In 2024, Cody Johnson completed his transition from scrappy independent artist to country music mainstay. The "Dirt Cheap" hitmaker nabbed his first-ever Album of the Year trophy for Leather at November's CMA Awards. Days earlier, Johnson, 37, released a deluxe version of his third major-label album. One of the standout tracks was "I'm Gonna Love You," his long-anticipated duet with Carrie Underwood. And recently, the crowd at Johnson's Nashville show got a delightful surprise when Underwood joined him onstage for a live performance of the song.
Cody Johnson brought out Carrie Underwood during the second night of back-to-back shows at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Saturday (Feb. 15.) The "Dirt Cheap" hitmaker stopped there on his Leather Deluxe Tour, which wraps up Aug. 9 in Detroit, Michigan.
Having already brought out singer-songwriter Ian Munsick for "Long Live Cowgirls," Johnson later began singing the opening lines to "I'm Gonna Love You."
Then, fans noticed Underwood making her way up the stage's stairs to meet the "Human" crooner at the top. As she sang over the crowd's deafening roar, a grinning Johnson pointed to the American Idol several times -- almost as if he, too, could scarcely believe his good fortune.
One TikTok user gushed, "[When] he started to sing that song, I was saying no way she's here... but she was."
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"I was literally on floor," another fan added.
Next, Johnson heads to Buffalo, New York for a Friday, Feb. 21 performance at KeyBank Center. Meanwhile, Underwood makes her judging debut on American Idol when the show's 23rd season premieres Sunday, March 9, on ABC.
"I'm Gonna Love You," Cody Johnson's tender piano ballad duet with Carrie Underwood, was eight years in the making when it finally dropped last October.
"I was like, 'It's Carrie Underwood or nobody," Johnson said. "I just heard her voice. I could already hear it."
The "'Til You Can't" artist had the song ready to go when he dropped Leather in 2023. However, he held back when that release didn't fit Underwood's timeline.
"I've been waiting," Johnson told Billboard. "I've been chomping at the bit for this one."