Shouldn’t be a surprise that rodeo guys like to cue up country music, eh?
Rocker Steiner, a bareback bronc rider, and Kade Bruno, a saddle bronc rider, joined the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast ahead of the Music City Rodeo to talk about the upcoming event, as well as their lives as rodeo stars. The two discussed why Nashville is the perfect place for a rodeo, and how their lives as touring rodeo stars aren’t that much different from touring country singers.
The guys also spoke on the adrenaline rush of crawling down into the chute to saddle up, knowing that death could be an outcome, the biggest purchases they’ve made after winning big money, and the sport’s largest misconceptions. Rocker and Kade then touched on how Taylor Sheridan has helped rodeo popularity through shows like Yellowstone, and celebrity and country star runs in they’ve had during their careers.
And it makes sense that rodeo and country music goes together, right? Guys like Rocker and Kade are basically professional cowboys, and the subject matter of the country genre almost always aligns with what goes on in their day to day lives. For Rocker Steiner, he leans more into the southern rock part of country, but still enjoys the traditional sound of Keith Whitley and another, modern artist that’s tapped into that:
“I think the most country guy is Zach Top. I like Zach a lot. I listen to a lot of Koe, but I don’t think Koe is exactly country. I think he’s more country rock, which is what I’m into… Koe is a really good friend of mine. We live in the same neighborhood. We always go tear stuff up and go shoot hogs and stuff.”
Wouldn’t that be something? Being neighbors with Koe Wetzel?
As for Kade Bruno, he says that he does most of his country music listening while he’s on the road. There’s a lot of driving in between rodeo events, so that’s where the saddle bronc rider really gets some time to discover new music, and he’s not ashamed to admit that he’s an “Ella Fella,” like many other guys out there right now:
“We listen to everybody, really, going up and down the road. We spend so much time behind the wheel that, even if you don’t love something, it’s something new. So I’m listening to music all the time. I’m not going to lie… I’m a bit of an Ella Langley fan lately.
I’ll be giving somebody a ride, turn on some Ella Langley, and they’re like, ‘Didn’t see that out of you.’ I listen to everybody. Zach Top, Koe Wetzel, Ella, Lainey Wilson. You name it, we listen to all of it. When you go anywhere, 20 hours at a time, you are going to run out of music.”
@whiskeyriff Listen to the new episode of Whiskey Riff Raff presented by Music City Rodeo. @Rocker Steiner @kadebrunoooo @musiccityrodeo ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff
Rocker and Kade will have a great opportunity to listen to some country music when they compete in the Music City Rodeo at the end of May.
Music City Rodeo comes to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena May 28 through 30 (following a sold-out inaugural event in 2025). The Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) is returning to Downtown Nashville for another thrilling event filled with broncs, barrel racing, team roping, and country music.
Music City Rodeo will run across three days, and each night will be capped off by performances from Miranda Lambert (May 28), Charley Crockett (May 29) and Jon Pardi (May 30). Simply put, it’s going to be a can’t-miss event, and Rocker Steiner and Kade Bruno will be there to compete.
You can hear them talk more about it in the full interview below. Check it out on YouTube or make sure to download the podcast on Apple Podcasts by searching “Whiskey Riff Raff” or by clicking here.
We’re also available on Spotify and wherever else you can listen to podcasts.
Cheers, y’all.
