Country music and rodeo together just makes sense.
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, their appreciation for Nashville, and how their lives as touring rodeo competitors 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 celebrity and country star runs in they’ve had during their careers, and how Taylor Sheridan has helped rodeo popularity through shows like Yellowstone.
There are just certain things in this world that make the perfect duo. Peanut butter and jelly. Bacon and eggs. Brooks and Dunn. Sure, all of those things are great by themselves… but it’s as if a second gear is unlocked when paired with one another. That’s how it is with rodeo and country music. As Rocker Steiner described, the sport and the genre have shared the same thread throughout the years:
“You’ve got to think, for the last however many decades, country music has been written about rodeoing. Look at ‘July in Cheyenne’ by Aaron Watson, ‘I Can Still Make Cheyenne’ and ‘Amarillo By Morning’ by George Strait. A lot of country songs are written around rodeo. Really, we live the same lifestyle. We really kind of have the same attitudes… if you love country music, rodeo really is a part of you.”
And Kade Bruno had much of the same to say.
The saddle bronc rider stated that there’s a lot of overlap when it comes to the fanbases of the rodeo and country music. In his mind, and in the mind of many other rodeo stars, if you like one, there’s a great chance you like the other:
“We go hand in hand. 90% of our fans are also country music fans, and vice versa. If you are a rodeo fan through and through, you are probably listening to country music.”
@whiskeyriff @Rocker Steiner @kadebrunoooo @musiccityrodeo #whiskeyriff #whiskeyriffraff ♬ original sound – Whiskey Riff
All that helps to make the Music City Rodeo the perfect event. Following a sold-out inaugural event in 2025, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena is set to host Music City Rodeo May 28 through 30. 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.
Guys like Kade and Rocker can’t wait, and Steiner said that Nashville being a great sports town makes the event that much better:
“It’s right on Broadway. I rode last year, and 15 minutes later, I was in Rippy’s. Where else can you do that? Nowhere. Nashville has the Predators, they have the Titans. Nashville is a very big sports town. How perfect is a rodeo?”
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. Or as Kade put it… the cowboys are coming to town to take over:
“It is some of the best stock in the world. It is the top 20 or 25 guys in each event. We’re all coming to take part and take over.”
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.
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Cheers, y’all.
