Cody Johnson Shares the Heartfelt Story Behind Naming His Son Jaycee Daniel
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“…we chose the name Jaycee regardless of whether it was a boy or a girl.”
Cody Johnson is embracing a joyful new chapter at home with the arrival of his son, Jaycee Daniel. Backstage at the CMA Awards, he shared with Country Now the special inspiration behind his baby boy’s name.
“My ranch brand for all my cows and horses is the J Bar C,” Johnson explained. “People often mispronounce it as JC, so I thought, why not? We spelled it J-A-Y-C-E-E, and decided it would be Jaycee whether it was a boy or a girl.”
Although he and his wife, Brandi, would have been thrilled with any gender, Johnson admitted he’s excited to welcome a son. Jaycee joins siblings Clara and Cori, who are enthusiastically embracing their big sister roles. “I have to divide my time a bit. I’m like, ‘Okay, y’all have had him—give him back to Dad. I need some time too,’” he said with a laugh.
Earlier this year, the couple quietly announced they were expecting at the ACM Awards red carpet, where Brandi revealed her baby bump. Johnson later confirmed Jaycee’s birth while co-hosting Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton. The understated approach reflected Johnson’s long-standing preference for keeping family matters private, even as his career continues to grow.
Amid all the excitement, Johnson faced an unexpected medical setback that impacted both his life and career. A sinus infection caused his eardrum to burst, requiring immediate surgery and forcing him to cancel the remainder of his 2025 tour dates.
Though disappointing, Johnson called the downtime a “blessing in disguise,” allowing him extra time with his family. He noted that his recovery will take “many weeks,” preventing him from performing—including at the CMA Awards.
“I really wanted to perform. It’s frustrating—missing the last six shows of the year and then not being able to sing on national TV,” he said. “I wanted to perform ‘Travelin’ Soldier,’ but the doctor said sit on the bench. So, I’m sitting on the bench.”
Even without performing, the night is still special for Johnson, who earned four CMA nominations, including his first for Entertainer of the Year. “That’s a stamp of approval,” he said. “You can always find reasons why anyone else deserves it just as much, but the recognition is already there. Now it’s just up to the voters to decide.”