Cody Johnson Overcomes Power Outage to Deliver Memorable Show
Cody Johnson is known for quite a few things when it comes to his live shows. He’s known for putting on one of the most energetic shows in country music. He’s known for keeping it country, without alienating more contemporary country fans either. And he’s known for stepping up on a soapbox when he feels so inclined, and speaking about politics, but not on one side or another, but how the political divide is ruining us all.
Fans who attended Cody’s show Saturday night, January 29th at the Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville, Kentucky got all of that, and then some. What could have been a catastrophe turned out to be one of the most memorable performances Cody Johnson has ever given according to those in attendance.
Easton Corbin opened the show for Cody, and after Corbin’s set and right before Cody Johnson was ready to take the stage, a transformer blew in downtown Pikeville, cutting power to the arena and everywhere else to the city. As the arena went dark, everyone was worried the show would be over. But Cody Johnson had other plans.
“Power was lost to the entire area,” Cody Johnson fan Michael E. tells Saving Country Music. “But that didn’t stop Cody. He plugged his PA into his tour bus and played the first half of his show acoustically to a sold out crowd! It was incredible. And when the power came back on, he finished his set playing just as passionately as he always has. It was a very special night for him and for us, the fans.”
Though it’s been difficult to find video of Cody Johnson’s acoustic set (UPDATE: Some has been added, see below), the Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for the Appalachian Wireless Arena, Josh R. Kesler, confirmed to Saving Country Music what occurred, and how it was a Cody Johnson concert for the ages.
“We had a sold out Cody show,” says Kesler. “Yeah, it was a city wide power outage, and he let the fans know that he was not gonna leave. He was gonna give them a show, and he actually plugged up, and did some acoustic things. It was a pretty cool moment, one of those things you’ll never forget. We’re in the business of making memories, and we definitely made memories that night.”
Ian Munsick also appeared on the evening to sing his recent duet with Cody, “Long Live Cowgirls.”
Cody Johnson is also known for speaking up about the state of country music. “I saw somebody with a sign back there that said ‘Save Country Music,'” Cody said at a show in Highland Heights, KY on January 21st. Can we all agree on something? Country music doesn’t sound like country music anymore. It’s my life’s mission to change that.”
He then launched into his current single, ”Til You Can’t,” which was at #15 on the charts last week, and is likely to be one of his biggest hits so far, and may end up at #1 before it’s over.
Country is as country does, and since the beginning of his career, Cody Johnson has been going the extra mile for his fans, and for country music.
@codyjohnson still put on a hell of a show after losing power. When it came back on he still played acoustic because that’s what everyone wanted! pic.twitter.com/eGXspPeoaf
— Dylan Yoakem (@yoakem67) January 30, 2022
January 31, 2022 @ 11:13 am
It’s a measure of a man and an entertainer that Cody was determined to give those that paid to see him what the came for in spite of the circumstances. I just watched a documentary about Cody on Amazon prime called dear rodeo the Cody Johnson story. What I saw on this presentation about Cody, I am not surprised Cody handled himself so professionally in this circumstance.
January 31, 2022 @ 11:21 am
That was a classy and pure country move. “Just plug her into the bus generator, boys!”
This show was sold out by the time I heard about it. We saw another of his duet partners at Rupp Arena in Lexington this weekend though.
January 31, 2022 @ 11:53 am
You had to be there to truly appreciate it!❤️
January 31, 2022 @ 12:03 pm
Good for Cody…I like a lot of his music and seems to be a quality person who cares about the industry and his fans. I just wish “Til You Can’t” wasn’t the song that put him in the mainstream. It’s a little too preachy for my taste and instrumentation, especially the drums, is a little much for a song that should be more intimate, more quiet. Just my two cents.
January 31, 2022 @ 12:14 pm
It was an amazing Show, probably one of the best shows I have been to because he made sure his fans were taken care of.. Most people there have video, I do as well as others it’s posted everywhere.
January 31, 2022 @ 1:12 pm
If you or anyone else has video you’re willing to share, by all means post links and it will be added here. Checked YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and couldn’t come up with any sharable video. Know it’s out there, but it can be hard to find on social media.
January 31, 2022 @ 12:47 pm
It was truly an amazing experience and I’ve got videos of his awesome acoustic performance from Pikeville this weekend. He truly gained so much more respect from his Cojo Nation fans after this weekend! He is such a great person and country music artist and this weekend it showed that.
January 31, 2022 @ 3:03 pm
Country. Gettin’ it done, Cody.
January 31, 2022 @ 3:34 pm
Corbin reduced to opening shows when he should be headlining but his attempt to appeal to bro country failed so he’s exactly where he deserves to be
January 31, 2022 @ 4:09 pm
I’m glad I found Cody Johnson. Most time I try to listen some of the guys mentioned on here, I’m not that impressed. But I really like Cody’s music. I personally love his new single and expect even better going forward.
January 31, 2022 @ 6:18 pm
Agree. I’ve been on here since 2012 and in that whole time there’s only about 10 artists iv’e found that i actually listen to a decent amount
February 1, 2022 @ 7:35 am
Those first two Corbin albums though… cover to cover twangers.
January 31, 2022 @ 5:50 pm
As always……A country boy can survive!!!
January 31, 2022 @ 6:37 pm
I like Cody’s music but he was hard core in the trump camp for a long time, he was doing plenty of dividing on his own.
January 31, 2022 @ 7:11 pm
This kind of stuff we don’t need. Far as politics go, I don’t care what party or people a singer supports. As long as every song isnt some kind of political agenda I don’t care. Now if they get kind of rediculous about it and bellowing to the wind like some recent artist, I may slowly become less a fan.
January 31, 2022 @ 8:29 pm
Being in a particular political candidates camp isn’t divisive, being an asshole to others who disagree with you is. COJO does it right. Isbell does it wrong.
January 31, 2022 @ 8:34 pm
Who would have thought you think the person whose politics you agree with does it “right”. I wish they’d both leave their politics out of their damn shows.
January 31, 2022 @ 9:12 pm
Poor Baby …
January 31, 2022 @ 8:45 pm
By “right,” I was referring to not being divisive. I have never once heard COJO take the other side to task for simply having a difference in opinion.
February 1, 2022 @ 7:44 am
Hopefully Cody’s example will lead others onto this path of influencing the mainstream country genre, that being playing actual country music and it being well received. Good to see an article on this site about someone in the “mainstream” doing it right. If it’s ever going to change, that is where the change will come from.
February 1, 2022 @ 10:51 am
he’s one of the good guys but i just can’t get into his music,
anyway a pro move that speaks about the loyalty he has for his own fans.
February 1, 2022 @ 11:50 am
“The National Museum of African American Music is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating all the music genres that African Americans helped create, influence, and inspire, including country music. The museum’s collections tell the story of the American soundtrack by integrating history and interactive technology to bring the musical heroes of the past into the present. It is located on Lower Broadway in Nashville, right across the street from the Ryman Auditorium.”
Please provide a link directing people to their website.
Love going to predominantly black churches with friends.
The music is so Rich & Soulful.
Not talking about the screaming & yelling, that the pop “stars” love to do.
Talking about Ages Old, rich & soulful. Music you can close your eyes and get swept away in. Knowing full well, that you have been invited into an experience as old as man himself.
No one sings like a full on black choir, praising our Lord. No one.
At a Southside Chicago service, for a dear physician friends Mom’s funeral, was one of a handful of whites (Indian) amongst over 400 attendees. Was cut murderous looks from a few of the elegantly dressed black females, which i could have cared less about. Well aware of the prejudices.
My physician friend called, as i was on my way up from INDY, and exclaimed, Would you get your a** in gear?!
Daddy is driving me crazy, wondering where you are. Then we busted out laughing.
Met her Dad out on the sidewalk when pulled up in front of the church. We had a few moments to quietly talk & hug, before going inside – Where he would be saying his final goodbyes to his Beautiful wife of 65 + years.
As you can imagine, the gorgeousness of the singing, & Praise, leveled all of us.
There is NOTHING like black Gospel.
Indescribably Beautiful.
Most likely, will head to TN. to the museum sometime this Spring. Sounds like a place i would really like to support, in my tiny little way
February 2, 2022 @ 2:17 am
same here Di, you should go and watch this movie if you haven’t already:
https://youtu.be/1-siC9cugqA
February 2, 2022 @ 9:59 am
: D Thank You for the Summer of Soul link, Daniele!
Just watched the trailer. Cool that Gladys Knight narrates.
Will watch the documentary (probably more than once) sometime this month, & get back with you.
Saw that B.B. was onstage, in the trailer.
When our son was 8 years old, we were in an elevator at the Embassy Suites North, in INDY. Son did a double take, took a couple of steps over to the gentleman we were in the elevator with, looked up at the gentleman, stuck his hand out & said, You’re Mr. B.B. King.
Mr. King smiled, and said, Yes son, I am.
Our son asked – Do you have Lucille with you?
And that was that.
Off went B.B., my husband, & our kid.
To the bus. For 2 hours.
Did anyone say, c’mon Di? c’mon Mom, c’mon honey?
Oh he** no. It was a total boys club, no girls allowed.
Watched them walk away, shook my head & smiled.
Was Such a Cool moment
February 1, 2022 @ 12:32 pm
solid dude, and a consummate professional. I’ve seen him live a couple times, never left me disappointed. He’s also right ya know, the political and cultural divide is destroying this country.
February 1, 2022 @ 1:25 pm
Holy smokes! Every post on SCM in the past 2 years has been riddled with political comments. It’s got to be so tiring to the folks who can’t stop thinking about left and right.
Thanks, Trigger, for all the music you have exposed me to over the past few years. It has helped keep me sane in our ever changing world.
Great job keeping the show going, Cody!!
February 1, 2022 @ 2:17 pm
It’s not just Saving Country Music, it’s everywhere. But it’s tiring for us all, and I wish folks would show more respect to each other, and respect to this site. Thanks for reading CR.
February 1, 2022 @ 6:23 pm
Was Wanting to go to see one of his shows but the closest is St. Louis and they require a covid vaccine or a negative test and I’m not down with that. Maybe next tour he will get closer.
February 1, 2022 @ 9:22 pm
Cody is a great addition to Country Music. Like the songs and his voice. I think he will be with us a long time. Hope to see a concert when he comes to the Atlanta, GA. area.????????????????Norma Jean Morrissey. “Country Music Forever”
February 2, 2022 @ 9:10 pm
Been a fan of his for several years. First saw him open for Aaron Watson in a bar in Manhattan, KS back in 2014. Seen him a couple other times since. Great guy! Watched his Dear Rodeo documentary tonight. I encourage everyone to see it. Wish him continued success.
February 5, 2022 @ 6:07 pm
Taking care of the fans, solid.
June 11, 2022 @ 5:19 pm
Gosh dang this Ian Munsick “duet” is an abortion. Is that autotune or a synthesizer that bleats out sung words by the Chipmunks?