By Andrew Hoxha 
Reba McEntire Launches Music City Rodeo with a Legendary Performance in Nashville
Country music icon Reba McEntire kicked off the first-ever Music City Rodeo at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Thursday night (May 29), delivering an electrifying 18-song set that spanned her illustrious five-decade career. The three-night event — the first PRCA-sanctioned rodeo in Nashville — runs through May 31 and features headlining performances from McEntire, Jelly Roll, and Tim McGraw.
Reba’s Big Opening Night
As fans packed the arena’s dirt floor in rhinestone-studded red outfits and cowboy hats, a montage of McEntire’s iconic moments from her music and TV career played on the screens. Then, at 9:35 PM, Reba hit the stage in a bold black outfit adorned with turquoise detailing, a brown fringe jacket, and a classic Western belt buckle, met with thunderous applause.
“Helloooooo Nashville!” she called out. “Thank y’all so much for coming out to the rodeo tonight… Let’s give one more round of applause for all the cowgirls and cowboys competing tonight. I wanted to be in the mutton bustin’ so bad!”
Before launching into “I Want A Cowboy,” she paid tribute to real-life cowboys including Cody Johnson, Kevin Costner, John Wayne, and her longtime partner, Rex Linn.
A Setlist Packed with Hits — and Surprises
McEntire’s 90-minute show included fan favorites like “The Fear of Being Alone,” “One Promise Too Late,” “Consider Me Gone,” “You Lie,” and “Fancy,” as well as theme songs from her sitcom Reba and her recent show Happy’s Place. She also wowed the crowd with covers of 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.”
Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert Join Reba for a “Trailblazer” Moment
The crowd went wild when McEntire teased a surprise, then brought out Lainey Wilson and Miranda Lambert to perform their collaborative track “Trailblazer.” The powerful anthem — already a hit at country radio — brought three generations of country women together on one stage, in a performance fans won’t soon forget.
A Rodeo Legacy Comes Full Circle
For McEntire, the evening was especially personal. Her father and grandfather were both champion rodeo competitors, and she grew up immersed in the rodeo lifestyle.
“My grandpap and daddy were both world champions,” she shared. “It’s such a joy to be here tonight at Nashville’s first PRCA rodeo.”
She closed the night with “Why Haven’t I Heard From You” and “Fancy,” which had the crowd singing every word at the top of their lungs.
A Historic Rodeo + Concert Experience
The Music City Rodeo, held at Bridgestone Arena, marks a milestone for Nashville — combining thrilling rodeo events like bull riding, barrel racing, and bronc riding with nightly headliner concerts. The event was co-founded by Pat Humes (Humes Rodeo) and Brian Kaplan, Chief Strategy Officer at Tim McGraw’s Down Home, and was inspired in part by McGraw’s deep connection to rodeo culture.
With over $200,000 in prize money up for grabs, the event also features mutton bustin’, rodeo queens, clowns, and plenty of family fun.
Jelly Roll headlines on Friday, May 30, and Tim McGraw will close out the weekend with a headline performance on Saturday. All three artists — McEntire, Jelly Roll, and McGraw — are founding members of Music City Rodeo, helping to unite two beloved American traditions: country music and rodeo.
Reba’s opening night set the tone for a weekend full of thrills, music, and memories — and proved that at 70, the Queen of Country is still riding high.