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Cody Johnson has continued his show-stopping year - which has so far included a debut Grammy win - with an spine-tingling performance of ‘Human’ at the 2023 CMT Awards.
The Texas crooner looked at home on the gleaming stage - which was positioned in the middle of the sea of spectators - and perhaps it's no wonder, given the fact that the ceremony was taking place a mere three-hour drive away from where Johnson grew up.
Donning his trademark white cowboy hat, Johnson showcased the charismatic stage presence he has become renowned for, introducing a moving fragility into his vocals when the verses demanded it, before launching into the driving, anthemic hook.
‘Human’, which originally appeared on Cody Johnson's acclaimed 2021 double-album of the same name, translates the rousing, carpe-diem cry of ‘Til You Can't’ into a more introspective, vulnerable ode to all his flaws and imperfections.
On Johnson's 2022 live project, Cody Johnson & The Rockin’ CJB Live, he explained that ‘Human’ was inspired by the serious neck surgery he underwent as a result of past bull-riding accidents.
Ahead of the 2023 CMT ceremony, Johnson battled it out with Carrie Underwood for the coveted Video of the Year award, before being knocked out at the final stage of voting.
Despite this rivalry, the two chart-topping artists are closer than many thought, with Johnson having teased an exciting new duet with Carrie Underwood in the lead-up to the 2023 CMT Awards.
While we look forward to getting the official release of that collaboration, in the meantime, we'll be rewatching Cody Johnson's enchanting CMT performance on an endless loop for weeks to come.
For more on the 2023 CMT Awards, see below:
