Brooks & Dunn Join Cody Johnson On New Song “Long Live Country Music”
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Cody Johnson Releases New Collaboration With Brooks & Dunn On His Latest Album, Leather
Cody Johnson just released his new album, Leather, on November 3, Leather contains a total of 12 tracks, including Johnson’s collaborations with Brooks & Dunn and Jelly Roll. Those songs are titled “Long Live Country Music” and “Whiskey Bent,” respectively.
While this was Johnson’s first time working with Jelly Roll, it wasn’t his first time singing with Brooks & Dunn. He previously joined the Country Music Hall of Fame duo on their 2019 album, Reboot.
Johnson was featured on the duo’s updated recording of their powerful hit “Red Dirt Road.” Later, Johnson joined Brooks & Dunn to perform the song and others on an episode of CMT Crossroads.
How Cody’s “Long Live Country Music” Collaboration With Brooks & Dunn Came To Be
“Long Live Country Music” was inspired by a speech Johnson gave at the 2022 CMT Music Awards after winning Male Video of the Year. He told Billboard:
“At the end of the speech, I said, ‘Long live country music,’ and that night [his producer] Trent [Willmon] called me about writing a song with that title.”
Willmon wrote “Long Live Country Music” with Phil O’Donnell and Wade Kirby. They played it for Johnson, and he felt like it was the “perfect fit.”
That’s when he reached out to Ronnie Dunn to ask if he and Kix Brooks wanted to sing on the track:
“I reached out to Ronnie and said, ‘Would you and Kix be cool with doing this? We have a country music anthem here and if anybody can fly the flag of ‘Long Live Country Music,’ it’s Brooks & Dunn,'” Johnson recalled.
Listen To “Long Live Country Music” Below
“Long Live Country Music” is an ode to everything that makes country music great…in the past and the present. The lyrics mention Patsy Cline, Deana Carter‘s “Strawberry Wine,” and the Grand Ole Opry Circle, among other important symbols and themes.
As the chorus goes:
“Oh, long live country music. May that three-chord dirt-road soundtrack to our lives, never die.”
Check out the official visualizer video below to listen to “Long Live Country Music.” We can’t wait to hear Johnson sing this live with Brooks & Dunn one day!
