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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.

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