Johnny Utah, now known as Jawny, is an American singer, songwriter, and producer best known for the 2019 single “Honeypie.”
He dated rapper and singer Doja Cat from August 2019 to February 2020, and he signed with Interscope Records in January 2020.
Who is Johnny Utah?
Johnny Utah is the former stage name of Jacob Lee-Nicholas Sullenger. He now performs as Jawny, a name he took around the time he signed with Interscope Records.
Sullenger first made music under the name Johnny Utah in Philadelphia. He writes, sings, and produces his own songs in an indie pop and lo-fi style.
His 2019 single “Honeypie” earned an RIAA Gold certification. He released his debut album, It’s Never Fair, Always True, on March 3, 2023.
Doja Cat’s Boyfriend Johnny Utah
Johnny Utah dated Doja Cat from August 2019 to February 2020. He is the only public relationship she has had since she became famous. The two met online in 2019.
Doja Cat found the “Honeypie” music video on YouTube and later followed him. Soon after, he commented on one of her Instagram photos, and the two began talking.
They also worked together on the single “Anything You Want,” which features Doja Cat.
In February 2020, Doja Cat confirmed the breakup during an Instagram Live session.
Sullenger later spoke to Elite Daily about how the split changed his album. The couple dated for about six months.
Early Life of Johnny Utah
Jacob Sullenger was born in Fairfield, California, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He learned to play guitar at age 6. He began writing songs in his early teens.
After high school, Sullenger briefly studied nursing in college. However, he dropped out to pursue music and managed a pizzeria in New Jersey to pay his bills. He moved to Philadelphia in 2016 at age 20.
There he began making music under the alias Johnny Utah. The name refers to the Keanu Reeves character in the 1991 film Point Break.
Johnny Utah Age / Birthday
Johnny Utah is 30 years old as of 2026, born on December 23, 1995, in Fairfield, California.
His zodiac sign is Capricorn, a sign often linked with discipline and ambition. He turns 31 on December 23, 2026.
Johnny Utah Ethnicity and Nationality
Johnny Utah is American. He was born in California and later built his music career in Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
Johnny Utah Height
Johnny Utah stands 5 feet 8 inches tall, or 1.73 meters. He learned guitar at age 6.
His 2023 album tour included stops in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. Along with this, he played London’s Lafayette that October.
Johnny Utah Education
Sullenger briefly attended college, where he studied nursing. He dropped out to focus on music. Music became his full-time path.
His training came mostly from home. He learned guitar at 6 and began writing songs in his early teens.
Johnny Utah Career
Johnny Utah Era (2016-2019)
Sullenger began releasing music as Johnny Utah after his 2016 move to Philadelphia. In January 2018, he released a self-titled EP through Z Tapes Records.
He put out more singles that year, including “Folding Like Honey,” “Patty,” and “Crazy for Your Love.”
His songs also landed on Spotify’s Bedroom Pop playlist. In November 2018, Z Tapes compiled his tracks into the EP Big Dogs. In April 2019, he released “Honeypie.”
Spotify added the song to its Fresh Finds and Ultimate Indie playlists. That exposure brought it millions of streams, and the song later earned an RIAA Gold certification.
Interscope and For Abby (2020-2021)
In January 2020, Sullenger signed with Interscope Records. Around that time, he changed his stage name to Jawny, a nod to a Philadelphia slang term. He also moved to Los Angeles.
In February 2020, he released the single “Anything You Want.” Then, on October 27, 2020, he released his Interscope debut, the mixtape For Abby.
The single “Sabotage” debuted at number 34 on the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in January 2021. In July 2021, he followed with the EP The Story of Hugo.
Recent Work (2022-Present)
In 2022, Jawny teamed up with Beck for a new version of “Take It Back.” He then released his first album, It’s Never Fair, Always True, on March 3, 2023. NME gave the album four stars.
He supported the album with a tour that made stops in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. He also lined up a headline show at London’s Lafayette in October 2023.
Johnny Utah Discography
Jawny has released one album, one mixtape, and three EPs.
| Year | Title | Type | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Johnny Utah | EP | Z Tapes |
| 2018 | Big Dogs | EP | Z Tapes |
| 2020 | For Abby | Mixtape | Interscope |
| 2021 | The Story of Hugo | EP | Interscope |
| 2023 | It’s Never Fair, Always True | Album | Interscope |
“Honeypie” remains his best-known single.
Johnny Utah Net Worth
Johnny Utah’s estimated net worth is $500,000 as of 2026. His income comes mainly from streaming royalties, live performances, and music sales. “Honeypie” earned a Gold certification.
His Interscope deal in 2020 and his 2023 album tour added to his earnings. Along with this, his collaborations with other artists, including Beck, brought further exposure.
Johnny Utah Social Media
Jawny runs an official site at jawny.com. He also promotes his music through Spotify and other streaming platforms. His songs first spread on Spotify playlists.
Fans can follow his tour news and releases through his site. Since 2020, he has released music under the name Jawny.
Conclusion
Johnny Utah turned a Philadelphia bedroom-pop project into an Interscope career, and “Honeypie” remains the song that put him on the map.
His relationship with Doja Cat lasted six months, but his music has stayed his main story since.