Cody Jinks Shaves Off His Iconic Beard
This story has been updated.
“I asked him if he was trying to get a job.”
“I don’t know man, I don’t think anyone would hire me.”
This was the exchange between Jamey Johnson and Cody Jinks when Cody walked out on the stage at the Von Braun Center Arena in Huntsville, AL on Thursday, February 28th sporting a clean shaven face—something even many hardcore Cody Jinks fans known as “Flockers” have never seen before.
For years Cody’s huge beard has been a signature feature of the Ft. Worth-based singer and traditional country artist. It was just one of many bushy faces sported by a fraternity of performers that have all become close friends over the years, including Jamey Johnson, as well as regular tour mates Whitey Morgan, Ward Davis, and others.
Jamey Johnson and Cody Jinks co-headlined the show in Huntsville on Thursday, with Cody coming out to sing with Johnson on the classic Merle Haggard tune, “Are The Good Times Really Over” (see below).
Cody Jinks is one of multiple independently-minded country artists re-writing the script on what is possible for a performer without mainstream radio support. His Rounder Records debut Lifers released in 2018 went #2 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, and Cody regularly sells out venues across the country. Cody Jinks and Jamey Johnson had the Von Braun Center Arena packed to the rafters on Thursday. Sunny Sweeney who also regularly tours with Cody, opened the evening’s show.
Reaction to Cody Jinks’ clean face has been mixed, and there’s no word if he’ll start growing it out again, or if his bald cheeks will be a permanent fixture moving forward.
Johnny
March 2, 2019 @ 12:25 pm
Funny how Jamey switched Nixon for Clinton on the Haggard tune
Robert Pomerenk
March 2, 2019 @ 12:28 pm
Cody played first….not Jamey
Trigger
March 2, 2019 @ 12:39 pm
Sorry. Thanks for the clarification.
hoptowntiger94
March 2, 2019 @ 7:35 pm
Did Jinks shave AFTER his set then? Cause Johnson and the crowd are acting like they are seeing him beardless for the first time.
He looks like Tracy Lawrence’s little brother.
I don’t like it.
jill
March 5, 2019 @ 11:35 am
no it was shaved when he first came on stage, my husband and I were there
JB-Chicago
March 2, 2019 @ 12:32 pm
He’s a very attractive man. He’ll have the mom/daughter combos lining up in no time!!….LOL
Regina Conner
March 2, 2019 @ 12:43 pm
It doesn’t matter to me what Cody Jinks looks like or what he wears, I will always support him. His music speaks for itself. Cody you do what you need to do, keep it real and keep on making the music.
norrie
March 2, 2019 @ 12:44 pm
How do we really know it’s him? 😉
OlaR
March 2, 2019 @ 1:00 pm
Can’t be him.
It’s Deryl Dodd!
The part of the song “Ode To Cody Jinks” by Deryl Dodd feat. Courtney Patton (was a #1 hit in Texas a couple of month ago):
“When she drinks, she thinks I’m Cody Jinks
The clean-shaven version
When she drinks, oh she thinks I’m Cody Jinks”
(Source: genius.com”)
Rob
March 2, 2019 @ 1:09 pm
Now he looks like Ronnie Van Zant lol. I wanted to be at that concert, I just saw Jamey and Cody both in the same week and they both put on a hell of a show. But if he’s gonna shave the beard he’s gotta get the hair too.
Brian
March 2, 2019 @ 9:51 pm
That is exactly what I thought when I saw him is that he looks like Ronnie Van Zant.
Cornbread
March 3, 2019 @ 3:07 pm
That’s what JJ told him at the show Thursday night. He said you look like Ronnie Van Zant in the 70s.
Rob
March 3, 2019 @ 8:34 pm
Guess Jamey beat me to it. I’m just glad I’m not the only one who thinks it. Now if he will just rock it shaved until the Skynyrd farewell tour.
Sana Mello
March 2, 2019 @ 1:18 pm
Aw, now my mom won’t be afraid of him, and i can take her to one of his shows..
Pamela
March 2, 2019 @ 2:10 pm
Fort is always spelled out when referring to Fort Worth.
Please refrain from using Ft. Worth. Thank you.
Trigger
March 2, 2019 @ 2:26 pm
I was born and raised in Dallas. Lived in Arlington for a while right on the Fort Worth border. Worked in North Richland Hills at one point at at the Mazzios Pizza on Rufe Snow. Never heard this rule before. But it’s noted.
🙂
hoptowntiger94
March 2, 2019 @ 8:23 pm
Cold Fffffft Worth beer just ain’t no good for jealous
I think she’s correct
Chongrulz
March 3, 2019 @ 10:54 pm
I see it abbreviated more than I see it spelled out actually. Silly to state something as wrong when its literally done all the time.
Pamela
March 4, 2019 @ 4:59 am
Just because it is often fine does not mean it is right. David Crockett is often referred to as Davy. His name was David. Often done does not mean it is correct. I am a native Texan and believe in showing respect.
Two STepper
March 4, 2019 @ 6:44 pm
What’s the URL of your blog, Pamela?
Chongrulz
March 4, 2019 @ 11:13 pm
Davey is a gd nickname he went by. Hank Jr real name is Randall, do you make sure to call him by that every time. Ft. is an abbreviation for Fort. They mean the same thing. Its not like he called it the crime ridden cesspool it is
Rooster Cruiser
March 6, 2019 @ 2:22 pm
How the hell is it disrespectful to abbreviate Fort? It’s a damn noun.
I’m a native Kansan and I believe in respect as well. But I sure as hell don’t think it’s disrespectful if someone types Ft. Hays for Ft. Scott.
Shot Jackson
March 7, 2019 @ 6:54 am
Pamela,
These days ‘thank you’ is reduced to TY. Please refrain from the spelling it out. TY!
PJ
June 19, 2019 @ 12:29 pm
Some people….
Aggc
March 2, 2019 @ 2:43 pm
I wonder if Ward Davis will be next.
Michelle
March 15, 2019 @ 9:23 am
I would LOVE to see Ward’s fresh clean face!!
Jason Bray
March 2, 2019 @ 3:31 pm
Does anyone else think we should elect him as president? Just saying….
DJ
March 2, 2019 @ 3:34 pm
yessir
DJ
March 2, 2019 @ 3:33 pm
Good for him- the beard was a bit much
wayne
March 2, 2019 @ 3:52 pm
It’s probably just me, but it seems like Cody’s tone was off a bit. Jamey’s, as always, was spot-on. Not a comment against Cody by no means. Maybe it is his unique vocal style. He is a great artist.
hoptowntiger94
March 2, 2019 @ 7:37 pm
I felt like was trying to sing it in Johnson’s style, almost imitating Johnson.
hoptowntiger94
March 2, 2019 @ 8:20 pm
And Johnson’s new style is an imitation of Willie.
Beverly Ann Johnson
March 2, 2019 @ 4:06 pm
Cody is real! His music is real! I take my phone and my Bluetooth and Cody everywhere I go!
John
March 2, 2019 @ 4:38 pm
Well it doesn’t change how much I love his music but I’m appalled, lol. A haircut, sure but shaving the beard. Never. Then again I have a long beard and and I’m Mr. Clean bald so I reckon I’m biased.
King Honky Of Crackershire
March 2, 2019 @ 5:10 pm
How did this guy get a following? He can’t sing for crap, and dueting with Jamey Johnson just exposes this.
Cody should’ve sang a duet with Kacey or Sturgill if he wanted contrast to make him sound good.
ScottG
March 2, 2019 @ 9:15 pm
You. Never. Disappoint.
Rob
March 2, 2019 @ 11:19 pm
Listen to “Me or You,” “Ready for the Times to Get Better,” “Loud and Heavy,” “The Way I Am,” etc. Hes one of the best country vocalists out there. This was a weaker performance, but he’s usually spot on. You are so negative on every comment thread, just be happy that two of the best county artists of our generation performed together.
JB-Chicago
March 2, 2019 @ 11:52 pm
Rob for the win!! To say he can’t sing is a blatant ignorant statement. If YOU Honky don’t like his voice fair enough. Many of us love Cody’s voice. His voice fits HIS (maybe not this one per se) tunes perfectly like Sarah’s fits hers, Whitey’s fits his and Moonpies Mike fits his too. It’s never about who’s a “great fuckin singer”. It’s does the voice sing and fit the song properly with sincere authentic feeling and emotion………ala Dylan, Neil Young, Lemmy…….etc……
Virgil Williams
March 3, 2019 @ 8:21 pm
Don’t get Honk started on Whitey and his supposedly “fake” accent.
Bottom line is Honk is a contrarian troll who has too much time on his hands.
He’s also got a problem with Colter Wall’s voice.
Trigger
March 3, 2019 @ 9:05 am
You never should judge the vocal prowess of an artist by smartphone footage of him singing a cover song during someone else’s set. Cody Jinks has his detractors or course, but very few if anyone will say he can’t sing.
scott
March 4, 2019 @ 7:34 am
Just the Honkster…for what that’s worth.
Steven Gimmy
March 2, 2019 @ 5:56 pm
Bill Gibbons called and said-
“Your whiskers may grow back, your testicles won’t”
Seriously though, why fuck with such an iconic trademark?
…Just hope it wasn’t for a chick
Head Case
March 3, 2019 @ 6:14 am
He’s a married man so if it was for a chick then that would be a big problem I suppose
North Woods Country
March 2, 2019 @ 7:27 pm
He’s too young to not to look a little ridiculous with a huge beard anyway. Good move
hoptowntiger94
March 2, 2019 @ 7:40 pm
He’s frickin 38 years old. His life is halfway done. When should one grow a beard?
North Woods Country
March 2, 2019 @ 8:01 pm
For some reason I thought he was in his twenties. I must be thinking of someone else
The Original WTF Guy
March 3, 2019 @ 8:53 am
Never.
Brian
March 2, 2019 @ 10:01 pm
I actually think he looks good with it shaved and it is nice to mix it up sometimes. Man I bet it feels crazy to him right now not having it. I know a bunch of these guys have big beards, but it always seemed like it would be super hot under those hot lights with a big beard.
Black Boots
March 3, 2019 @ 5:46 am
This is news.
Atomic Zombie Redneck
March 3, 2019 @ 10:12 am
He didn’t just shave off his beard, he shaved off his super powers. Now he’s just mere mortal, like the rest of us.
David f james
March 3, 2019 @ 7:20 pm
Did he lose some bet lol
Virgil Williams
March 3, 2019 @ 8:31 pm
It’s been 6 years since I’ve had more than a week’s worth of facial hair. Work and their shitty rules and whatnot.
The money’s the only thing keeping me from a 12×12 shack and a 50 hour a week blue collar, with a Jinks beard to boot.
Grow it back out bro, I’ve gotta live vicariously through someone.
Waylon Van Smack
March 3, 2019 @ 8:42 pm
The beard thing has been long overdone and needs to go anyways.
A.K.A. City
March 4, 2019 @ 7:24 am
The fact that this is even news boggles my mind, but the Flocker social media platforms melted over this.
It’s his face, he can do what he wants. “He’s not Samson,” I believe Ward Davis said.
Trigger
March 4, 2019 @ 9:28 am
Posted this as just sort of a sidenote, and days after it happened. Though some folks would get a kick out of it. Biggest article I’ve posted in over a month. To me, that speaks to just how big Cody Jinks is, and how much people care about him. Beard or not, people are paying attention. I’ll take that as a good sign.
Tex Hex
March 4, 2019 @ 9:50 am
Yeah, the guy can do whatever he wants and it’s not the end of the world, but let’s not dismiss the fact that the beard has been part of his branding most of his country career and it’s all over his merch. Like ZZ Top. It’s not entirely “unimportant.” I wouldn’t have recognized him on the street if I saw him without the beard.
Luckyoldsun
March 4, 2019 @ 5:55 pm
There’s some serious grade inflation going on if anybody puts the words “Cody Johnson” and “Iconic” in the same sentence/headline.
Mr.bonez13
March 6, 2019 @ 11:29 pm
He’s gonna miss that beard when he comes to Toledo. It’s still cold as fuck up here in Northwest Ohio!