Cody Johnson is proof that with hard-work, patience and a hell of a lot of talent, you can become one of the biggest stars in Country music. The Texan singer-songwriter released five studio albums independently before he enjoyed a breakthrough with his 2016 album ‘Gotta Be Me’, which was certified Gold in the US. For his seventh solo album “Ain’t Nothin’ To It”, Johnson signed to Warner Music Nashville and he’s been on an upwards trajectory ever since. 2021 album ‘Human: The Double Album’ produced the huge hit “Til You Can’t” and current album ‘Leather’, released in 2023, has been heaped with critical acclaim.
Having never performed in the UK before, the announcement that Johnson would be headlining the third and final day of C2C 2025 in London was met with a lot of excitement. Johnson has been on the wish list of UK Country music fans for a long time so C2C booking him is a huge coup. I’d go as far as to say he’s the best booking at this year’s festival. Cody Johnson performing at The O2 in London for C2C 2025. With plenty of songs to choose from across his catalogue, Johnson had quite the job at delivering a setlist that was going to satisfy all of his fans.
Opening with ‘That’s Texas’ from current album ‘Leather’, Johnson arrived on stage in an uptempo blaze wearing his trademark blue shirt, jeans and cowboy hat. Keeping the tempo up, Johnson then launched into ‘Me and My Kind’ from 2014’s ‘Cowboy Like Me’ and the crowd went wild, which is the state they stayed in for the whole performance. ‘Dance Her Home’ had the audience on their feet throughout the arena, dancing and singing as Johnson turned The O2 into a huge party.
As a performer Johnson plays to his strengths. His voice sounded on top form, especially on the night’s more sensitive moments such as the gorgeous ‘The Fall’ and number one smash ‘The Painter’. He has a natural patter with the audience that feels authentic. Throughout his set he covered the stage, ensuring that wherever people were sat they could see him, and he showcased his sense of humour as he told stories, and shared anecdotes, including one about ‘Georgia Peaches’ being the result of drinking 80% proof moonshine.
Across his set Johnson dug into several of his albums, treating fans to songs old and new. Carrie Underwood was beamed onto the video screen for a rendition of their recent duet “I’m Gonna Love You” and ‘Human’, the title track of his epic 2021 double album, resonated strongly with the audience. ‘Dirt Cheap’ was another poignant moment that showcases Johnson’s incredible ability to deliver a story with plenty of heart and emotion. Of course “’Til You Can’t” received one of the biggest reactions with a huge singalong and an electric buzz that I doubt Johnson will forget in a hurry.
For his encore, Johnson returned to the stage for a cover of Bruce Robison’s ‘Travelin’ Soldier’. A lot of Country fans know the song either from the original or from The Chicks’ version, but Johnson put his own stamp on it. His final song of the night was ‘Diamond in My Pocket’ from 2011 album ‘A Different Day’ and it was the perfect end to a pretty perfect set. The audience danced and sang their way through the whole song, and no one was ready to say goodbye as Johnson left the stage.
Cody Johnson performing in the UK has been a long time coming and C2C was the perfect setting for his debut. With a 90-minute headline slot, Johnson proved that he more than lives up the hype and reinforced the general consensus that he’s the best in the genre right now. Perfectly marrying traditional and modern Country, Johnson is an artist that can straddle audience tastes, and his huge success shows his wide appeal. Johnson’s C2C set at The O2 in London was a triumph and I doubt it’ll be long before he’s back on our shores with his own headline tour.
Set list: 1. That’s Texas 2. Me and My Kind 3. Dance Her Home 4. How Do You Sleep At Night? 5. With You I Am 6. Dear Rodeo 7. Nothin’ on You 8. Take It Like a Man 9. Human 10. Georgia Peaches 11. The Fall 12. People in the Back 13. I’m Gonna Love You (feat. Carrie Underwood) 14. Long Haired Country Boy (The Charlie Daniels Band cover) 15. Dirt Cheap 16. The Painter 17. ‘Til You Can’t 18. Travelin’ Soldier 19. Diamond in My Pocket Venue: The O2, London Performance date: Sunday 16th March 2025
