Cody Johnson returned to the ACM Awards stage with a show-stopping performance of “Travelin’ Soldier.”
One year after winning the Academy of Country Music Awards’ Song of the Year trophy for “Dirt Cheap,” Cody Johnson returned to the show’s stage. Johnson, who boasts four nominees this year, performed his rendition of “Travelin’ Soldier,” a song first made popular by The Chicks in 2002 just moments after being named this year’s Male Artist of the Year.
An avid supporter of our military, Johnson began singing the song at his concerts and it quickly became one of his most requested covers. He recorded and released a studio version in November of 2025 just ahead of Veteran’s Day.
For CoJo’s ACM Awards show performance of the song, he stood in front of a giant American flag as war footage played on large screens. The crowd sang along with the familiar lyrics and rose to their feet as Cody ended the song.
It’s been a whirlwind year for Cody Johnson.
In late October, Cody and his wife, Brandi, welcomed their third child, and first son, Jaycee Daniel.
Jaycee’s arrival came just a few weeks after CoJo suffered a ruptured eardrum. The injury required surgery and forced the “‘Til You Can’t” singer to postpone the remainder of his 2025 concerts.
“The healing process will take many weeks, and it is not possible for me to sing during this time,” he wrote on Instagram at the time. “Without the surgery, my downtime could be months.”
The Texas native shared a follow-up video after the procedure, with a bandage over his left ear, saying he was home from surgery and that “it went well, as best as they could have expected.”
Following the surgery, Cody shared an update with fans, saying that it went “as best as they could have expected.”
His ACM Awards nominations include Single of the Year and Visual Media of the Year for “The Fall,” and nods in two of the night’s biggest categories: Male Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.
CoJo has been nominated for 21 ACM Awards and took home his first one last year. He was also named the recipient of the ACM Spirit Award, an honor inspired by Merle Haggard. It is presented to a singer-songwriter who is carrying on Haggard’s legacy through “genuine performances and authentic storytelling, crafting great songs, and following their own unique path.”
