Day: September 19, 2025

Cody Johnson has announced the cancelation of two shows this weekend after revealing he has fallen sick and lost his voice as a result.

A new post to Instagram includes a statement addressed to all the fans who were looking forward to attending his back-to-back weekend of concerts at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. The performances were originally set to take place on Friday, Sept. 19 with special guests Clint Black and Drew Baldridge and Saturday, Sept. 20 with special guests Ian Munsick and Walker Montgomery.

Johnson shared the unfortunate news that following last weekend’s shows in Nebraska, a mild cold started to creep in and has now escalated into a worse illness that includes the loss of his singing voice, a severe cough and a burning chest and throat.

The message read, “TO ALL THE FANS ATTENDING MY SHOWS THIS WEEKEND IN COLUMBUS, OHIO: I arrived home Monday after my shows in Nebraska feeling fine. Tuesday, I felt like I was coming down with a mild cold. I took every precaution that I could; IV’s, meds, even sweated in the sauna… Unfortunately today I woke up without a singing voice; severe cough, burning chest and throat.”

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He apologized for all the fans who purchased tickets and were excited to see him take the stage this weekend. While he took every precaution and tried various methods to overcome the sickness, it wasn’t enough to pull him through.

“I’m so sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience. I love all of you, and I’m very appreciative of your understanding and loyalty. I hate letting you guys down, but the last thing I want is for y’all to spend your money and time on a show that I don’t think is ‘me at my best’.”

The Texas artist went on to ask for understanding as he chose to reschedule the dates instead of trying to deliver a show that he knows would be less than his best. While the new dates have not yet been secured, he explained they will take place sometime within 2026.

“My team is working on rescheduling these shows in 2026!! I hope to see you then.”

Cody Johnson is set to return to the stage on October 18 with a stop in Pittsburgh, PA. A full list of upcoming shows, including dates with Bailey Zimmerman and Jelly Roll across the U.S., Australia, the UK, Netherlands and Germany can be found on his official website.

The post JUST IN: Cody Johnson Cancels Two Ohio Shows appeared first on Country Now.

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Grammy-winning songwriter and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Brett James has died in a tragic plane crash, according to multiple sources.

According to WLOS, a small plane went down in Macon County near Franklin, North Carolina, around 3 p.m. EST on Thursday, September 18. Authorities confirmed that none of the three passengers on board survived. The FAA reports that the aircraft was registered to Brett Cornelius of Brentwood, Tennessee.

Records show that the plane had departed from John C. Tune Airport in Nashville before the crash.

Brett James was born on June 5, 1968, in Columbia, Missouri. He initially intended to pursue a medical degree, but midway through medical school, he left college to follow his passion for music. He was signed to Arista Nashville’s imprint Career Records as a solo artist and released his solo album in 1995.

He found great success as a songwriter and is credited for writing hundreds of songs, including major cuts by Carrie Underwood (“Jesus, Take The Wheel”, “Cowboy Casanova”), “Kenny Chesney (“When The Sun Goes Down”, “Out Last Night,” “Keg In the Closet”), Dierks Bentley (“I Hold On”), Jason Aldean (“The Truth”), and Rascal Flatts (“Summer Nights”). 

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He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020. That night, Carrie Underwood, Gordie Sampson and Hillary Lindsey took the stage to honor him with a touching performance of “Jesus Take the Wheel” which earned the 2006 GRAMMY for Best Country Song and 2005 ACM Single of the Year trophy.

He called his induction “truly the greatest honor of my life.”  

As news of his tragic passing spread, artists and friends began sharing heartfelt condolences on social media, with Sara Evans among the first to post.

“I am absolutely devastated at the loss of one of the best writers I’ve ever written with and recorded several of his songs. Brett James. I’m praying for his loved ones. What a tragic and sad day. He will be so missed.”

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Chris Blair, owner of Nashville’s The Listening Room Cafe, shared the heartbreaking news, admitting “Nashville won’t be same without you in it, Brett James.”

Fellow songwriter Jessi Alexander shared, “So many fun nights on stage we shared and memories we made traveling around making music together. He lived large and always made me feel special. Music Row will never be the same.”

Brett James was a beloved member of the Nashville music community, and his passing is a tremendous loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all who loved him.

The post BREAKING: Grammy-Winning Songwriter Brett James Dies in Tragic Plane Crash at 57 appeared first on Country Now.

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