Cody Johnson will return to NRG Park in Houston to headline the 94th Annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (RODEOHOUSTON) on March 22, 2026. The appearance will mark his sixth overall performance at the event, a stage that has long held special meaning for the Texas native.
Johnson previously played the Rodeo in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023, creating unforgettable moments and drawing massive crowds each time. After stepping away from the lineup for a few years, he recently reflected on the nostalgia of returning to the iconic venue.
“There’s something special about Houston Rodeo for me because that call in 2017 to come play was a pivotal moment in my career,” Johnson shared in an interview with Katie & Company’s Katie Neal. “It gave me the opportunity to prove to the world that we deserve to be here.”
When Johnson made his RODEOHOUSTON debut on March 8, 2017, stepping in as a last-minute replacement for Old Dominion, he performed for 60,011 fans. At the time, he was still building his national profile outside of Texas. Though already a standout in the regional and Red Dirt scene, he didn’t earn his first Billboard Country Airplay hit until 2018 with “On My Way To You.”
Attendance climbed quickly after his debut. In 2018, Johnson played to 74,177 fans. In 2019, he debuted “Welcome To The Show,” written and recorded as RODEOHOUSTON’s official theme song. His 2022 performance drew more than 70,554 fans, while over 73,000 attended his 2023 show. He also made a surprise appearance during Jelly Roll’s set on March 6, 2024.
“It’s been a while. We kind of bowed out of it for a little while,” Johnson explained of his recent absence from the Rodeo lineup. “A lot of artists get caught up in feeling like you have to do the same thing. Sometimes less is more.”
He also noted that playing back-to-back shows at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion allowed him to reach a similar number of fans over two nights while maintaining flexibility in the Houston market. “We still hit the market,” he said. “Me, this band, this management, this record deal, this crew. We deserve to be on this stage. From there, it turned into a wildfire. But I always wanted to come back and do the show that George Strait does.”
Johnson will now return for a special concert-only event, becoming just the second entertainer in RODEOHOUSTON history to headline without a rodeo competition attached to it. He hopes to pack the stadium, and maybe even challenge Strait’s long-standing attendance record of more than 80,000 fans. Strait, a Rodeo staple with 31 performances dating back to 1983, last played the event in March 2022.
“No rodeo. It’s a standalone,” Johnson acknowledges of the upcoming show. “I get to bring a couple of my buddies out to play. It’s Randy Houser and Jon Pardi, and it’s going to be a huge night! Hopefully, we sell it out and maybe get close to George Strait’s record.”
“Over the years, Cody has become a part of our beloved tradition, from captivating thousands year after year to recording RODEOHOUSTON’s official brand anthem,” RODEOHOUSTON president and CEO Chris Boleman said in a statement. “We are thrilled he is just as honored as we are to return in 2026.”
Johnson added, “Every performance at RODEOHOUSTON is a privilege and as a Rodeo man at heart, being asked to perform on a special night like this surpasses any of my wildest dreams.”
The 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is scheduled for March 2–22. Johnson will close out the event with a special full-length headlining concert on Sunday, March 22, 2026. His concert-only performance will open with Jon Pardi and Randy Houser. More information about tickets will be available at RODEOHOUSTON.com.
