Cody Johnson's country music is only getting bigger. On 'Banks of the Trinity,' he'll take you home

NEW YORK (AP) — There's a moment at every Cody Johnson show where the Texas-born and bred country star asks the crowd: “How many of you tonight are watching me and this band live for the very first time?” he told The Associated Press. “And every night, I would say at least 80% of the crowd raises their hands.”

It's not the kind of reaction most veteran artists receive. “And I’m thinking, you know, 20 years is a long time to work for something. But when you see that … What’s the next 20 years look like?” he asks.

The rancher, rodeo competitor and onetime prison guard started his two-decade career playing honky tonks and dive bars. That led to slow and steady growth for the country traditionalist, but in the last few years, something has shifted. He landed his fifth career No. 1 song with “The Fall.” He was named entertainer of the year at the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, the show's highest honor. That was a month after he headlined Stagecoach Music Festival. For an artist with legions of fans, it looked like he was accessing new heights.

“I feel like I’m closing a book and I’m opening another one and it’s all blank pages,” he says of this period. “Let's get to the next chapter."

On Friday, that new era began with the release of his album “Banks of the Trinity.”

It hasn't been an easy road. Last fall, Johnson had to cancel a bunch of tour dates after upper respiratory and sinus infections caused a burst eardrum that required surgery — an intimidating medical procedure for anyone, but especially nerve-wracking for a musician. “I was scared,” he said simply. But “in a roundabout way, it’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”

It forced him to take three months off, which allowed him to be home during the birth of his son. It also rejuvenated his approach in the studio. Before the incident, he thought the album was complete. It was not: The additional time resulted in the inclusion of a few songs that now feel inextricable from the record: “Thank Somebody Country,” “Take Me Back (Leave Me There),” “Cricket on a Hook,” and the resilient “I Have” among them.

“What a blessing to have that kind of song fall in your lap when you’re kind of up against the ropes,” he says of the latter. “I mean, we thought we had the record done. It wasn’t done.”

At the heart of “Banks of the Trinity” is its title track, which recalls Eagles' cover of “Seven Bridges Road” meets bluegrass and Southern gospel. Lyrically, it's an ode to Johnson's childhood. “I grew up on the banks of the Trinity (River.) Fishing for catfish, not so much out of pleasure or sport but for necessity to put food in the freezer. Deer season for me was not a trophy thing,” he said.

And while that track inspires a feeling of nostalgia within the listener, he doesn't consider this album a throwback collection. He says it's about showcasing his evolving sonic diversity. “The rest of the album for me is a musical journey from track one to track 16,” he said. “There’s a little bit of a flavor for everybody. It does kind of hit Motown. It does kind of hit Bluegrass. It does hit progressive country. It does it old country. It does a little rock here and there.”

It's the result of a new kind of freedom, one that is at least partially due to his recent accomplishments, including taking home the top prize at the ACM Awards. “I just did the thing that I’ve aspired to do in my career my entire life,” he says. “A really good place is a really good way to describe where I am.”

And now that the album is out, he's ready to take a breather. “I will be shirtless with no shoes on a beach at an undisclosed location,” he jokes about the days after record release. “'Cause I have already done all the prep work. I've been working on this album for two years. I’ve done all of the interviews. I’ve shook all the hands. Me and my wife and kids are gonna disappear for 10 days and I’m gonna become, I guess, every Kenny Chesney song ever.”

It's not a bad place to be.

Cody Johnson poses for a portrait in Atlanta on Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP)

Cody Johnson poses for a portrait in Atlanta on Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP)

FILE - Cody Johnson performs at the Braves Country Fest in Atlanta on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP, File)

Cody Johnson poses for a portrait in Atlanta on Saturday, June 13, 2026. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP)

FILE - Cody Johnson performs at the Braves Country Fest in Atlanta on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP, File)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Walker Buehler usually pitched superbly against the San Diego Padres during the near-decade he spent wearing Dodger Blue.

In his first chance to pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his still-new Padres uniform Friday night, Buehler was a star in this NL West rivalry once again.

Buehler beat the Dodgers for the first time since he left the World Series champions 1 1/2 seasons ago, pitching three-hit ball into the sixth inning of the Padres' 7-1 win.

The veteran right-hander played a significant role in building the baseball-dominating powerhouse he faced from the Petco Park mound in the opener of this weekend rivalry series. Buehler came through against the Dodgers' high-powered lineup, striking out five and yielding just one run to an LA roster still packed with his longtime teammates.

Buehler acknowledged feeling good about the latest strong start in his revitalized season for the Padres — but not particularly because of the opponent.

“I have no bad blood against that organization,” Buehler said. “They treated me very well for a long time, and I think in some way, I did to them as well. My last pitch there was the last out of a World Series. I don’t really know how else I would have gone out any better than that. So yeah, I want to beat everyone, especially in the division, and especially a team that has been so successful against the organization I’m with now. I want to be a part of turning that around.”

Buehler made two All-Star teams and won two World Series rings with the Dodgers, going down in franchise history when he came on in relief and got the final out in the clinching Game 5 victory over the New York Yankees in the 2024 Fall Classic. He also was particularly effective in rivalry games against the Padres, going 6-1 with a 1.80 ERA in 12 starts.

He built a career and a life in Los Angeles, but injuries slowed Buehler in his final years, and the Dodgers let him walk after his title-winning heroics.

Buehler faced the Dodgers for the first time last season at Fenway Park, and he didn't get through the fifth inning of a start that went just about as poorly as most of his tenure for the Red Sox, who released him less than a month later. After a brief stint with Philadelphia, he signed with San Diego last February.

“I think the first one in Boston was a lot bigger emotional load, for lack of a better word,” Buehler said. “It’s a team in our division. I’m going to have to pitch against them, and it was good to get the first one in this uniform at home, and we’ll see what happens on the road. I haven’t thrown at Dodger Stadium yet, which will be kind of a different thing, but (it's) nice to have something to fall back on in terms of having some success.”

Buehler (5-3) has regained his footing with the Padres, allowing just five runs over five starts and 26 1/3 total innings in an excellent June. He has improbably become the most reliable starter in San Diego's injury-affected rotation.

The Padres are getting success from Buehler by not overextending the 31-year-old pitcher with two Tommy John surgeries behind him. He has yet to record an out in the seventh inning, but San Diego's superb bullpen has allowed Buehler to feel better about his new role.

“I think I’ve changed from trying to throw 120 pitches and owning the game to just kind of trying to get through the five, six innings and hand it off to our bullpen,” Buehler said. “Obviously we have a lot of super-talented guys back there, so I feel good about it.”

Buehler still wasn't particularly happy when manager Craig Stammen came out to get him in the sixth after just 74 pitches against the Dodgers, but that bullpen came through with 3 2/3 innings of scoreless, four-hit ball that included escapes from two bases-loaded jams.

“In the moment, he likes to let me know he’s not happy on the mound,” Stammen said. “And then when I get back to the dugout, he’s already cooled off. So he’s handled it really well. He’s been a very professional pitcher in that regard. He knows that he’s pitching well and he can get a lot of guys out, but he also knows we’ve got a really good bullpen that can finish a game and get him a win.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

San Diego Padres' Walker Buehler follows through on a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 26, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

San Diego Padres' Walker Buehler looks on after being relieved in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, June 26, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

'"San Diego Padres' Walker Buehler follows through on a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 26, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)