“He Made Everyone Think of Toby Keith” 🇺🇸😭 — and by the end of the song, not a single dry eye was left in the arena. At the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, Cody Johnson delivered a breathtaking performance of “Travelin’ Soldier” that instantly stopped the room cold, honoring America’s troops with raw emotion and old-school cowboy respect. 🎤🔥 With a massive American flag draped behind him and thousands watching in silence, Johnson’s heartfelt tribute reminded fans of the late Toby Keith and the kind of country music that hits straight to the soul. 😭💖 Viewers are calling it one of the most emotional ACM moments in years, with many saying it’s a crime the performance wasn’t airing on cable for everyone to witness live. From the moment he removed his cowboy hat in honor of fallen soldiers to the final note that left the crowd in tears, this was more than a song—it was a powerful salute to sacrifice, patriotism, and the heart of country music.

Cody Johnson returned to the Academy of Country Music Awards stage Sunday night with a twist on the familiar patriotic anthem “Travelin’ Soldier” in front of the packed house at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

With an American flag draped behind him, Johnson belted out the lyrics “Waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier, our love will never end, waitin’ for the soldier to come back again, never more to be alone, when the letter says, ‘A soldier’s comin’ home.’” His performance also showcased various branches of the military in action.

Johnson took home the biggest award, Entertainer of the Year, later in the night.

Award shows are often an invitation for political grandstanding. For example, ICE was cast in a negative light at the 2026 Grammy Awards. Johnson chose a decidedly different route, sharing his heartfelt version of the decades-old tune about a teenage girl and a soldier heading off to fight in the Vietnam War.

Johnson has long been a supporter of our troops and began singing an acoustic version of “Travelin’ Soldier” during the pandemic. It quickly became a hit, so he finally released the studio version in November 2025 just before Veterans Day. Since the release on Spotify, Johnson’s version of “Travelin’ Soldier” has 77 million streams.

The Texas native brought the crowd to their feet as he ended the song Sunday, proving why the Academy deemed him Entertainer of the Year. He had to beat out some of country music’s best to take home that trophy for the first time in his career. Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, and Morgan Wallen were all up for the coveted award. Johnson, known among fans as CoJo, also took home the award for Male Artist of the Year.

The 38-year-old’s big night at the ACMs builds momentum toward his next studio album, “Banks Of The Trinity,” set to be released in June. It’s his all-new studio album since 2023, when Johnson released “Leather,” featuring some of his biggest hits, including “Dirt Cheap.”