Reba McEntire, 70, kicked off the inaugural Music City Rodeo (a PRCA ProRodeo) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Thursday evening (May 29) with a set full of fan-favorite hits from her iconic catalog. The country music icon is one of three artists performing during the three-day event, which marks Nashville’s first rodeo and runs May 29–31, featuring headliners McEntire, Jelly Roll, and Tim McGraw.
Reba McEntire Delivered A Show-Stopping 18-Song Set
After fans eagerly flooded onto the dirt floor, decked out in sparkly red “Fancy”-inspired attire, McEntire merchandise and rodeo gear, McEntire’s show-stopping performance began around 9:35 PM, following a short video that highlighted many of the legendary country star’s iconic looks from her TV and music career.
Kicking off the show with “Turn On The Radio,” McEntire entered the stage all smiles, donning an all-black ensemble with turquoise embellishments and a brown cowhide jacket with fringe and a shiny belt buckle, to a thunderous welcome from the near-capacity crowd at the home of the Nashville Predators.
“Helloooooo Nashville!” she said, welcoming the crowd. “Thank y’all so much for coming out to the rodeo tonight to see our performance. We appreciate that more than you know. Now, before we go any further, let’s give one more round of applause for all the cowgirls and cowboys competing tonight. I gotta tell I wanted to be in the mutton busting competition so bad! Can we please give those young men and women a big round of applause? That was probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“Can y’all believe this is the first PRCA Rodeo in Nashville, Tennessee? We’re going to do this next song for all the cowgirls tonight,” McEntire stated before performing “I Want A Cowboy,” where she paid tribute to cowboys such as Cody Johnson, Kevin Costner, John Wayne, her boyfriend Rex Linn and more.
Her set list featured 18-songs, including “The Fear of Being Alone,” “Can’t Even Get The Blues,” “One Promise Too Late,” “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain,” “You Lie,” “Consider Me Gone,” “Back To God,” “I Can’t,” “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia,” as well as the theme songs of “Happy’s Place” and the Reba TV Show, “I’m A Survivor” and more. The country music legend even threw in three covers: Aretha Franklin’s “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now” and Diana Ross’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.”
McEntire’s 90-minute concert was a journey through five-decades of hit songs, and cemented her reign as the undisputed Queen of Country and a living legend whose legacy continues to shape the genre.
Surprise Performance Of “Trailblazer” Alongside Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert
She also surprised the audience with Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert to perform their collaboration, “Trailblazer,” which sent fans into a frenzy.
“Wouldn’t it be great if they were here tonight?” McEntire said before welcoming Wilson and Lambert to the stage for a stunning rendition of the buzzed-about track, which was most-added at Country radio upon impact.
The performance was a full-circle moment for McEntire, a third-generation “rodeo brat” after her father and grandfather.
“My grandpap and my daddy were both world champions. Grandpap was in the Turtle Association before the RCA, and then it became the PRCA, which we are seeing the rodeo event tonight, The PRCA. Well, we are all thrilled to be here,” McEntire added.
McEntire closed out night one of the Music City Rodeo with impressive performances of “Why Haven’t I Heard From You” and “Fancy,” both of which prompted massive sing-alongs.
Music City Rodeo In Nashville
Reba McEntire’s headlining performance took place after an electrifying rodeo presented by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). The Music City Rodeo — the city’s first full-event rodeo and concert series — was founded in 2023 by Nashville residents Pat Humes of Humes Rodeo and Brian Kaplan, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Tim McGraw’s Down Home.
The inaugural Music City Rodeo marks a historic moment for Nashville, officially becoming the first time the city hosted its own major PRCA-sanctioned rodeo. Held at Bridgestone Arena, the groundbreaking event brings together two iconic American traditions — country music and rodeo — in the heart of Tennessee.
Each day will showcase thrilling rodeo events, including bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, and bronc riding, with the world’s top cowboys and cowgirls competing for over $200,000 in prize money. Fans also enjoyed the full pageantry of the rodeo with family-friendly activities like mutton bustin’, rodeo clowns, and Rodeo Queens, before each night culminated in a star-studded concert.
Having performed at more than 20 historic rodeos throughout his career, Tim McGraw was inspired to bring the Music City Rodeo to town. He will close out the three-day event on Saturday night with a headlining set. Jelly Roll will also headline a concert during the event on Friday, May 30, with all three artists — McGraw, McEntire, and Jelly Roll — serving as founding members of Music City Rodeo.
For more information about the Music City Rodeo, visit their official website HERE.
