Cody Johnson Releases Fan-Inspired Music Video for 'The Painter'

Cody Johnson's most recent radio No. 1, 'The Painter', has become so much more than a heartfelt serenade to his wife, Brandi. To many fans, the Leather track resonates beyond a relationship between spouses to encapsulate feelings toward any loved one.

The "painter" in fan Teresa McCormick's life, in particular, is her daughter, Katie, a young woman with special needs whose painting inspired the new visualizer to Johnson's hit.

“On Friday August 11, 2023, I had just dropped Katie off at school and headed to work listening to our favorite radio duo Nate and Traci from US 96.3,” Teresa explained of the moment the song really hit her. “I was very much in my head that morning with a thousand swirling thoughts, half listening to the conversation because Katie was turning 18 the next day.” 

Because of intractable epilepsy and subsequent surgeries throughout her life, Katie has right sided weakness and a learning delay disability, according to a message from Johnson's team. It was through art, however, that Katie found a therapeutic outlet.

Teresa continued: "‘The Painter’ started playing while my thoughts were still somewhere else.” Until one line struck her: "I don’t remember my life before she came into the picture".

“With every new verse, I had visions of Katie,” she shared, adding, “Through a blur of tears, I reached for my phone and sent a text message to the radio station thanking them for playing that song right at that moment. She is the color to MY life.”

Teresa and Katie’s story found its way to Johnson's label, Warner Music Nashville, who went to work honoring the relationship between mother and daughter. The team developed a visual for the song in collaboration with an AI artist based on one of Katie's paintings.

What resulted is a dazzling portrait of color and movement throughout.

“While this song is written about a man’s love for his wife and how she colors his world, it allows everyone who hears it to drift away in thought to that person who adds beauty and color to their own life," Teresa added. "Be that a child, a parent, spouse, or friend.”

Now, fans can visit 'The Painter' star's official website to share their own photos and stories about the "painter" in their lives.

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