From growing up on his family’s farm in Oklahoma, to attending the United States Naval Academy, to his career as a Pipeliner, Cody Hibbard‘s life experience has given the up-and-coming singer/songwriter the desire to work hard to move ahead and follow his dreams. That work ethic has earned him opening slots for country artists such as Sundance Head, Josh Ward, and Bart Crow and opportunities to write with some of the best in the industry. This year, Hibbard released his debut EP Memory and Dirt Road and three singles – “Just for the Record,” which debuted at No. 25 on the Texas Music Pickers Spotify charts, “Armed and Dangerous,” and his most recent “The Truth.”
We caught up with Hibbard to talk about his journey, songwriting, his new single, and more.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
CH: My name is Cody Hibbard. I’m originally from Adair, OK but currently reside in Willis, TX now. I pipelined for several years before stumbling upon the music industry in 2019.
CN: With everything that’s going on in the world in regards to COVID-19, we hope everyone in your circle is safe and healthy. How are you holding up?
CH: We are holding up well. Luckily, we weren’t too deep into the music yet when everything got shut down, so me and a lot of the band still have jobs too. So, we haven’t been hurt as bad as those that do the music full time.
CN: We want to first extend our gratitude to you for your service as a Veteran of the US Navy. We are forever in debt to those who sacrifice to protect our freedom. Would you be able to share some of your experience in the Service?
CH: Of course, and thank you, I ended up getting accepted into the United States Naval Academy after high school. I was only up there for a year due to shoulder issues, so wasn’t in long at all but it was a great experience. It made my appreciation for the men and women who serve this country grow even more. So, to those out there that have served or are currently serving, thank you for everything you do!
CN: Growing up you spent time on your family’s farm. How did your childhood and your experience in the Navy influence your work ethic?
CH: I grew up on a 360-acre farm in Adair, OK, and honestly, I never saw it as work until I got older. Dad also had a trash route when I was growing up, so during the summers and school breaks, I would help him pick up trash at a young age. Mom and dad always had something for me to do around the house or the farm to stay busy, so the farm definitely build my work ethic up starting out young, and it just spilled over into the Naval Academy and later on, into the pipeline industry.
CN: What sparked your interest in becoming a songwriter?
CH: So, I actually pipelined for 7 years before ever writing my first song. I never had any plans of writing music or singing, and it honestly never did spark any interest in me until mid-2019. I had stopped off in Crockett, TX to eat with some friends before going to a job and my waiter had told me I don’t sound how I look. The buddy I was eating with told him if you think that’s weird, you ought to hear him sing and at the time, I only knew three songs on guitar. They somehow convinced me to get the guitar out of my truck and play them the songs I knew. The manager of the place asked if I would come play a 4-hour show for them and for some reason, I agreed. Learned as many cover songs as I could and went and played the show. It was a fun time and I had told myself I could do it as a hobby. I ended up meeting some people that told me to give writing a shot and here we are today. Songwriting has been the best therapy and it’s the play on words and the constant trying to rework the wheel that keeps songwriting an interest for me. I regret I never tried it earlier, but I don’t know what I would do without it now.
CN: Which musicians, country or not, have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
CH: There are too many to count. Keith Whitley, Conway Twitty, and Randy Travis are big influences on me, because of how smooth they could take a song, whether it was upbeat, a tearjerker or a heartbreak song, and just make it their style and their brand and how they were always themselves. I look up to Keith Urban, Travis Tritt, and Garth for how they take command of a stage and make it their home. Then on a personal level, Randall King and Josh Ward have influenced me with how personable and humble they are with those around them, while at the same time, having that “when it’s time to work, it’s time work” mentality.
CN: What was the first album you ever owned?
The first album I ever owned was Brooks and Dunn’s 1997 The Greatest Hits Collection. Had it in a cassette tape and CD and would listen to it nonstop.
CN: You have written with Ray Fulcher, Bart Butler, Trent William and Jordan Walker, who co-wrote your single “Armed and Dangerous.” Can you take us through your songwriting process?
CH: When you’re writing with heavy hitters like that, there is no process, you just enjoy the ride. Honestly, It’s kind of feeling out process. Trying to find something that everyone is inspired to write about that day. My process is having stuff on the table to present and see what everyone is feeling. Just keep feeding ideas and lines, and really getting an idea of what direction the songwriters are wanting to take the song. My biggest thing that I try to avoid is just don’t force the song out, let it be smooth. Which can be harder some days than others.
CN: In what ways has the current COVID-19 situation affected your craft? Perhaps in regards to inspiration (providing some or a lack of?)
CH: Well, for starters, it had me write “Ice Cold Therapy”. We were in quarantine and I said well, guess I’ll get my hand in on writing a beer drinking song, and it is doing way better than I ever expected it to. But, I try to see the good in any situation, and COVID has not been fun at all, don’t get me wrong, but I have benefitted too from the pandemic, as far as homing in my songwriting, getting some down time to focus on what the live show needs to be and how to improve on it when touring was going to pick back up, and really being able to take a look at the small, logistic stuff that sometimes gets avoided due to being so busy.
CN: Earlier this year you released your EP Memory and a Dirt Road, and last month you released your third and latest single, “The Truth.” The lyrics are so personal and honest. Can you share the story behind the song?
CH: So “The Truth” is song that talks about what it’s like being in a relationship. I see it so often these days, that couples have their “honeymoon stage” and then they are left with what’s next? And whether it’s my relationship or friends of mine that have been together for years or people I don’t know, when you know you’ve found the one, you definitely know it. Love may come naturally but making a relationship the best it can possibly be is still work and that’s what “The Truth” describes. It’s about a couple that may have broken up, and are trying to rekindle their relationship, but finally they have to ask, “how high do we have to get, to find that cloud we’ve been missing?” And when we took it to the studio, we wanted the words to describe what’s going on, but the production (produced by Grady Saxman) to give you an idea if the couple figured it out or not. It’s really just my 2 cents on relationships in a 3.5-minute song.
CN: In normal, non-pandemic times you and Randall King share the bill often. How is life on the road, and traveling from city to city with Randall?
CH: You won’t find anyone better than Randall King to share the road with. He’s taken me and my band under his wing on the road, and we’ve learned so much from him and his guys. He’s got one of the best teams out there and one of the best, country music live shows too. I’m very fortunate and blessed to get to learn, laugh, and joke with Randall.
CN: There are some places allowing in person concerts – such as the Cains Ballroom in Tulsa, OK – your dream show which you just checked off your bucket list on 10/30. Talk about a rush I’m sure – what was that like?
CH: Well, there could have been 5 people there and I still would have been the happiest guy out there. But no, Tulsa showed up that night, and it was an absolute dream come true for a kid that grew up around that area. It was great to see people I hadn’t seen in years and really awesome to see how the spread of word of our music has been in that area from original fans to new fans. Cain’s has been hit hard from the pandemic, but Chad and Brad and the rest of the team up there are absolute top notch and really showed why Cain’s has been the premier venue in Oklahoma. It was one night that I will never forget.
CN: What was the first concert you attended?
CH: I didn’t get to go to too many concerts as a kid because I was always working or playing sports, so don’t judge me too hard here, but the first concert I went to was the Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana concert. A friend of mine was babysitting some girls that wanted to go to that show and somehow, I got suckered into going to it.
CN: If you were able to collaborate with any one artist, who would it be?
CH: This is also another question where there are too many artists to list off, but I’d love to collab with Hardy. I think we could come up with some gold.
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
CH: Asian. I mean come on look at me.
CN: What’s next on the horizon for you?
CH: Hard work is on the horizon. That’s all that I’m sure of. I know we are going to get back in the studio and record and of course get back into playing shows, but the only for sure positive that I can give the industry is hard work, so we will see where that will lead me too.
For more information on Cody Hibbard, visit his website at www.codyhibbard.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.