Being a rodeo star takes guts.
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 their favorite country artists, 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 risk that comes with their profession, 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.
Ultimately, there’s a whole lot that goes into being a world-renowned rodeo star. Every single professional cowboy and cowgirl might have their own strategy, or plan of attack, but they all have one thing in common: the risk that they willingly accept. During our conversation, Rocker and Kade both explained the adrenaline rush that comes just before saddling up… and the thought in the back of their head that something could go wrong.
Kade Bruno says there no feeling like crawling down into the bucking chute, and every time he does, he’s reminded of the risk that he’s accepting:
“When you are crawling down in there, it doesn’t really matter where. It could be a small rodeo, a big rodeo, your blood is pumping. You’ve got to be firing on all cylinders. We do play a pretty dangerous game, at the same time.
Any given time, you could crawl down in there and it could be the last time. It doesn’t happen all the time, but we see guys get paralyzed. There’s been a couple of fatal accidents. If your blood isn’t boiling, you probably shouldn’t be doing it. It’s a pretty serious deal.”
There’s no doubt that it’s a serious deal.
Rocker Steiner had similar things to say about competing. He likened it to stepping into the ring (or getting into any fight really), and said that the risk that pops into his head is outweighed by his love for the sport, and his determination to come out on top:
“It feels like we’re about to get into a fight. It’s really that same feeling. Right before that first punch is thrown, that adrenaline dump is exactly what we feel. (Then) you can either win the rodeo, or worst case, you don’t and you die.
The worst case scenario is the same for all of us… that’s a risk we’re willing to take. To be the best at what you do, when you love something so much, and you dedicate your life to it, you get comfortable with the fact that this is a risk I’m willing to take, and the risk is death.”
As you can see, guys like Rocker and Kade face some truly dangerous situations competing in the rodeo, which is what makes something like the Music City Rodeo – which takes place at the end of May – such an exciting event.
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.
