This week after being at the High Prairie Elks Pro Rodeo and the North Peace Stampede on this weekend I decided to push the originally planned Friday 5 for this one. What is country music without some rodeo? I’m not to sure how to answer that these days and it is safe to say a lot of songs can paint rodeo life either in a good or bad way depending on how you look at it. It is a lifestyle that not everyone can handle so to those who have and are making it work, a shout out to you.
Lets kick this list off shall we.
5. Jade Eagleson – “Rodeo Queen”
I know many may not agree with have this in a top 5 rodeo songs list or not at this point but what I love about it is it talks about the female rodeo performers, not just a focus on the guys. We always hear about the women not wanting the men to go off, but this upbeat fast paced number flips the script with the guy pining for the woman to stay while she is off to the next town. Will it stand the test of time like others on this list we will have to wait and see.
4. Chris LeDoux – “Hooked on an 8 Second Ride”
The rockin’ song is about the addiction to the thrill and danger of that 8 second ride. A song I’m sure many a cowboy competing in the rodeos can agree with. The upbeat song is as energetic as I’m sure those 8-seconds are.
3. Glen Campbell – “Rhinestone Cowboy”
A country-pop song that will just stay in your head once it is heard. There is nothing like a song about a cowboy getting up from the dust, overcoming hard times while fighting to make it in his rodeo career. It is maybe the typical song you would think of but it is a rodeo song that has stood the test of time.
2. George Strait – “I Can Still Make Cheyenne”
You knew this song would be on the list and it is. George Strait’s classic sings about the troubles rodeo can bring on relationships. The cowboy is deciding he going to come home to be with her over one of the most prestigious events in Cheyenne, but comes to realize she left him for someone else and that he will painfully move on to Cheyenne. Life on the road is hell on many relationships which is why they say long distance ones don’t work and sometimes you don’t realize something until it’s too late.
1. Cody Johnson – “Dear Rodeo”
Cody Johnson is in my opinion the best modern day country singer and it is songs like this that lead me to believe it. This song was in an episode of Yellowstone, though I didn’t realize it until more recently when I rewatched, but came across it when Jelly Roll ranted and raved about it on Joe Rogan’s podcast. The song is a love letter to rodeo and the trouble of letting it go, as Cody was rode bull professionally at local rodeos. A song about the heart break of leaving something before you felt it was time and looking back at what you wish you could’ve accomplished. He did a solo version and another one with Reba McEntire, but it is the solo one I love more.
– Everett
