Johnson releases special media of "The Painter"

The visual features a painting by a young woman with special needs named Katie McCormick, whose mother connected with their local radio station after being moved by the song's lyrics. Beginning today, fans can also visit Johnson's official website to share photos and stories about the people and art that color their own lives.

"On Friday Aug. 11, 2023, I had just dropped Katie off at school and headed to work listening to our favorite radio duo Nate and Traci from US 96.3," Teresa McCormick said. "I was very much in my head that morning with a thousand swirling thoughts, half listening to the conversation because Katie was turning 18 the next day."

Because of Katie's epilepsy, this milestone brought an avalanche of changes and challenges.

"'The Painter' started playing while my thoughts were still somewhere else," Teresa said. But then a particular lyric - "I don't remember my life before she came into the picture" - struck her. "With every new verse, I had visions of Katie."

As a result of the many surgeries in her life, Katie has right sided weakness and a learning delay disability. However, she discovered a love of painting as a therapeutic outlet through a connection with her art teacher, Debby Francis.

"This mom, having a moment in her car listening to the radio, lost it, tears streaming at this point. Ugly crying," said Teresa. "Katie has overcome so many obstacles. Every new verse, I could picture a different phase of life, story or image of her. Through a blur of tears, I reached for my phone and sent a text message to the radio station thanking them for playing that song right at that moment. She is the color to my life."

The story made its way to Johnson's label, Warner Music Nashville, who developed the video in collaboration with an AI artist.

"While this song is written about a man's love for his wife and how she colors his world, it allows everyone who hears it to drift away in thought to that person who adds beauty and color to their own life. Be that a child, a parent, spouse, or friend," Teresa said. "This is what country music is all about."

Written by Benjy Davis, Kat Higgins and Ryan Larkins and produced by Trent Willmon, the Gold-certified song is the biggest streaming single of Johnson's career with more than 200 million global streams to date. "The Painter" was the first single off Johnson's 12-track studio album, "Leather," released last fall.