TIMELINE: Musical performance history of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR), first known as the Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock Exposition, held its first event in 1932. The founders of the HLSR wanted to help preserve the cattle industry in the Texas gulf coast.

The rodeo has since grown to be Houston’s largest annual anticipated event. With daring cowboys, prized livestock, a lively carnival, mouth-watering food, Future Farmers of America, hundred thousands of dollars in scholarships, and chart-topping performing artists, it is no wonder the Houston Rodeo draws millions in attendance each year. 

As you shine up your boots to get ready to head out to the rodeo this year, take a brief look at the performance history that helped make the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo into what it is today. 

The Houston Rodeo hosted its first ever entertainer in 1942, ten years after the HLSR was founded. Gene Autry, known as “the singing cowboy,” performed at the rodeo from 1942-1945, 1947-1948, and lastly in 1955. Autry is the only artist to be awarded stars in all five categories recognized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for TV, film, music, radio and live performance. Autry was inducted into the Houston Rodeo Star Trail of Fame in 1996. 

Lassie is the first non-musical act to play at the HLSR, and the only dog to perform at the HLSR. Lassie paved the way for other non-musical acts such as the Indian Snake Dancers in 1965 and comedians Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy in 2005. 

Country music artist Charley Pride started his HLSR career in 1970. He performed consecutively from 1972-1987, and again in 2002. Pride performed a total of 36 times at the HLSR and is the first African-American to perform on the big stage.

Pride struggled as an African-American country musician during the 1970s but overcame his obstacles and earned his induction into the HLSR Star Trail of Fame.

Since then, the HLSR has held “Black Heritage Day” with artists including Boys II Men (in 2000), Mary J. Blige (in 2002), Ray Charles (in 2003) and Usher (in 2014) who held the highest attendance record on a Black Heritage Day with 75,067 attendees.

1970 was a year of diversity for the HLSR. Not only did they have their first African-American performer, but also their first non-country musical act. The King of Rock himself performed at the HLSR in 1970 and 1974 to a total 300,000 fans, earning him an induction into the Star Trail of Fame.  

Presley paved the way for other non-country artists including the Jackson Five (in 1973-1974), Lynyrd Skynyrd (in 1996, 1998, 2005), Bon Jovi (in 2004), Kiss (in 2011) and Ariana Grande (in 2015). 

Reba McEntire performed at the HLSR for the first time in 1984 and since then has become one of the most notable women at the HLSR. Reba has participated in 18 seasons at the rodeo. She is the only woman to be induced into the Star Trail of Fame. 

Jose Luis Rodriguez, also known as “El Puma” or “Cougar,” was one of the first Hispanics to perform at the HLSR. Since then, many other Hispanic artists have performed at the HLSR, and Go Tejano Day was established.

Past Go Tejano Day artists include Selena (in 1993-1995), Ramon Ayala (in 2002 and 2006), Alacranes Musical (in 2009), Duelo (in 2005, 2008 and 2012), Banda MS and Grupo Pesado (in 2014) and Calibre 50 (in 2018) who set the second largest attendance record of 75,565 attendees. 

County superstar Willie Nelson performed at the Houston Rodeo in 1985, 1986, 1988, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, and most recently in 2017. Other notable country musicians to perform at the HLSR include Brooks and Dunn and Alan Jackson. 

Brooks and Dunn performed consecutively from 1992 to 2010 and will return to the HLSR stage Feb. 27, 2019. Brooks and Dunn were inducted into the Star Trail of Fame in 2008. Alan Jackson started his career at the HLSR in 1992 and performed consecutively until 2017, only taking a break in 2003 and 2014. Alan Jackson was inducted into the Start Trail of Fame in 2011. 

Selena’s first performance at the HLSR was with Selena y los Dinos in 1993. Selena returned to the Rodeo stage as a solo-artist in 1994 and 1995 for Go Tejano Day. Known by many as the “Queen of Tejano Music,” her performance on Feb. 26, 1995, drew a crowd of over 66,700 attendees, the second largest crowd in the Astrodome history. That performance became known as one of her best and most remembered since it was her last show before her tragic death on March 31, 1995. 

Known as “the King of Country,” George Strait’s career at the  HLSR started in 1983. George Strait is a crowd favorite and has sold out shows within minutes of going on sale. Strait was the last rodeo performer to hold a show at the Astrodome before it closed in 2002 and set a record-breaking attendance of over 68,000 attendees for the Astrodome.

Strait will be closing out this year’s rodeo in a special concert-only event on March 17, 2019. This performance will mark his 30th performance at the HLSR. Strait was inducted into the Star Trail of Fame in 1996 and is the only Platinum Honoree. 

Houston’s own Queen Bey performed on the famous revolving stage in 2004 after releasing her first solo album, Dangerously in Love, in 2003. Beyonce later returned to the HLSR stage in 2007. 

Although Garth Brooks first hit the Houston Rodeo stage in 1991, and again in 1993, Brooks set the all-time high attendance record at the NRG Stadium on March 18, 2018, with 75,577 attendees. 

To view this years line up, visit https://www.rodeohouston.com/Visit-the-Rodeo/Music-Concerts/Concert-Lineup