank you, Chris, for paving the way,” he added.
That moment carried even more weight considering Stapleton’s legacy in the category, having won Male Vocalist of the Year eight times, the most in CMA history.
CODY JOHNSON
Beyond the trophies and titles, Johnson made sure to shine the spotlight where it mattered most — at home.
“I wanna thank my wife and my now three little kids at home,” he said proudly. “We just had our baby boy.”
Johnson and his wife Brandi recently welcomed their son Jaycee, joining daughters Clara Mae (10) and Cori (8). The win marked his first CMA victory as a father of three, adding a powerful layer of gratitude and growth to the moment.
Johnson entered the night with four CMA Award nominations, including: Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year (which he won!), Musical Event of the Year, and Music Video of the Year for his two-week No. 1 hit “I’m Gonna Love You” with Carrie Underwood.
The Male Vocalist category was especially competitive, with fellow nominees Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen, and Zach Top — making Johnson’s victory even sweeter.
Notably, while Stapleton and Combs had dominated the category in years past, 2025 marked the first time Johnson broke through for the win, officially ushering in a new chapter for the genre’s vocal elite.
CODY JOHNSON
Johnson’s CMA triumph arrives during a banner year that’s already rewriting his personal record books.
Earlier this month, he released a studio version of “Travelin’ Soldier,” which debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 (his highest charting song ever); Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs; and No. 8 on Spotify’s Weekly Top Songs USA.
The track earned nearly 15 million global streams in its first week, becoming the No. 1 streamed country song of the week and placing Johnson as the fifth highest streamed country artist overall.
Oh — and he’s not slowing down anytime soon. Johnson has already announced 2026 tour dates, continuing to prove that his brand of “real country” is thriving louder than ever.
With 43 Gold and Platinum certifications, over 10 billion global streams, four No. 1 singles, and now four career CMA Awards, Cody Johnson’s journey has never been about shortcuts — it’s been about heart, grit, and authenticity.
For more coverage from the 2025 CMA Awards, click here.
