Cody Johnson: 'I Was Not a Good Kid' Until This [Secret History]

Cody Johnson was a prison warden before chasing country music full time, but to hear him describe it, he was just a "wrong place/wrong time" away from being an inmate.

Maybe that's an exaggeration, but maybe not?

"We would drive to a completely different town just because we got a phone call that somebody wanted to fight," "The Fall" singer once told Taste of Country.

"Even when we moved to the buses ... we've had guns pulled and all kinds of (things)."

Then, one night at a bar, he looked up and saw his future wife, and ever since that day, it's been clean living, right?

Ummm ...

Who Is Cody Johnson's Wife?

Cody Johnson and Brandi first crossed paths four years before they met.

He was 17 and she was 14 when his band played at her high school. During the Dear Rodeo documentary, she admitted to having a crush on the lead singer, but it wasn't until she was 18 that they met and got serious.

"I was the guy that before my wife met me, I would have multiple girlfriends and tell them about each other," Johnson once told us. "I was not a great guy."

Actually, they got real serious real fast. Within a month the couple moved in together, and not long after, they became engaged.

So to a certain extent, she did work the bad boy out of him.

The last vestiges of his bull-riding, fighting lifestyle took until he was closer to 23 to get worked out. That was when he finally gave up his job at the maximum security prison and started to chase country music full time.

Flash-forward to 2025 and the couple is expecting baby No. 3 while he picks up Entertainer of the Year nominations. Life is good.

Jason Kempin, Getty Images

This week's Secret History of Country Music shows how that path was a bit more complicated than it seems.

There is another person who influenced his life just as much as Brandi and his parents. It's there — at the end of this video — that one learns who Johnson really is.

If you like this video, consider our popular Secret History of Zach Top video, as well.

Top 20 Cody Johnson Songs Adored by COJO Nation

Cody Johnson has a way of captivating his fans with his heartfelt delivery and powerful, rugged vocals. His ability to get a crowd fired up and also draw them in for a sentimental ballad is unmatched. Although most know him for his hits "Human" and "'Til You Can't," Johnson has been rocking the stage for quite some time. Let's take a look at his Top 20 songs.

These Artists Prove Traditional Country Is Alive and Well

These 23 modern country singers prove that traditional country is alive and well. Cody Johnson, Justin Moore, Aaron Watson and newcomers like Triston Marez and Lauren Mascitti are staying true to country music's roots. Scroll down to find an artist you'll love.

Filed Under: Cody Johnson