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

These five country artists from the 1990s once ruled the charts but later faded from the spotlight—where are they now?

5 Country Artists From The 1990s Who Disappeared From The Spotlight

The 1990s was a golden era for country music, producing some of the biggest names in the genre’s history. While superstars like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and Shania Twain became ...

Dolly Parton’s decision to give To Daddy to Emmylou Harris sparked one of her biggest fights with Porter Wagoner over her songwriting choices.

The Emmylou Harris Song That Sparked One of Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner’s Biggest Fights

Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner had a complicated relationship—part mentor, part business partner, and part creative clash. Their years together on The Porter Wagoner Show made country music history, but ...

Craig Morgan playfully roasts Blake Shelton, joking that he 'don’t work hard anymore,' proving their friendship thrives on good-natured jabs.

Craig Morgan Playfully Roasts Blake Shelton, ‘He Don’t Work Hard Anymore’

Craig Morgan and Blake Shelton have been friends for years, but that doesn’t mean Morgan will take it easy on his buddy—especially when there’s a good roast. While promoting his ...

Baylee Littrell stuns American Idol with his country voice, proving he's more than just the son of Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell.

Backstreet Boys Son Baylee Littrell Stuns American Idol With His Country Voice

When Baylee Littrell stepped onto the American Idol stage, most of the judges had no idea who he was. But that changed fast. Performing an original song, “Waiting on Myself ...

Dolly Parton wrote I Will Always Love You as a heartfelt goodbye to Porter Wagoner—the real meaning behind one of music’s most iconic songs.

The Story Behind Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You And Its True Meaning

Few songs in music history have carried as much emotional weight as Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” It’s the kind of song that lingers, weaving itself into the ...

HARDY and Caleigh Ryan welcome their baby girl, Rosie Ryan Hardy, born on March 7, stealing hearts with her sweet arrival.

Hardy And Caleigh Ryan’s Baby Girl Rosie Ryan Has Arrived And She Is Stealing Hearts

HARDY might be known for his gritty country-rock anthems and rowdy lyrics, but his newest role hits a little closer to the heart—Dad. The singer-songwriter and his wife, Caleigh Ryan, ...

Zach Top’s lawnmower cover of George Jones’ Finally Friday is pure country gold, proving real country music is alive and thriving.

Zach Top Covers George Jones on a Lawnmower and It’s Pure Country Gold

Zach Top is bringing real country music back, and he’s doing it in the most down-home way possible—kicked back on an old riding lawnmower, strumming his guitar, and sipping a ...

Carrie Underwood skipped a country song for her American Idol audition to impress Simon Cowell, who wasn’t a fan of the genre.

Why Carrie Underwood Didn’t Sing a Country Song for Her American Idol Audition

Carrie Underwood is as country as sweet tea and a front porch swing. Raised in Checotah, Oklahoma, she grew up singing in church, performing at local events, and listening to ...

Kellie Pickler pushes back in a heated legal battle with her late husband’s parents, fighting claims over estate property in an escalating court dispute.

Kellie Pickler Fights Back Against In-Laws in Heated Legal Battle

The legal battle between Kellie Pickler and her late husband’s parents, Sharon and Reed Jacobs, is only getting more intense. In the latest development, Pickler has filed an emergency motion ...

Dolly Parton stays in her modest $400K home, cherishing the love and memories of her late husband, Carl Dean, over luxury and extravagance.

The Story Behind Dolly Parton’s Modest $400k Home And Why She Stays

Dolly Parton is one of the most successful and beloved country artists of all time, with a fortune that could buy her the most extravagant mansion money can offer. And ...