The voice of Fort Worth’s rodeo is not stepping down but ‘stepping over’
The near 10,000 in attendance for the finals of the 2026 Fort Worth rodeo didn’t realize they would happen to witness the equivalent of watching Luciano Pavarotti getting choked up in front of the microphone during a live performance.
Bob Tallman, whose unmistakable baritone is the voice of the Fort Worth rodeo, couldn’t help but be affected by the emotions of the moment in what was his final time to call an event he worked for 50 years.
Near the end of the performance, he was recognized for his contributions as the voice of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, and received a moving standing ovation with Willie Nelson’s “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” providing the score.
“Not many people in their lifetime get 10,000 people standing and cheering for you; it was the perfect way to go out,” Tallman said in a phone interview Monday morning. “It was pretty special.”
Tallman is not retiring, nor is he stepping down.
“I call it ‘stepping over,’” he said.
The native of Nevada who moved to Texas in 1991 and lives 38 miles northwest of Fort Worth in Poolville, scheduled this move in the late spring of last year. This was something that was mutually agreed between Tallman and the stock show. He calls this transition “a blessed opportunity, and timing.”
As evidenced by the tears, and the tangible nostalgia that filled Dickies Arena during the recognition for Tallman, this move is awash in sentiment for a voice that still sounds as strong as it did today as the other 49 years he worked this event.
He’s 78, and he figured it’s good to go out while he still has his chops.
Where is Bob Tallman going now?
There’s a list. Houston. Nevada. California. Glen Rose. Fort Worth.
Tallman, who also runs his own real estate company as well a beef ranch, is scheduled to call the upcoming rodeo in Houston. His calendar is not exactly open, but he is “cutting back.”
“After Houston I go to Red Bluff, California, than back to Texas, back to Reno, up to Cheyenne, and right on to Billings, Montana, then to Abilene,” he said.
He will be around future Fort Worth stock shows and rodeos, but in a reduced capacity, and more as a spectator.
Part of the agreement between the FWSSR and Tallman is that he will take over calling the college Lone Star region competition. This event was added in 2026, and held at the refurbished Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. The schedule for 2027 has not been finalized, but it’s a few nights held during the stock show.
He’s leading the efforts to fundraise for that event to award the winner’s scholarship money. And he will likely frequent the professional rodeo at Dickies, probably as the guest of one of the local companies he does voice work for.
“While his voice and ability to captivate crowds with words is a tremendous asset and what he’s outwardly know for, Bob’s heart, generous spirit and dedication are his greatest contributions to the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo,” FWSSR president and general manager Matt Carter said.
“No one cares more about the Stock Show’s mission than Bob Tallman, which is evidenced by his selfless desire to provide opportunity for his successors and mentees to take the reins. Whether it’s hanging out in the back with contestants and rodeo crew, providing encouragement, guidance and humor in the announcer’s stand at a college rodeo, or helping out.”
Bob Tallman lends voice to DFW Airport
Should you land at DFW Airport, you will soon notice one of the welcome public address announcements is provided by the voice of Fort Worth mayor Mattie Parker, followed by Tallman’s. The duo recorded greeting messages, and will modify them throughout the year.
“We have been talking about doing this for the last several years, and we finally did it,” Tallman said. “A lot of people who get to be my age have a tendency to fade away, and I am not going to do that.”
The full-time voice of the Fort Worth rodeo will now be voices, plural. Anthony Lucia and Garrett Yerigan will assume the duties that Tallman owned for decades. That pair had rotated with Tallman the past few years, and are well-versed in calling rodeo.
Like anything else, Fort Worth’s rodeo will move on, but in his five-decade run as its voice, Bob Tallman did everything in his power to make sure people knew that, “This thing is legendary.”
This story was originally published February 9, 2026 at 3:23 PM.
