More than a decade after releasing her fourth solo album Love Rules, country singer and songwriter Carolyn Dawn Johnson has shared “Road Blocks,” off her upcoming album, There She Is, in 2024.
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I’m cruising / At a real good pace / Everything is falling into place / I got my best friend right beside me / And the sunshine on my face sings Johnson on the empowering, uptempo anthem, co-written by Jennifer Lynn Kennard and Oscar Charles. Produced by Johnson, “Road Blocks” marks a new beginning, and direction, for the Canadian artist after remaining behind the scenes as a songwriter and producer throughout most of her career.
“‘Road Blocks’ is an anthem of empowerment,” said Johnson in a statement. “It gives a glimpse into why I’ve stayed behind the scenes for quite some time, singing with some of my favorite artists, producing, writing, and being a mom.”
Johnson continued, “For me, the roadblocks in my life steered me to making some of my own music again. I hope this song inspires strength for others facing challenges as they turn up the volume and sing along.”
Several years after moving from Alberta, Canada to Nashville, Tennessee in 1994, Johnson had her breakout No. 1 single as a songwriter in 1999 with Chely Wright’s country hit “Single White Female.” She continued writing for other artists, including Jo Dee Messina’s 2001 song “Downtime,” which went to No. 5 on the Billboard country chart.
In 2001, Johnson released her debut album Room With a View, followed by Dress Rehearsal in 2004, Love & Negotiation in 2006, and Love Rules in 2010. Following Love Rules, Johnson has also released a number of singles throughout the years, including “Life Changes Everything” in 2020.
Throughout her career, Johnson has earned 15 top 20 singles and 10 top 10s, along with winning 17 CCMA awards along with several JUNO awards among other awards and recognitions from the AMAs, ACMs, and more.
As a touring musician and session vocalist, Johnson has also appeared on songs with Loretta Lynn, Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, and Dan + Shay among others. She has also toured with a number of former collaborators, including Lambert, McBride, and most recently Ashley McBryde.
Photo: Brooke Boling / Courtesy of Sweet Talk Publicity
