Cody Johnson Rules the 2022 CMT Music Awards: ‘Long Live Country Music’

Cody Johnson is the King of the CMT Music Awards! The Texas native owned the night, taking home not one, but two CMT Belt Buckle Trophies, and delivering a stand-out performance of his multi-week chart-topping single, “‘Til You Can’t.” 

Johnson first took home the non-televised award for CMT Digital-First Performance of the Year ahead of the show and later in the evening, he was crowned winner of the coveted Male Video of the Year category for “‘Til You Can’t.” 

“Well, how about that,” Johnson shared as he took the stage. “Dustin Haney made an awesome video. Matt Rogers and Ben Stennis wrote a great song. I’m really proud to be the person that got to get the song.”

He continued as his peers and fans in the audience cheered him on, “Do you guys still believe in country music? I’m very proud to be able to stand up here with this award – this is the second CMT award we’ve got tonight. And the best part of it is that it is fan-voted. So, thanks to every single person that got up there and voted. Long live country music, are you with me?!”

Johnson made his CMT Music Awards performance debut with “‘Til You Can’t” from the outdoor stage in Downtown Nashville. The performance was a highlight of the show and certainly won’t be his last CMT Awards appearance. 

The performance comes on the heels of Johnson earning his first-ever multi-week No.1 single as “‘Til You Can’t”  topped both Mediabase Country Airplay Chart and the Billboard Country Airplay chart for two consecutive weeks. 

The song is the country superstar’s first chart-topping single at mainstream country radio and appears on his latest release, Human The Double Album.

The 2022 CMT Music Awards featured performances from  Kane Brown, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Walker Hayes, Old Dominion, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Cody Johnson, and more.

Also taking the stage with never-before-seen collaborations were Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, Jason Aldean and Bryan Adams, Jimmie Allen with Monica and Little Big Town, Mickey Guyton and Black Pumas, Thomas Rhett and Riley Green, Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson. The Judds also joined forces for their first televised performance in over two decades.

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Presenters for Country Music’s Biggest Party included Gabby Barrett, Faith Hill, Isabel May, Jimmie Allen, Rob Corddry, Jordan Davis, Billy F. Gibbons, Gayle King, Taylor Lautner, Dustin Lynch, Martina McBride, Joel McHale, Kacey Musgraves, Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France + Antoni Porowski, LeAnn Rimes, Dylan Scott, and Dennis Quaid.

The 2022 CMT Music Awards, broadcasted LIVE on Monday, (April 11) at (8:00-11:00 PM LIVE ET/delayed PT) for the first time on CBS.