Naomi Johnson is stepping into a new era — one that’s raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal. With her latest single, “Bricks Make Houses,” the former Runaway June member peels back the layers of her past to deliver a soul-stirring anthem that’s as much about hardship as it is about love. And trust us, Celeb Secrets readers — this is Naomi like you’ve never seen her before.
Co-written with Sam Bergeson, Kat Higgins, and Lydia Vaughan, “Bricks Make Houses” takes us straight into Naomi’s unconventional childhood — a story so gripping it could be a movie. Picture this: a school bus-turned-home, eleven siblings, two parents, and a dog, all sharing tight quarters. No heating, no AC, no trendy #VanLife aesthetic — just survival, resilience, and a whole lot of love.
“I didn’t realize how poor we were until a certain age,” Naomi shared with Celeb Secrets in an exclusive interview. “When you’re a kid, you’re just playing outside, you’re fed, you’re loved, and you don’t think about it. But I remember the moment I realized — whoa, we are not like the others.”
That realization is the heartbeat of “Bricks Make Houses.” The song, produced by Naomi alongside Josh Kelley and Dustin Christensen, beautifully captures the contrast of growing up with so little, yet feeling so rich in connection. Through its vivid storytelling, Naomi paints a picture of childhood moments filled with both struggle and warmth — sharing shoes, sleeping outside under the stars when the bus got too hot, and learning to find joy in simplicity. The lyrics delve into the emotional weight of those experiences, balancing the pain of uncertainty with the deep love that held her family together.
But “Bricks Make Houses” isn’t just a nostalgic deep dive — it marks the beginning of a whole new chapter. After years of sharing the stage with Runaway June (including an epic run on Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty Tour 360), Naomi is striking out on her own, and the catalyst for this transformation? Motherhood.
“I almost died giving birth to my daughter,” she revealed. “It was a wake-up call. If I hadn’t made it, and she looked back at my music, she wouldn’t have really known me. Not as a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend. That changed everything for me.”
With that realization, Naomi knew she had to go all in — on her story, her sound, and her truth. That meant stepping away from the security of a major label, co-producing her own music, and taking creative risks like never before. She wasn’t just making an album — she was crafting a legacy.
“I needed the space to just be weird,” she laughed. “To experiment, to let my Cherokee heritage come through in my sound, to cry on the mic if I needed to. It was terrifying, but so freeing.”
And that freedom led to some of the most powerful moments of her career — like breaking down in the studio mid-recording, or singing a song for her daughter while carrying her in a baby wrap on her back.
“Looking back at those moments, I just think — this is why I’m doing it,” Naomi said. “This album is my truth, and I’m finally ready to share it.”
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Naomi’s journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and ultimately, triumph. Her past is woven into every lyric, from growing up in extreme poverty to a brief stint in a religious commune, and even working as a deckhand on a salmon fishing boat in Alaska. Each chapter of her life has shaped the artist she is today, and in “Bricks Make Houses,” she’s giving fans a front-row seat to her most intimate stories.
Her childhood wasn’t just a backdrop — it was the foundation of the artist she has become. The song’s title itself symbolizes that idea: even when life hands you nothing but bricks, you can still build a home, a sense of belonging, and a future. “I had to be resourceful, I had to be tough, but I also learned how to dream,” Naomi reflected. “That’s what this song is about — how love can make even the hardest circumstances feel like home.”
Stepping away from the major label system was a leap of faith, but it allowed Naomi to find her voice — both literally and figuratively. Co-producing her own project with Josh Kelley, she created an album that feels completely hers. Unapologetic. Honest. And deeply rooted in the stories she once hesitated to tell.
“Country fans are different,” she mused. “They want to know you. They’re ride-or-die. And if I’m asking them to be on this journey with me, I need to give them the real me.”
That “real” Naomi is a fighter, a mother, an artist unafraid to be vulnerable. And with “Bricks Make Houses” paving the way, her solo era is set to be one of the most compelling and authentic narratives country music has seen in a long time.
“Bricks Make Houses” is just the beginning, and if this song is any indication, Naomi Johnson’s solo era is going to be something special. Get ready, country music — she’s just getting started.
Listen to “Bricks Make Houses” below and don’t forget to let us know what you think of the track by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecretscountry.
