The rodeo is headed to Music City.
Nashville is no stranger to rodeos. The Tennessee town used to have some country roots before it was overrun with celebrity bars and bachelorette parties.
Thirty minutes south of town in Franklin, Tennessee, the Franklin Noon Rotary hosts the legendary Franklin Rodeo every year, and Bridgestone Arena presents Professional Bull Riding events. The Nashville Stampede competes against other PBR teams, and individual bull riders fight for the World Champion title; the Nashville Metro area has never been graced by a PRCA Pro Rodeo event until now.
Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association just announced that they are bringing pro rodeo to Music City, and in a big way. Three nights, three huge country performers, and the top rodeo athletes will gather at Bridgestone Arena for some amazing performances.
“For the first time, the rodeo is riding into Music City. Join us May 29–31 for three nights of guts, glory, and history at the Music City Rodeo—Nashville’s first PRCA Pro Rodeo —featuring performances by Reba, Jelly Roll, and Tim McGraw. This May, we ride.”
Reba, Tim McGraw, and Jelly Roll. Damn that’s a solid lineup.
Along with the announcement, a promotional video with incredible storytelling about how Nashville has always been the sounding voice for the cowboy way of life, with country music at the center of the city. But even with all of country music relocating to Music City, the cowboys themselves have yet to follow.
Scenes of horses walking up and down Broadway, Jelly Roll serving drinks behind his bar, and Reba speaking about how vital rodeoing is to the genre perfectly promote what’s in store for the Music City Rodeo.
Grab your tickets now for what’s clearly going to be a killer event. Vivid Seats has you covered, giving you free tickets just for buying through their platform. Not a bad deal, huh?
Reba McEntire Returns To Her Rodeo Roots
Reba got her start in country music performing the National Anthem at rodeos, so having her perform at the first annual Music City Rodeo was a perfect choice.
Growing up in rural McAlester, Oklahoma, in a family that championed Western sports, Reba spent some time on the rodeo circuit as a kid. Getting her start working around the ranch at a young age led her to attend rodeos with her father and compete.
“I began working on our ranch at age 5. If Daddy needed a driver to move grain in his pickup truck, he came in and got whoever was there. I was so little that Daddy put a 50-pound feed sack on the driver’s seat before putting me on top of it. I’d be on my knees to work the steering wheel. He’d put the truck in granny gear, jump out, and off I’d go.”
Reba looks back on her childhood working horses and cattle with fondness. But she knew from an early age that she wanted to do something other than ranching—she wanted to pursue a music career.
“I always wanted to be on stage. I was the third of four kids, so I was pretty much invisible. I had to carve out something for me to gain attention, and that was singing. Performing gained Mama’s adoration. I yearned to hear her say, ‘That was real good, Reba.’”
This led to Reba’s discovery moment when she began performing the “Star Spangled Banner” at local rodeos. Given her “decent voice,” she was approached to sing the National Anthem at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.
The performance kickstarted her musical career as attendees were taken aback by her natural talent. Reflecting on the song that put her name on the map, Reba said it was a push from her father that helped her land her big break:
“He said to get a job singing the national anthem. So I did, and I guess if I hadn’t done that, then I wouldn’t have a recording contract today.”
Reba has since sang the National Anthem at many PRCA events like the NFR, but this will be a full circle moment for her to step back in the dirt to sing for the Nashville crowd come May.
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