Trafalgar Liberation brings Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story at the cinema this summer
COJO Music/Warner Music Nashville and Trafalgar Releasing are proud to announce the release of a theatrical event for Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story, with limited screenings starting August 10. The film, from rising country music superstar Cody Johnson and Tacklebox Films, chronicles Johnson’s real-life journey from the dusty rodeo arenas of rural Texas to some of America’s biggest musical stages. Featuring guest appearances by Reba McEntire (with whom he shares a duet version of “Dear Rodeo”), Navy Seal widow Chris Kyle, Taya (Kyle), Houston Ranch’s James Barton, and Johnson’s wife Brandi (Johnson), his producer Trent Willmon, his pastor Randy Weaver and his high school teachers, Johnson explains how his years on the rodeo circuit fortuitously prepared him for life as a country star.
“I think a lot of times a cowboy isn’t something you do, it’s more about who you really are on the inside,” Johnson shares.
“We find a little piece of ourselves in the Cody Johnson story,” says Kymberli Frueh, Trafalgar Releasing SVP of Content Acquisitions. “Sometimes the roads you originally take take a different turn. It reminds us all to be nimble and have faith in what can happen. An artist with the musical talent and inspiration of Cody in are a pleasure to share with his fans on the big screen.
The evocative and the festive Dear Rodeo: The Cody Johnson Story will screen in select theaters nationwide on Tuesday, August 10. Public ticketing begins Wednesday, July 14, with a presale for fans the day before via codyjohnsonfilm.com.
Johnson’s hit song, “Dear Rodeo,” paints a heartbreaking picture of how rodeo was his runaway first love. But a four-minute song isn’t enough to tell the whole story of his transition from rodeo to radio. The new feature-length cinematic documentary, directed by Shaun Silva, is a much bigger picture. As Johnson says, “It went from being the story of my life to the story of everyone’s life.” The film goes further than an autobiography, sharing more than Johnson’s story. It’s a love letter to anyone who’s had to give up a dream to find true purpose.
The film takes viewers on a roller coaster of emotions that Johnson has traveled on his journey to success beyond his wildest dreams. It starts with Johnson’s first attempts at riding bulls in high school – just a rookie, but enough of a hotshot to ride bulls, he had nothing to do and learned the hard way that no one is going to get you. pick up and dust yourself off. With never-before-seen footage of Johnson’s first times on stage during Future Farmers of America’s high school talent shows and videos of his countless bull riding, fans will see what it was like behind the scenes as he shifted gears .
Every emotion Johnson has felt over the past 20 years – whether he was standing at the back of the chute at the rodeo or singing in front of 75,000 fans – is vividly captured in this film, with all the ups and downs the lows that come from the dreams you hold on to and the dreams you finally let go.