‘Make America Cowboy Again’: Kid Rock stops by Fort Worth to celebrate PBR’s ‘Rock N Rodeo’
Chilly and windy weather didn’t stop the excitement in the Fort Worth Stockyards on Wednesday morning as Kid Rock rode his horse down East Exchange Avenue.
The Michigan-born singer was accompanied by two mounted Fort Worth police officers as his song “Cowboy” blared across the area. Dozens of folks, some holding red and white “Make America Cowboy Again” signs, lined the fenced-off press conference area sandwiched between Shake Shack and the Cowtown Coliseum box office.
All eyes were on Rock as he was in town to preview his second annual “Rock N Rodeo.”
“First thing [that] excited me about this was just the Americana about it all,” Rock told the crowd. “Especially over the last four years, if I can call it like it is, we had all this woke BS and DEI affecting everything.”
“Rock N Rodeo” mashes Rock’s music with a six-team rodeo competition event.
The event, which is set for May 16, is part of the Professional Bull Riders organization’s larger world championship weekend set for May 16-18 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The “Rock N Rodeo” event had its inaugural run last year at PBR’s 2024 World Finals.
Dressed in tan cowboy boots, dark-washed jeans, a dark brown jacket and straw hat, Rock said he’s always been a bull riding fan and wanted to incorporate music into the sport.
After last year’s event, Rock heard from the cowboy competitors who spoke well about the injection of music into rodeo. This time around, Rock said he wants to step up the entertainment so everyone can continue to have a good time, including everyone “8 to 80, dumb, crippled and crazy,” a reference to the Big Daddy Kane song “I Get the Job Done.”
“Rock and roll, rodeo, America, lets go,” Rock said finishing his speech.
While Arlington will host the PBR world finals championship and “Rock N Rodeo,” Fort Worth isn’t letting its Tarrant County neighbor have all the fun.
Cowtown will host PBR’s world finals elimination rounds from May 8-11 and the “Ride to Redemption” event from May 14-15 at Cowtown Coliseum. Both events will be located in the Stockyards, which is also home to PBR’s headquarters in Mule Alley.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said it’s fitting that PBR is located in such a significant place for Western heritage.
While people like to say Fort Worth doesn’t have a professional sports team, Parker said that’s not true, as the PBR checks that box. She said she is looking forward to the PBR’s world championship event and continued partnership in Fort Worth.
“Thank you so much for continuing to show up and show out at every single event for PBR,” Parker told the crowd.
Tickets for all PBR events are on sale via SeatGeek.
