Cody Johnson – Dear Rodeo (Live Performance From The Houston Rodeo)
Cody Johnson – “Dear Rodeo (Live Performance From The Houston Rodeo)” – A Heartfelt Goodbye to a First Love That Never Fades
There are songs that entertain, and then there are songs that reach straight into the soul — “Dear Rodeo” is one of those rare treasures. When Cody Johnson performed it live at the Houston Rodeo, the entire stadium seemed to hold its breath. You could feel every word, every note, every bit of emotion that poured from his heart. It wasn’t just a performance — it was a confession, a love letter, and a farewell all wrapped into one unforgettable moment.
“Dear Rodeo” is more than a song about bull riding — it’s about chasing a dream, falling short, and learning to live with both the pride and the pain that come with letting go. Cody Johnson, a former rodeo cowboy himself, doesn’t just sing this song; he lives it. When he steps up to the microphone and sings, “Dear Rodeo, I’d like to say that I took the reins and rode away,” you can hear the ache in his voice — the kind that only comes from saying goodbye to something that once defined who you were.
For older listeners, “Dear Rodeo” hits especially hard. It’s not just about rodeo life — it’s about any dream that once burned bright and then slipped away. Maybe it was a job, a love, a place, or a time in life you can’t get back. The way Johnson performs this song live — eyes closed, voice cracking with emotion, and a crowd of thousands silently swaying along — captures that universal feeling of nostalgia and loss.
At the Houston Rodeo, that performance became something sacred. You could feel the connection between Cody and the audience — folks who had worked hard, lost things they loved, and found a way to keep going. The rodeo wasn’t just a backdrop; it was a symbol of everything this song stands for: courage, failure, and the bittersweet beauty of moving on.
Cody Johnson’s “Dear Rodeo” (Live at the Houston Rodeo) reminds us all that sometimes, the hardest goodbyes are to the dreams that shaped us. And yet, as Johnson’s voice soars through the arena, it’s clear that even though he left the rodeo behind, a piece of it still rides with him every time he takes the stage.
It’s a performance that doesn’t just tell a story — it heals, it honors, and it reminds us that some loves, no matter how long ago they ended, never truly ride away.
