Christmas is known to be one of the best times of year, but it can also be a particular tough time, too.

In fact, it doesn’t take much searching to find a whole list of melancholy holiday tunes. Then there are songs that are somewhere in between — the ones that acknowledge struggles while remaining hopeful.

Country singer Cody Johnson sang one of these types of songs recently called “If We Make It Through December” by Merle Haggard, and there’s an emotional reason as to why he did.

For those who don’t know, Johnson debuted as a country artist in 2006. But he didn’t get his first #1 hit until 2019 with “On My Way to You.” Before his success, Johnson and his wife, Brandi Johnson, were struggling.

This is something Johnson shares in a video right before his performance of this Haggard classic. He takes us back to just a year after him and his wife got married. It’s Christmas time, and they’re at his parents’ house. While there, the country singer places a $20 bill into a Christmas card.

He notices right away that his wife gives him an odd look, but it isn’t until they were on their way home that he is reminded that was all the money they’d have until Johnson got paid again at the start of January.

Cody Johnson Share’s Emotional Connection to “If We Make It Through December”

On that very ride home, “If We Make It Through December” plays on the radio, the singer detailing how times are tough but, if they can make it through the month, they’ll be alright. This brought both husband and wife to tears.

Once at home, Johnson decides to check the mailbox while his wife unpacks leftovers his parents had given them. There, he discovers something life changing: His first two songwriter checks from ASCAP, each of them $2,500. Now, they’re crying tears of joy.

“And then we pushed the couch up close to the TV and we heated up the leftovers and we watched ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and then we cried again,” Johnson shares. “So that’s why I’m playing you this song tonight. Merle, thank you for writing this song.”

Watch Johnson share the emotional details of why “If We Make It Through December” means so much to him in the video below.

@cmt #merlehaggard’s “If We Make It Through December” has a special place in #codyjohnson’s heart ❤️🙏 See him perform it and many more holiday favorites during a #CMTCoJoChristmas ♬ original sound – CMT