CMA 2025 Male Vocalist of the Year Award winner, Cody Johnson, has been on quite a roll in recent years. Aside from picking up the prestigious hardware in Nashville, the easy-going Country star has been filling arenas and turning out chart-topping hits, as fans connect to his engaging East Texas Country sound.

It’s all been great fun for Johnson and the tightly knit crew who has been touring the USA (and lately, the world!) with him. Fellow Texan, Richard “Wookie” Whitley, has been enjoying every minute of this rocket ship ride.

For Whitley, it’s more than just the excitement that kicks in when the curtain rises, and his client’s dedicated fans go wild; it’s also very much about the collaboration he’s enjoyed with his client. We thoroughly enjoyed having him share his stories about, not just the good times, but (more importantly) how he makes this dynamic star shine even more brightly with light.

Cody seems to have such infectious positive energy on stage. Is it like that behind the scenes on tours?
“Yes, 100 percent! Whether it’s during sound check, in catering, telling jokes, or in the parking lot while they’re practicing their rodeo roping, there is no off button. Even if it’s a rough day for whatever reason, he always comes through with positive energy. He was very hands-on during the meetings last year for the upcoming 2026 design, and that was really uplifting as well.”

We know that Cody thrives on interacting with the crowd. How does that influence your light, not just with crowd lighting but in other ways as well?
“He does like talking to the crowd, and being able to see them is something I strive to support. But I also like to set moments for certain songs. For some ballads, I may have a slow movement effect or just a static across the crowd look with my profiles while using a breakup gobo; the band and Cody have noticed those moments a few times. Then, there’s the intro to ‘The Fall,’ where it’s a dark stage and a limited number of profiles with a gobo to light the band. Or songs like ‘People in the Back,’ where I pan across the back of the room while the crowd waves their hands in the air side to side with Cody. For us, it’s all about setting moments for each song. Fun fact, most of the programming for People in the Back was based on Cody’s ideas!”

Of all the shows you’ve done with Cody, which ones stand out as being most memorable or fun?
“Even on the hardest days, they’re all fun. Nothing beats the noise and energy of a crowd when the show starts. Most memorable? Well, there are quite a few. GlobeLife Stadium, Bridgestone Arena, Houston Rodeo, The Gorge, London at the O2 for C2C, our Australia runs… It’s a long list that is continuously growing.”

What is the best thing about lighting Cody?
“Energy and trust. Energy from the crowd and the guys on stage to the sound, lighting, and video. It’s such a rush and keeps me on my toes. Trust from Cody is a big thing that hits home for me. He trusts me with my ideas, designs, and programming. If there is ever an issue where I’m not doing enough, maybe too much, or if there is an issue, he’ll let me know, and we’ll figure it out to make the best show possible, and future shows better.”

What is the most challenging thing?
“Cold showers, red eye flights, and catering coffee! Seriously, though, sometimes we may have an issue with the house or festival rig. But we take notes to avoid those challenges down the road. I think my biggest challenges in 2025 were follow-spot issues and fighting HVAC to keep haze in certain rooms.”

Can you tell us how you hooked up with Cody?
“Long story short…I’ve been friends with most of the band and crew since 2014. We’re all from the Texas scene and worked multiple shows together at some venues or with other artists. I also worked with Cody’s former LD, who has his own production/event company. I was tired of freelancing, and I was getting burnt out, so I had a tech job lined up with a scale company. Then I got a call from his former LD, he told me he was leaving to concentrate on his company full-time and that they were looking for a replacement, and if I was interested. The few people I talked to thought I was crazy if I didn’t take the offer, and that I would be the right fit. A few weeks later, I was hired!”

How has working with Cody changed you as a designer?
“Tremendously, as a person and designer. I’ve really honed in on my craft. I used to keep my designs and programming really basic. Get in, set some moods, get out. Now I’m not worried about using more than one or two colors and trying out certain looks or effects. I used to hold myself back so much, but now I feel like the leash has been broken and I can really put my ideas out there.

“I honestly never really finish programming either. I’m always adding or changing something during the tour. When we have walk-away type shows, you can usually find me behind the console late at night, trying things or adding to the show. I really try to think outside of the box, “What would make this even more memorable” type stuff. Then, before anyone knows it, I’m already coming up with ideas and designs for the following year. Most of this year’s design and programming started in early 2025, and I’m really excited to start rolling with our 2026 tour. It’s going to be a memorable and amazing year.”