Cody Johnson, one of the leading contenders for the upcoming CMA Awards, says he has had to cancel the remaining dates on his current arena tour due to a ruptured eardrum that requires immediate surgery.
The country star, who just picked his first CMAs nomination for entertainer of the year, broke the news about the cancellations and shared his health emergency on his social media.
“It is with a very heavy heart I have to share the remainder of this year’s concert performances will not be able to happen,” Johnson wrote. “While battling a severe upper respiratory and sinus infection, I burst my ear drum. The severity of the rupture means I must undergo immediate surgery. The healing process will take many weeks, and it is not possible for me to sing during this time.”
He added, “Without the surgery my downtime could be months. I pray for full healing so I can get well and return to doing what I love. Thank you COJO Nation for the love and support now, and always.”
He further posted a video message with a bandage over his left ear, saying he was “home from surgery and it went well, as best as they could have expected.”
Johnson had six dates left to go on his schedule this year, all in arenas or at festivals: Oct. 18 in Pittsburgh, Oct. 24-25 in Birmingham, Oct. 31 at Lousiana’s Boots in the Bayou festival, Nov. 8 in Phoenix and Dec. 5 in Las Vegas.
His social blast said to “please stay tuned for an email from your ticket providers for further details.”
In mid-September, Johnson had canceled shows in Columbus due to health issues. He wrote then, “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: IVs, meds, even sweated in the sauna… unfortunately today I woke up without a singing voice: severe cough, burning chest and throat.” He said then that his team was working on rescheduling those shows for 2026.
There’s no word yet on whether Johnson will be sufficiently recovered to appear at the CMAs on Nov. 19, where, as one of the leading nominees, it’s expected he would receive a first-call invitation to perform. Johnson’s reps could not immediately be reached for comment.
Johnson is nominated for four CMAs, the most of any male artist. Besides entertainer of the year, he is up for male vocalist of the year, music event of the year and music video of the year (the latter two for his duet with Carrie Underwood, “I’m Gonna Love You”).
Besides his CMA nominations, Johnson was in the news recently when he was announced as one of three headliners for next April’s Stagecoach Festival in California, alongside Post Malone and Lainey Wilson. The next date currently on his schedule is Feb. 14 in Louisville.