Cody Johnson is Finally Releasing His Iconic Cover of ‘Travelin’ Soldier’ This Friday

Okay, nobody panic. NOBODY! PANIC!

After making us rely on his acoustic YouTube cover for over three years, Cody Johnson has confirmed he's finally dropping his take on ‘Travelin’ Soldier’ on Friday (November 7th).

The Texas native's version of The Chicks classic - originally recorded by Bruce Robison in 1996 - has become a fabled part of the country music canon in recent years, with fans clamouring for Johnson to give his cover an official streaming release.

Now, that time has come, with the ‘Til You Can't’ hitmaker taking to Instagram to show him striding towards the studio, teasing, “FRIDAY”. In his Instagram Stories, Johnson has included a pre-save link that confirms ‘Travelin’ Soldier’ drops on Friday.

‘Travelin’ Soldier’ is a prime example of visceral country storytelling, with the track following the bittersweet tale of two young lovers. The boy goes off to fight in Vietnam, while the girl waitresses in the US, with the couple keeping in touch through letters, before the latter receives the heartbreaking news that he's died in action.

Both Robison and The Chicks’ performances of ‘Travelin’ Soldier’ are stellar, but there's something about Johnson's smooth, honeyed croons that gives the story a whole new feel.

We're hoping ‘Travelin’ Soldier’ isn't just a standalone release, and that it is an indication that the ‘Human’ singer-songwriter is gearing up for a brand new album in early 2026.

We know that CoJo has a collaboration with Contemporary Christian Music trailblazer, Brandon Lake, coming soon, with Lake revealing during his recent shows that he's recorded a revamped rendition of ‘When a Cowboy Prays’ alongside Johnson.

Johnson released the celebrated expanded version of Leather almost exactly a year ago, and we're keeping everything crossed there's a lot more music to come before the country chart-topper kicks off his eagerly anticipated 2026 tour in February.

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