Nickelback among RodeoHouston newbies
It’s a new day for RodeoHouston.
This year’s lineup includes 10 acts who will take the rotating stage for the first time this year. The annual event runs Feb. 27March 17 at NRG Stadium.
The roster of performers, announced Thursday night, includes first-timers Oliver Anthony, whose song “Rich Men North of Richmond” became a rightwing anthem over the summer; Jelly Roll, whose blend of country, rock and hip-hop earned him a Grammy nomination for best new artist; and 19-year-old Ivan Cornejo, who is part of the new wave of regional Mexican artists. And Nickelback.
Yes, the critically reviled Canadian rock band joins the rodeo ranks for the first time this year. The band played the Woodlands Pavilion last year, so there’s definitely still an audience.
EDM trio Major Lazer, another first-timer, will party like it’s 2016. The current lineup includes Houston native Eric Alberto-Lopez, better known as DJ and producer Ape Drums.
Rapper and Houston resident 50 Cent will make his debut. Last year, his Le Chemin du Roi Brut Champagne was named Grand Champion Best of Show in the Rodeo Uncorked competition and sold for $325,000. He also bought a bottle of wine for $165,000 during the auction.
Women again are relegated to just two slots. They include Lainey Wilson, recently named entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards; and Carly Pearce, whose hits include “Every Little Thing” and “Never Wanted to Be That Girl.” The 2020 lineup was the last to include more than two women, but only Maren Morris and Becky G were able to perform before everything shut down because of COVID-19.
The new names mean favorites Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton are not on the schedule. Only four acts are repeats from 2023: Luke Bryan, Bun B, Zac Brown Band and Brad Paisley.
Individual tickets will go on sale Jan. 18 in two waves at rodeohouston.com.
Wave 1 includes Feb. 27-March 7 shows and goes on sale at 10 a.m. Jan. 18.
Wave 2 includes March 8-17 shows and goes on sale at 2 p.m. Jan. 18.
Ticket prices start at $25, plus a $4 convenience fee. Online waiting rooms will open 30 minutes before each wave, and customers will be randomly selected to purchase tickets.
Here’s a look at the full 2024 RodeoHouston lineup:
Feb. 27: Blake Shelton
Shelton returns after a fiveyear absence. His last album, “Body Language,” was released in 2021. He was the last of the four original coaches on “The Voice” and left his chair last year.
Previous performances: 2010, 2012-2014, 18
Feb. 28: Carly Pearce
Pearce has had big success with duet partners, including past Rodeo performers Lee Brice, Ashley McBryde and Stapleton, who she teams up with on current single “We Don’t Fight Anymore.”
Debut performance
Feb. 29: for KING & COUNTRY
The Australian siblings were the first Christian pop act to play the Rodeo in 2022. “I received more text messages and more calls about this show than ever in the history of being a part of a band,” member Joel Smallbone told the crowd that year.
Previous performance:
March 1: 50 Cent (Black Heritage Day)
2022
It’ll be a quick trip for 50 Cent, who moved to Houston in 2021. Last year, he performed at Toyota Center as part of a 20th anniversary tour for his ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ ” album.
Debut performance
March 2: Hardy
Hardy is primarily known as a songwriter but scored his own hit in 2022 with “Wait in the Truck.” His songs have been recorded by Florida Georgia Line and Morgan Wallen.
Debut performance March 3: Ivan Cornejo
Cornejo’s music is part of the sierreño sound that includes sad, lovelorn lyrics accompanied by traditional instruments and electric bass. His single “Está Dañada” went viral on TikTok, with more than 1 million people using it for their own videos.
Debut performance March 4: Hank Williams Jr.
Williams returns to the rotating stage for the first time in more than 20 years. Williams remarried in September after his wife, Mary Jane Thomas, died from surgery complications a year earlier.
Previous performances: 1983, 1992-93, 1995-97, 1999, 2001
March 5: Oliver Anthony
“Rich Men North of Richmond” made Oliver Anthony an instant star over the summer and was adopted as a rallying cry by conservatives and right-wing pundits. He’s currently working on his first album.
Debut performance March 6: Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll’s blend of country, rock, soul and hip-hop has helped him earn a diverse fanbase. He performed in September at the Woodlands Pavilion and is up for best new artist at next month’s Grammys.
Debut performance March 7: Luke Bryan
Bryan is one of a handful of holdovers from recent RodeoHouston lineups. This will be his 10th time on the stage.
Previous performances: 2012-19, 2022-23
March 8: Major Lazer
EDM trio Major Lazer includes Diplo, Walshy Fire and Houston native Ape Drums. The group hit its commercial peak in 2015/16 with songs featuring Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber.
Debut performance March 9: Lainey Wilson
Wilson broke through with 2020 single “Things a Man Oughta Know” and has become one of country music’s brightest new stars. Last year, she took home five Country Music Association Awards.
Debut performance
March 10: Los Tigres del Norte (Go Tejano Day)
If you book Los Tigres, they will come. The legendary group returns after a record-breaking 2019 appearance. That show holds the paid attendance record at 75,586.
Previous performances: 2002, 2019
March 11: Whiskey Myers
Texas band Whiskey Myers is the kind of act with the potential to draw a big crowd. Last year, Turnpike Troubadours drew almost 75,000 fans.
Debut performance
March 12: Bun B and friends
Bun B’s rotating roster of performers was a highlight of the 2022 and 2023 RodeoHouston seasons. He returns with a new batch of to-be-named friends. Any guesses?
Previous
2022-23 performances:
March 13: Nickelback
People have lots of opinions about Nickelback. Many of them negative, a point acknowledged in a recent documentary about the band. Expect this one to light up social media.
Debut performance March 14: Zac Brown Band
This is No. 10 for ZBB, whose show at RodeoHouston has always been reliably solid. There’s nothing quite like a stadium full of cowboys singing “Chicken Fried.”
Previous performances: 2011-15, 2017-19, 2023
March 15: Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers were here twice in October to play the entirety of their five albums. This will be a shortened night. But expect the same level of screaming.
Previous performances: 2009-10
March 16: Brad Paisley
This will be performance No. 16 for Paisley, making him this year’s vet. He’s an animated, engaging performer. Just be sure to delete anything embarrassing off your phone if you’re in the chute seats. Paisley has been known to go through at least one.
Previous performances: 2001, 2005, 2008-12, 2014-19, 202223
March 17: Eric Church
Church made his RodeoHouston debut in 2015 and was a standout that year. His outlaw country sound will be a welcome edge.
Previous performance: 2015