Few country music collaborations in recent years have generated as much anticipation as Cody Johnson and Carrie Underwood‘s “I’m Gonna Love You,” a duet that culminated in their first shared No. 1 hit in early 2025. The song’s journey began nearly six years before its September 27, 2024 release, when Johnson first encountered the demo penned by Chris Stevens, Kelly Archer, and Travis Denning. Johnson immediately envisioned Underwood as the only possible duet partner, refusing to record the track without her distinctive vocals.
Despite Johnson’s certainty about the collaboration, scheduling conflicts and touring commitments delayed the project for years. The persistence paid off when Underwood, despite her busy schedule, agreed to record the duet that would eventually become the lead single from Johnson’s upcoming album and a highlight of his “Leather” deluxe edition. The timing proved fortuitous, coming after Johnson’s CMA Album of The Year win for “Leather,” which created significant momentum for the release.
Patience and persistence turned two busy country stars’ six-year scheduling challenge into perfect timing for a career-defining hit.
The song’s critical reception matched its commercial success, with music journalists praising the vocal interplay between Johnson’s baritone and Underwood’s powerful delivery. Critics highlighted how the duet honored traditional country roots while remaining contemporary, noting the “family harmony” style that reflected Johnson’s childhood singing experiences. The collaboration, produced by Trent Willmon, was widely regarded as a career-defining moment for Johnson. Johnson and Underwood had built anticipation for over a year and a half since their initial discussions about the song at CMA Fest 2023.
After its release, the song quickly accumulated over 200 million global streams and reached the summit of country radio charts, marking Johnson’s fourth and Underwood’s impressive twenty-ninth No. 1 single. The duo performed the hit at the 58th Annual CMA Awards, and Underwood later surprised fans with an appearance at Johnson’s sold-out Bridgestone Arena show in Nashville. Both artists described working together as a complete pleasure, highlighting the organic chemistry that made the collaboration so successful. The duo’s success demonstrates how music licensing can transform a simple demo into a multi-platform revenue stream for all involved creators. The artists strategically leveraged playlist pitching opportunities across multiple streaming platforms to maximize the song’s exposure and connect with new audiences.
Their music video, directed by Dustin Haney and filmed in Wells, Nevada, further cemented the duet’s place as a significant milestone in contemporary country music, blending major artists’ fanbases and establishing long-term chart impact.
