Cody Johnson Delivers Breathtaking Performance of ‘The Painter’ at 2023 CMA Awards

Cody Johnson took the Bridgestone Arena stage at the 2023 CMA Awards to deliver a spellbinding, drawn-in rendition of his heartfelt new single, ‘The Painter’.

The sweet, endearing track appears on the Texas native's recently released album, Leather, alongside other fan-favourites such as the Jelly Roll-assisted ‘Whiskey Bent’ and ‘Dirt Cheap’.

Cody has become renowned for his powerful stage presence, with the ‘Til You Can't’ hitmaker able to whip his audiences up into a frenzy with his weighty vocals and Garth Brooks-inspired roar.

However, when the occasion demands it, the man warmly known as ‘CoJo‘ also knows just how to strip it all back and hold the crowd in the palm of his hand with an intricate ballad.

During his CMA Awards performance, CoJo's charismatic delivery was aided by a watercolour backdrop of his wife, which gradually transitioned from monochrome to variegated colours over the course of the song, mirroring the protagonist's own evolution.

On ‘The Painter’, Cody Johnson croons lovingly to his wife as he credits her for bringing a new palette and a vibrant new light to his world. You could hear a pin drop as Cody's tender, rose-tinted lyrics unfurled on stage (“With every wall I built, she saw a canvas / I thank God every day for how He made her / My life was black and white but she's the painter”).

It was therefore no surprise that Cody Johnson received a prestigious nomination for 2023 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year, with the traditional-leaning singer-songwriter boasting one of the most distinctive and enchanting voices in the genre.

Elsewhere in the evening, attendees at the 2023 CMA Awards were treated to high-octane performances from Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, HARDY, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, Old Dominion, Megan Moroney, Carly Pearce, Luke Combs and more.

For Holler's full CMA Awards coverage, head here.

For more on the 2023 CMA Awards, see below: