Cody Johnson has a Top 30 hit with “I’m Gonna Love You,” his duet with Carrie Underwood. The song, from Johnson’s Leather Deluxe Edition, is a testament to the talent of the two singers, who recorded “I’m Gonna Love You” live in the studio, although that wasn’t the original plan.
“I did my part; I did my vocal part, and we had it done,” Johnson shared with Everything Nash and other outlets at a recent media event. “When she came into the studio, she did her part, and we’re listening back to it. We both kind of had this look like it just didn’t hit you. It didn’t slap you in the face like I thought it would.”
It was Underwood’s idea for both of them to sing the song together while in the studio.
“She’s like, ‘I think we should sing it live. Let’s just go in and sing it live together.’ So, glass between the two microphones. Well now, we’re singing in church,” Johnson recalled.
“What you hear on the record, that’s a live take … that’s a live version,” he said. “It was weird because that was the first time Carrie and I ever sang together, and it was perfect family harmony. I think that speaks to the caliber of vocalist that she is, really.”
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The Texan worked hard to find a key that featured both of their voices in the best way possible, without compromising quality.
“We found a spot right in the middle to where she could really do something that she doesn’t normally get to do,” Johnson explained. “It’s that soulful, sultry, sexy kind of low end thing, and it left my vocal right in the middle, it blended better with the harmonies, but she still gets to show off who she is.”
Johnson knew he had the duet with Underwood coming out for a while, a secret he held until the timing was right for both of them to share it with the world.
“From the very beginning, I knew that it was something that was agreed upon, but when you’re working with a star of her caliber, you don’t get in a hurry,” Johnson said. “You sit back and be patient, because obviously she’s got a lot of irons in her fire. So I just had to keep my mouth shut about it, and just sit and be patient, which is very hard for me to do, and wait until the timing was right.”
The father of two admits he originally wanted “I’m Gonna Love You” on his original Leather album. But now that it’s part of Leather Deluxe Edition instead, Johnson is happy that he was forced to wait.
“We couldn’t put it on the first part, and that killed me, because I was like, ‘I want the world to hear this,” Johnson admitted. “But in retrospect, I think it turned out better to wait. I gave this second Deluxe Edition just a little bit more flair. I don’t think it would have been as special if it had been on the first part.”
Johnson will wrap up his Leather Tour in December, and kick off his Leather Deluxe Tour in early 2025. Find Leather Deluxe Edition and all of Johnson’s music and upcoming shows at CodyJohnsonMusic.com.