Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

About The Courage You Took For Your Fate on “Dear Rodeo”

Cody Johnson & Reba McEntire - Dear Rodeo
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

“Dear Rodeo” had a very personal meaning for the country music star, Cody Johnson, who is a former rodeo rider. It is a song that tells you his devotion to rodeo, how it pierced his heart and made him the Johnson he is now – how it aided him in his music profession. 

Cody Johnson, together with Dan Couch, originally wrote the track with a bit of sadness as it addressed discontent, pain, and several things that are quite difficult for an adamant man to tell. His solo rendition of it appears on his 2019 album, “Ain’t Nothin’ To It”. However, since Johnson teamed up with McEntire and recorded the song together, he found happiness in the song. 

Among Cody Johnson Songs, this was perhaps the most difficult song since it narrates his halted rodeo career. Though, it’s not just about rodeo. It’s about motivating people to understand that failure doesn’t need to describe you. It is also a story of courage over hardships, of overcoming defeat when times get hard. 

According to Shane Tarleton, who works with Warner Brothers, Reba McEntire was the perfect woman to collaborate with this song. The song is significant for the two – Johnson was a rodeo rider who chose to pursue music, and McEntire, a former barrel racing competitor and whose father was a Rodeo titleholder. McEntire was instantly on board as soon as she heard the song. She said it was very nostalgic, as she recalled her life during the 70s. 

In the music video, the two singers journey into the past. They were reminiscing and expressing their shared hesitation to leave the rodeo. It was filmed in the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN. It features real footage of Johnson’s rodeo career. 

Cody Johnson & Reba McEntire Duet is a renowned music video that earned positions in big top charts, including Top 40 American Songs Chart, and Top 100 USA Music Chart. The reflective single was Top 3 most-added at country radio upon release and has gained over 45 million global streams until recently. It peaked at #11 in the Country Digital Song Sales chart in November 2018. 

If you have not watched and listened to the duet, this is an excellent opportunity for you. Click on the play button of the “Dear Rodeo” video below.

Latest Stories

Jana Kramer with husband Allan Russell and her kids outdoors, not taken when she admitted she sometimes skips sunscreen.

Jana Kramer Admits She Skips Sunscreen Sometimes on Her Kids and Feels Fine About It

“Come at me.” That’s Jana Kramer’s whole vibe right now, and boy, they sure are. Turns out you don’t have to drop a scandalous album or torch an ex on ...

Kenny Rogers’ twin sons Justin and Jordan just turned 21 and fans say they look just like the late country music legend now.

Kenny Rogers’ Twin Sons Just Turned 21 and Fans Say They Look Just Like Him Now

A couple of chocolate cakes, two wide grins, and a whole lot of “They look just like their daddy”. That’s how Kenny Rogers’ twin sons rang in their milestone 21st ...

Waylon Jennings once called Garth Brooks the most insincere person he ever saw

Waylon Jennings Once Said Garth Brooks Was the Most Insincere Person He Ever Saw

Sometimes you need an old outlaw to call out what everyone else is too polite to say out loud. Back when Nashville was shape-shifting in the ’80s and ’90s, country ...

Josh Weathers raises over $337000 in a livestream concert fundraiser to help Texas families devastated by catastrophic floods.

Josh Weathers Raises Over $337000 in Livestream to Help Texas Families Hit by Floods

A guitar in hand and a heart the size of Texas. That’s Josh Weathers right now. While storms swallowed up gigs and highways across Central Texas, this Fort Worth native ...

Lauren Alaina fires back at trolls who mom-shame her for bottle-feeding her newborn, pictured holding baby Beni Doll Arnold.

Lauren Alaina Fires Back at Trolls Who Mom-Shame Her for Bottle-Feeding

A bottle in one hand and zero time for strangers’ opinions in the other. That’s how Lauren Alaina’s rolling and some loudmouths just found out the hard way. If you’ve ...

Kelly Clarkson seen emotional in a past photo, echoing fans’ heartbreak after she canceled her Vegas opening night due to illness.

Fans Are Heartbroken After Kelly Clarkson Cancels Vegas Opening Night Due to Illness

Nothing guts a diehard fan like standing in line for hours only to get hit with the words “Show’s off.” Kelly Clarkson found herself in that brutal spot last weekend ...

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton perform together on stage, teaming up for a new duet that might break country radio charts.

Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton Team Up for a Duet That Might Break Country Radio

Sometimes, country music gives you a pairing that is so perfect that you wonder what the hell took so long. Well, here we are. Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton are ...

Dolly Parton smiles in a sparkling gown, proving she’ll always look glamorous on the outside to match how she feels inside.

Dolly Parton Shares Glamorous Photo Says She’ll Always Look How She Feels Inside

Some folks roll out of bed looking like they just survived a bar fight but not Dolly damn Parton. On July 1, the queen of country herself dropped a glamorous ...

Lee Greenwood performs live in a patriotic shirt, years after nearly shelving “God Bless The USA,” now America’s beloved anthem.

Lee Greenwood Almost Didn’t Release “God Bless The USA” as a Single, Now It’s America’s Anthem

Sometimes, the songs that shape a nation nearly get buried on the B side. Back in 1984, Lee Greenwood was on a solid run of hits and living out every ...

Keith Urban smiles on stage in Akron, Ohio, where he made a heartfelt gesture for a blind fan that moved the audience to tears.

Keith Urban’s Sweet Gesture for Blind Fan Leaves Sister Thanking Him for Truly Seeing Her

Some moments at a concert feel bigger than the music. This was one of them. Keith Urban‘s always been one of the good guys in country, but fans at his ...