I was instantly drawn to Paige King Johnson and her music when I first met her at CRS in 2023. I knew then that I wanted to feature her in my column, and, more than three years later, I finally get to do so.
Paige King Johnson was raised on a horse farm in North Carolina. She shared, “Music has always been in me, as it is for most artists, but I didn’t know it was a job option. I did think that music would be involved in my life somehow.”
As a young 9-year-old girl, Johnson spent her days imitating the styles of Loretta, Patsy, Waylon, and Merle. Having a grandpa as her biggest fan also meant receiving the gift of her first guitar – a baby Taylor - and enrolling in lessons.
Johnson had a couple of older friends who moved to Nashville to pursue a music career. She heard about Belmont University and that they had a degree called “Music Business,” which she didn’t even know was a thing. While she was in high school, she started a dinner theater in her hometown.
“That really taught me a whole lot about the business side of music, which then opened up so many other doors and options and ideas for what a music career could look like versus just doing it for fun,” she recalled.
She decided to attend Belmont in the hope that one day being involved in the business side of music would pay the bills.
When she was a freshman, just 17, she wanted to play the writers’ rounds and bars but wasn’t old enough to get into some of the venues. So, she started writing songs and eventually got very involved with the songwriters’ rounds, which are prevalent throughout Music City. During college, she was regular at Belcourt Taps, a popular hangout in the late 2010s.
One of the tipping points for Johnson was when she was introduced to Pam Tillis in 2020. She explained, “Everything was shut down, and nobody was out on the road. And some of my team sent some of my music to her to take a listen without me knowing, just of get her opinion and see if she had any pointers for me. She ended up loving the music so much. She reached out, basically, and was just like, ‘Hey, if I can help this girl in any way, let me know.’ The first phone call I got from Pam, I was pretty sure I was getting punked. I was like, ‘There's no way that Pam Tillis is calling my cell phone right now.’ But thank the Lord, it was real life.”
This was during the pandemic, and Tillis asked whether she trusted her to produce a music video; of course, she agreed. Tillis ended up directing the videos for the brazen “Baby Don’t” and the autobiographical “Famous Enough,” which have been two of Johnson’s biggest hits to date from her debut album Honky Tonk Heart.
As an independent artist, it took about three years to complete the album, which was released in 2022. Another huge hit off the album was “Homes in Hometowns,” a tribute to the hardworking farmers who help keep food on everyone’s table.
She shared, “I love writing songs. Going through the process and making the album was fun. But I’m so business-minded that I enjoyed all the moving parts and coordinating everything to get this project out to the world.”
Since then, Johnson has been releasing songs regularly, with themes of family, country life, and her hometown in much of her songwriting. It was her grandfather who inspired the songs, “Grandpa’s Little Girl,” and “I Get Old Too.” Other notable singles include “I Thank God,” “Why God Made Small Towns,” “Country See, Country Do,” and “Cowboys Ride Away.”
“I try to pull on all the different things of how I was raised and where I was raised, and I do hope that that shines through my songs,” she stated.
But now, Johnson is entering one of the most meaningful seasons of her life, both personally and professionally. The Opry alum and 9-time Carolina Country Music Award winner released her new single, “It Ain’t Me,” on May 29, while also sharing the heartfelt news that she and her husband, Griffin, are expecting their first child this fall.
She wrote the song alongside Mason Douglas and Todd Pachey. It reflects the same emotional clarity and storytelling strength that have defined Johnson’s rising career. The track continues her tradition of blending classic country influences with a modern, cinematic edge.
“We wrote 'It Ain’t Me' on the same day as ‘I Get Old Too,’” she stated. “After finishing such a heartfelt song, we wanted something to lighten the mood a little bit. This song really fell out in no time at all – we just had fun and leaned into the early days of Carrie and Miranda vibes when writing it. It’s full of all the sass that, I believe, female anthems should have as far as the writing goes. We went full-on ’90s honky-tonk with the production when we took it into the studio.”
It’s not a crying breakup song, as she points a finger at him, telling him, “It ain’t me, it’s you who screwed this up.” By the end of the song, you are pleased that she saw the light and kicked him to the curb. “Being able to really call them out on their stuff and have the last word in the breakup is the redeeming part,” Johnson confirmed.
The thing I admire most about Paige King Johnson’s songwriting is its perfect balance of sentimentality and sass. Johnson loves and respects her upbringing, but she will not be taken advantage of just because she has a pleasant demeanor.
After this song is released, Johnson and her husband will be preparing for their new arrival. She stated, “We can’t wait to welcome our sweetest answered prayer this fall! Thank you, Jesus, for trusting us with this blessing. Baby C, we are so lucky to be your parents, and we can’t wait to kiss your sweet face!”
But in the meantime, Johnson will be touring throughout the summer, including shows in Nashville on June 2 and 3, and July 13 and 14. I am excited to share her music with you, including her latest release, “It Ain’t Me.”
You can follow Paige King Johnson on her website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and all streaming platforms.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and TikTok.