Combine the accordions of música mexicana with the steel guitars of country music, and you’ve got magic. On Friday, Cody Johnson released “She Hurts Like Tequila,” a collaboration with Carin Leon that combines the classic elements of the country star’s sound, but with a Mexican flair.
“No puedo negar que un día me va a matar/She hurts like tequila,” sings Leon, before Johnson continues the verse: “Every taste of her heavenly lips/Is laced with her wickedness.”
In a behind-the-song video posted by the artists, Johnson explained that he was in a Mexican restaurant when he heard a song by Carin Leon. Immediately, he asked his waiter to tell him who was behind the song.
“I downloaded everything on my phone. The next day, at my ranch, we were roping. I played all of the albums I had downloaded,” Johnson recounted. “My buddies said, ‘What is this? I can’t understand anything they’re saying. It’s all in Spanish.’ But it feels good. It feels really good.”
The duo met with Vegas to write the song, taking inspiration from the Mexican liquor. “I appreciate you giving me the chance to crossover to a whole different type of Spanish music,” Johnson said.
“It’s such a pleasure and honor coming from a big one like you,” responded Leon. “For my country and for my music, it’s important to cross this line between música mexicana and country music. I’m very glad it’s with you.”
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Leon has been leading the way for the Mexican-country music crossover and made history last year as the first Mexican artist to perform at Stagecoach. “It was nearly impossible for this moment not to come,” he told Rolling Stone at the time. “It was almost intuitive, especially with how similar these genres are. The music on both sides is almost primal, without pretension.” (He’s made his Grand Ole Opry debut, and has collaborated with Leon Bridges and Kane Brown on country songs.)
The bilingual collaboration is Johnson’s first single since dropping the deluxe edition of his album Leather, featuring “The Painter” and “Dirt Cheap,” past year. As for Leon, he joined Maximo Grado’s duet album on “La Güera y La Morena” and sings with PabloPablo and Ralphie Choo on “Eso Que Tú Llamas Amor.”