Cody Johnson Proves Why He’s ACM Entertainer of the Year During Sold-Out Rosemont Concert

If there was any question about whether Cody Johnson deserved his recent ACM Entertainer of the Year title, it was answered the moment he stepped onstage at Allstate Arena on Saturday, May 30.

The country hitmaker brought his 2026 headlining tour to the home of the Chicago Wolves just two weeks after taking home one of the biggest honors at the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards. The night turned the venue into a true country gathering spot, with cowboys and cowgirls, families, veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and longtime fans all packed in together celebrating a shared love for true country music.

The night began with strong opening sets from Emily Ann Roberts and Clint Black, both setting the tone for what would become an unforgettable show. By the time Cody Johnson took the stage, the anticipation inside the arena was already at an all-time high.

Backed by his powerhouse band, The Rockin’ CJB, Johnson launched into a set that stretched from 9:30 p.m. until just after 11. From the moment he stepped on stage, he made it clear the night wasn’t just about the music: it was about connecting with the fans who have supported him every step of the way, from his early days selling self-burned CDs for $5 to becoming one of country music’s biggest stars.

He came out swinging with “That’s Texas,” “Me and My Kind,” and “Dance Her Home,” setting the stage for an unforgettable night before addressing the audience for the first time.

After thanking every single person in the room for showing up that night, Johnson took a moment to reflect on just how far his career has come. Fresh off his ACM Entertainer of the Year win, he acknowledged he was still riding that momentum, admitting he felt “on fire” coming off the award show and that energy definitely shined through every part of his performance.

“I walked up on that stage to accept that Entertainer of the Year award and I’ll be honest with you, it was tough for me to hold it together because all I could think about was all those years of grinding it out for $500 bucks a night for 400 shows and nobody in the bar really cared that you were there,” he admitted. “I’m so thankful that you chose to be a country music fan and I’m so grateful to God that I get to play country music for a living…I’m coming off a pretty big high from all of that.”

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The excitement from fans was already palpable, but it was further elevated when Johnson noted that his mission for the night was to have a good time and if that meant playing a bit longer than usual, he was more than willing to make that happen.

“I need you to give me all the energy you have for the next 90 minutes,” he told the screaming crowd. “If you do that for me, I give you my word I’m going to leave every ounce of energy and sweat right here on this stage for you tonight.”

With that, the Texas native broke out into a powerful rendition of “Dear Rodeo.” For his next performance of “Nothin’ on You”, the lights in the building went dark with just the flashlights from everyone’s phones illuminating the room. While this is the kind of moment that you could find at most country concerts, it felt like something more on this night. Maybe it was the power behind the song, or maybe it was a testament to Cody Johnson’s ability to captivate a crowd with nothing more than his steady vocals and undeniable authenticity.

Midway through the set, Johnson paused and asked the crowd, “Y’all wanna hear a new song?” The arena answered with a roar as he introduced “Take Me Back (Leave Me There), from his upcoming Banks Of The Trinity album dropping June 26.

The night continued with another run of fan-favorites including “Human,” “The Fall” “People In The Back” and “I’m Gonna Love You” featuring a pre-recording of Carrie Underwood singing her part in the No. 1 hit duet.

Then it was time for Johnson to continue what has become a tradition in his show. He stops the music and asks all first responders, active-duty military members, and veterans in the crowd to raise their hands, prompting a loud wave of applause across the arena. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving us a job tonight,” he told them amid a heartwarming and moving speech that prompted a sing-along of “God Bless America.”

He then moved into the final stretch with some of the hits that fans had waited all night for: “Dirt Cheap,” “The Painter,” and “’Til You Can’t,” each met with loud cheers and the packed arena singing back every word. But the night wasn’t over yet.

After tossing out a few merchandise items, handing out a drumstick, and signing a few items from the crowd, Johnson made his way offstage, only to return moments later to a crowd that hadn’t budged. The anticipation paid off with an encore featuring his rendition of “Travelin’ Soldier” and “Diamond in My Pocket,” sending fans out on a high after nearly two hours of a performance that was equal parts electrifying, emotional, and unapologetically country.

Cody Johnson will continue his 2026 run this week when he makes his way to Nashville to perform at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 5 as part of CMA Fest. His schedule of headlining shows and festival appearances are set to run through November.