Inside Cody Johnson’s Texas Ranch: The ACM Award-Winning Star Is Living a Real Cowboy Life

When he’s not winning the Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year awards at the ACM Awards, Cody Johnson is working on his cattle and horse ranch in East Texas. Of course, he left the ranch for the night to snag his two awards, both of which Johnson said are a dream come true.

“It’s a little bit surreal,” Johnson said following his ACM wins. “I haven’t really let it soak in yet. For a cowboy, this is that gold buckle I’ve been chasing my whole life.”

Before becoming an ACM Award winner, Johnson lived a life straight out of a Western—working as a real-life cowboy, former bull rider, and prison guard in Texas. He built his fan base independently, one song and one show at a time, long before breaking into the mainstream. Yet through it all, he’s stayed deeply tied to his Texas roots, still actively involved in running his own cattle ranch.

Learn more about the singer’s life out of the spotlight when his boots are on the ground in Texas.

About Cody Johnson’s cattle ranch

Cody Johnson was born and raised in Texas, and about five years ago he purchased land and launched his own ranching operation. Now running CoJo Land and Cattle LLC in East Texas, he remains a hands-on presence in daily ranch life while balancing his status as a country music superstar.

But ranching isn’t just something he stepped into—it’s in his blood. Even as touring and songwriting take up much of his time, Johnson still lives and works with the mindset of a true cowboy, grounded in the land and lifestyle that shaped him.

“The ranch mentality is very different,” Johnson shared. “I’ve already got the oak tree picked out where I’m going to be buried. I want my grandkids to own this land.”

Johnson and his crew currently work 358 acres, though he plans to acquire more land to fulfill his dream of a multi-generational ranch. Johnson confirmed that he has “a handshake deal to buy some land that surrounds my area. At that point, it’ll be a true working ranch.”

On his ranch, Johnson raises Charolais cows crossed with Wagyu bulls, while his early days in the operation centered on commercial-grade Brahman cattle and Hereford bulls. He continues to expand the ranch with long-term vision, hoping it will become a lasting family legacy passed down through his children and grandchildren.

“That’s what I’m building in Texas… this is a legacy for Cody Johnson,” he shared. “What we’re doing right now is a legacy for Cody Johnson. But for the Johnson family, that legacy is going to be all those acres of land and all that stuff that is instilled, that I paid for with a guitar. But it will live on long after I’m not playing a guitar anymore. I think that’s the biggest deal for me, is to let my kids grow up that way.”

‘Dirt Cheap’ is connected to Johnson

The song “Dirt Cheap,” which has won several awards including Song of the Year at the 2025 ACMs, is something Johnson has been able to resonate with. Although it’s not written about Johnson, the song does mirror his life and values. “Dirt Cheap” is about a man refusing to sell his land because no amount of money would be enough to replace the memories, which Johnson has said he can relate to.

“I recorded ‘Dirt Cheap’ because I want you to understand how I feel about being a rancher,” Johnson explained. “I want to take you back to where I come from in Texas.”