After he graduated high school he joined the band Rock Bottom and then the band Elijah Hooker. That band released their self-titled debut studio album in 2013. Johnson son American Idol in 2014 and released his debut solo studio album Testify which reached #9 on the US Rock chart and #24 on the Billboard 200 chart. His single “As Long As You Love Me” reached #41 on the US Rock chart.