Carrie Underwood Joins Cody Johnson in Onstage Surprise as They Perform 'I'm Gonna Love You' at 2024 CMA Awards

Mar. 15, 2025

Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood in November 2024.Photo:Theo Wargo/Getty

Theo Wargo/Getty

Carrie UnderwoodandCody Johnsongave the2024 CMA Awardsquite the surprise.

At the 58thAnnual Country Music Association Awardson Wednesday, Nov. 20, theAmerican Idolalum andLeatherhitmaker performed their duet “I’m Gonna Love You.”

The ballad was released as the lead single of Johnson’s deluxe version of his albumLeatherin November, alongside a stunning music video featuring landscapes and horses surrounding them as they sing. The backdrop for their performance had similar scenery.

Check out all of PEOPLE’s full CMA Awards coveragehere.

Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood in November 2024.Theo Wargo/Getty

Johnson told PEOPLE in Novemberthat he always thought Underwood would be the one for the track. “It’s like Carrie Underwood or nobody,” he said. “I just heard her voice.”

He also spoke about the incredible process of recording the song. “I’m watching her mouth, and I can see where every breath is gonna be,” Johnson recalled.

He added: “We’re just staring at each other, kind of going off each other. It was weird because that was the first time Carrie and I had ever sang together, and it was just perfect family harmony. And I think that speaks to the caliber of vocalist she is really.”

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Johnson has beennominated for five CMA Awardsat the 2024 ceremony and took home album of the year withLeather.

His songs “Dirt Cheap” and"The Painter,“are both nominated for song of the year and the latter for music video of the year. He was also nominated for male vocalist of the year for the third year in a row. He previously won the CMA Award for single of the year in 2022 for” ‘Til You Can’t."

Underwood, meanwhile, has become a fixture at country music’s biggest night. She hosted12 consecutive years of the awards showand has taken home seven CMAs over the years.

The 58th Annual CMA Awards broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on ABC. The show streams the following day on Hulu.

source: people.com