Country music and ranching/farming go together like peanut butter and jelly. You can have one without the other, but why would you want to? Artists ranging from George Strait and Alabama to Blake Shelton and Cody Johnson find ways to split their time between the land and the stage. Then, they take those experiences and apply them to their music.
Alabama’s Randy Owen and Teddy
Gentry-Country Music Hall of Famers Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry of Alabama are in the 70s and headlining arenas. When the men are not behind microphones, they are knee-deep in cows. Both singers are proud to operate cattle farms in their home state of Alabama. Owen sometimes invites fans onto his ranch to meet his animals during the group’s annual June Jam. And Gentry has helped to develop and breed F1 Barzona Hereford, F1 Red Angus Senepol in 1990, and South Poll cows.
Blake Shelton
If you chat with Blake Shelton these days, the truth is clear—he’s on his farm more than he’s on stage. Every story Shelton tells starts with him sitting on a piece of farm equipment overlooking something at his Oklahoma ranch. Shelton frequently posts about his farm on social media, frequently including photos and videos of himself sitting –or singing—on one of his beloved bright orange Kubotas.
Shelton will have to change out of his camo pretty soon. He recently announced a new tour and his first Las Vegas residency.
Jenna Paulette
Paulette grew up helping on her family’s cattle ranch. Her family had to sell the land, but Paulette’s greatest goal for her career is to be successful enough to buy back the property. Paulette, who recently married a working cowboy, frequently heads out to work cattle when she isn’t on stage. The lifestyle is so threaded through her brand and music that its impossible to separate Paulette the artist and person from Paulette the rancher.
Paulette’s Horseback will be out on Friday.
Cody Johnson
Cody Johnson is nearly synonymous with country cowboy. And when he isn’t on stage, Johnson loves to participate in cow roping events on horseback. Then, the singer puts the skills to work on his ranch. Johnson and his family recently moved to a huge ranch house in their native Texas – and his song about how much he loves the lifestyle –“Dirt Cheap”—is at the top of country radio’s airplay charts now.
B.J. Jamison
While B.J. Jamison doesn’t necessarily sing about it in his music, the Nebraska native has deep roots in roping and ranching. His dad was a rodeo star and his mother–who plays in his band–a rodeo queen. Jamison is one of the most popular singers in the Midwest, an area known for its vast farmland. When he isn’t on stage, his helping his parents on their ranch. The 20-year-old singer is playing shows all over the region–and is up to his elbows in fertilizer and hay.
Jamison’s debut EP, produced and written by famed singer/songwriter Dave Gibson, will be available October 24.
George Strait
Strait might be country music’s most famous cowboy. He still farms and raises cattle in South Texas. The Strait family ranch has been in the family for 100 years. He learned ranching early in life by helping on the family’s 2,000-acre spread. After his time in the military, Strait went to Southwest Texas State University to pursue a degree in agriculture. However, Strait’s interest in music took over and he temporarily traded his spurs for a microphone. But he kept his hat, Wranglers, and boots.
Strait’s new album, Cowboys and Dreamers, will be available Friday.
(Photo by Tammie Arroyo/Shutterstock)
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