He had already had a full day.
Rodeo is a big part of my life.
In Binghams mind, however, that recognition was far from a foregone conclusion.
Ryan Bingham is on the road with ‘The Last Waltz’ Tour and gearing up for the return of ‘Yellowstone.‘Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Man, I had no idea, he says.
At the time, you know, it could have gone either way.
It could have been really cool for this music, or it could have been really bad for it.
You really didnt know what people would think.
If the show would have went downhill, you could have went downhill with it.
The biggest beneficiaries of such aYellowstonebump are likely Whiskey Myers andShane Smith and the Saints.
But an entire generation of independent country artists have seen their profiles raised from the show.
When those first couple of seasons came out, I started noticing it, Bingham recalls.
We love that show!
Then, I went on tour in Europe, and people were going crazy for it over there.
He considers himself an adopted Texan.
The big difference this year is that we went to Texas, Bingham says.
My grandmothers side of the family has like four or five generations coming from there, ranching.
It almost felt like that would have been my destiny if I hadnt moved around and found a guitar.
Id probably be living in West Texas and working on a ranch.
I dont know if nostalgic is the word, but I felt really at home there.
I got invited to be a part of it and asked what it was all about, Bingham says.
Im a huge fan of the Band, and they had some of the first songs I ever learned.
Bingham has hosted a festival once before this years Great Western.
Texas is such a melting pot, musically, Bingham says.
You have the North Texas swing music, cowboy music, and folk.
Youve got zydeco and blues and hip-hop from Houston and the Louisiana border.
You have all the Mariachi and Tejano and Cajun stuff.
It was fucking cool.
He envisions it as a box set.
