WATCH: Cody Johnson Debuts Deeply Emotional ‘Dirt Cheap’ Music Video
Grab the tissues for this one. Trust us.
Cody Johnson – Dirt Cheap Music Video; Photo via YouTube
Every now and then an artist releases a song that is so powerful it stops you in your tracks and moves you so deeply that you are reminded of the power of music and why it’s so important in our lives. “Dirt Cheap” by Cody Johnson is one of those songs.
The powerful narrative about valuing family memories over money comes to life in a heart-wrenching music video, directed by Dustin Haney.
Out now, the poignant clip faithfully follows the song’s storyline as a developer and contractor appear on an old farmer’s doorstep to try to convince him to sell his property to make way for a new subdivision. Without hesitation, the farmer turns down their lucrative offer. When asked why he won’t sell, memories of his time on his land flash across the screen. From his little girl swinging on the swing, to his four-legged best friend being buried under a nearby tree, and all the special shared moments with his wife, it’s clear that the farmer understands that the important things in life cannot be bought. Rather than taking the money, he chooses to value the priceless memories he has with his family instead.
The tear-inducing music video includes powerful scenes, including one where the elderly man is seen carrying his dog to the tree to lay him to rest, and another where his wife is in the rocking chair and ultimately disappears, signifying that she is no longer with him. Paired with the deeply emotional lyrics, it’s nearly impossible not to become emotional when watching this story play out on screen.
Playing the role of the farmer is Red Steagall, an actor, poet, performer, and Johnson’s longtime mentor and friend.
The Music Video of the Year worthy clip also stars Josh Phillips, the sole songwriter of “Dirt Cheap.” The talented lyricist portrays the role of one of the contractors in the video.
Phillips recently shared the story behind the song with Country Now, and revealed that it came to him while sitting at a fire in his backyard at the home he and his wife purchased a few years prior. He tells us they originally planned to fix it up and sell it when the market turned around, however, when the time came, he felt mixed emotions.
“I was just kind of looking at the house and thinking back at all the memories that we had made in it. Not only did we put new doors, and new windows, and new hardwood floors, and all that stuff, but it was also the front yard that I had dropped down on a knee and proposed to her in and it was the house that our 5-year-old little girl, Hunter, the pink bow and her brown hair, that was the little girl that had grown up there,” he shared in reference to the song’s chorus. “It was the house that our little boy, Zack, took his first steps in and the house that our 9-month-old baby girl, Presley, the only house that she’s obviously ever known. And it was like, man, you can’t buy this kind of dirt cheap. As soon as I said it, ‘I went, oh, crap, that’s how you do it.’”
He finished the song and it ultimately landed in the hands of Cody Johnson. It is a standout track on his latest album, Leather, and is currently sitting in the Top 10 at country radio. The RIAA Gold-certified “Dirt Cheap” is undeniably one of the best songs released in years and is expected to be a favorite among voters for the upcoming CMA Awards.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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