RodeoHouston 2026

RodeoHouston reveals 2026 lineup starring Lizzo, Lainey Wilson, and Creed

After months of social media anticipation, educated guessing, wishing, and internet sleuthing, the lineup for this year’s RodeoHouston concert series has been revealed. It’s a year of homegrown talent making bucket list appearances, intriguing debuts, reliable stunners, and millennial nostalgia.

While the lineup announcement is always huge news in Houston — taking over social media feeds for days of discourse — it was New York City that got the first real taste of rodeo vibes this week.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, January 7, 2026 debut performer Russell Dickerson played live onstage in Manhattan’s Times Square. RodeoHouston invaded the Big Apple with denim-clad dancers and Howdy, the rodeo’s own bow-legged mascot, mingling with New Yorkers heading home from work. It was an auspicious way for Houston’s month-long legacy event to make a splash on an international stage. Seeing the rodeo logo in Times Square must have been a sight for expat Houstonians. Too bad Howdy didn’t bring funnel cakes, fried Oreos, and carnival games to round out the experience.

“We strive to bring Houston the very best in live entertainment, and the 2026 lineup raises that standard once again,” Chris Boleman, president and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, said in a statement. “From chart-topping newcomers to artists making their long-awaited return after nearly 20 years, this year’s lineup is truly a reflection of both our Western roots and the vibrant footprint of the Houston community.”

Kicking off on Monday, March 2, with Riley Green leading the charge, the lineup will feature a total of nine new artists making their RodeoHouston debuts, including Dickerson, Lizzo, Forrest Frank, Megan Moroney, Creed, Shaboozey, Pepe Aguilar, Red Clay Strays, and Koe Wetzel.

(Sorry, Journey fans, it’s time to stop believing that y’all are getting a make-up show after last year’s electrical fire that scuttled the show within minutes.)

Creed is this year’s classic-rock tentpole act. Yes, Creed is classic-rock now, and has been lovingly accepted by Gen Z and Gen Alpha alike. Perhaps the band will follow in the footsteps of Canadian rockers Nickelback who drew 75,036 for their rodeo debut in 2024.

As previously announced, Cody Johnson will close out RodeoHouston with a concert-only performance on Sunday, March 22 with openers Jon Pardi and Randy Houser. Old timers hoping for George Strait may be a little disappointed, but Johnson’s appeal is undeniable and next-generation forward.

Soulful behemoth Chris Stapleton returns to RodeoHouston for the first time since 2023 on Thursday, March 12. Debuting in 2017, every Stapleton RodeoHouston show feels like church. The man and his band have a way of commanding a crowd at NRG Stadium like few others can. The only one that’s come close to total satisfaction in recent memory has been Jellyroll.

RodeoHouston was quick to tout that for third year in a row, the lineup will include two Latin artists with J Balvin and Pepe Aguilar scheduled. The latter is headlining the perennially massively-attended Go Tejano Day, which features the Go Tejano Mariachi Invitational Championship just before Aguilar’s set.

After several years of Houstonians complaining about a lack of female representation, four female acts, including 2024’s standout Lainey Wilson, made the lineup. Megan Moroney is this year’s It Girl, with her army of emo cowgirls now switching from blue to pink. Houston flutist Lizzo will make her RodeoHouston debut on Friday, March 6 for Black Heritage Day, making up for her 2020 performance that was canceled due to the Covid pandemic.

The unofficial mayor of the rodeo, Trill Burgers impresario Bun B, who had performed every year since 2022, seems to be taking the year off. No one will be surprised to see Bun, though, at least make a sneaky cameo appearance sometime in 2026. Count on an even bigger Trill Burgers presence, too.

Elsewhere, the lineup features three acts that have been away from RodeoHouston since the mid-aughts, including neo-twang daddy Dwight Yoakam (2004), pop idol Kelly Clarkson (2004), and Cross Canadian Ragweed (2006), currently riding a wave of red dirt nostalgia since reuniting in 2024 after nearly 15 years of dormancy.

Hometown boy Parker McCollum has become a RodeoHouston staple, affirmed by his fourth ride out to the star stage on Friday, March 20. Faith-based pop star Forrest Frank performs on Sunday, March 8. The grandson of late meteorologist Neil Frank, the Fulshear-native is 2026’s contemporary Christian act.

Two elder statesmen of pop-country, Luke Bryan (returning for the 13th time) and Tim McGraw (a mere 11 shows), will both perform. We’re still a little blue about the legendary water skier Alan Jackson not giving RodeoHouston one more night before he retires later this summer, but hey, Rascal Flatts is making their first stop since 2018.

New-schoolers Shaboozey, CMA Vocal Group of the Year recipients Red Clay Strays, and celebrity bar owner Koe Wetzel round out the lineup.

Tickets will go on sale at rodeohouston.com/tickets on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in two waves — 10 am for March 2-11 performances and 2 pm for March 12-21. Prices start at $30, plus a $5 convenience fee.

RodeoHouston 2026 Performer Lineup

Riley Green — Monday, March 2
J Balvin — Tuesday, March 3
Rascal Flatts — Wednesday, March 4 – Armed Forces Appreciation Day
Russell Dickerson — Thursday, March 5 – Sensory Friendly Day
Lizzo — Friday, March 6 – Black Heritage Day
Dwight Yoakam — Saturday, March 7
Forrest Frank — Sunday, March 8
Luke Bryan — Monday, March 9 – First Responders Appreciation Day
Megan Moroney — Tuesday, March 10
Creed — Wednesday, March 11
Chris Stapleton — Thursday, March 12
Shaboozey — Friday, March 13
Kelly Clarkson — Saturday, March 14
Pepe Aguilar — Sunday, March 15 – Go Tejano Day
Cross Canadian Ragweed — Monday, March 16
Red Clay Strays — Tuesday, March 17
Koe Wetzel — Wednesday, March 18
Lainey Wilson — Thursday, March 19
Parker McCollum — Friday, March 20
Tim McGraw — Saturday, March 21 – RodeoHouston Finals
Cody Johnson — Sunday, March 22 – Concert-only performance

Photo courtesy of RodeoHouston

Houston native Lizzo plays RodeoHouston on Friday, March 6.

rodeo rodeohouston concerts

Movie Review

Anne Hathaway's busy 2026 continues with meta-thriller Verity

Photo by Alisha Wetherill

Anne Hathaway in Verity.

Anne Hathaway has been inescapable for movie fans in 2026, starring in no fewer than five different movies across multiple genres, including Mother Mary, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Odyssey, and The End of Oak Street. The actor (who’s pregnant and about to take a well-earned break) is wrapping up her supremely busy year with the psychological thriller, Verity.

Hathaway plays the title character, Verity Crawford, a hugely successful author who writes beach read thrillers, often from the perspective of the villain. An unpublicized car accident renders her immobile and mute, and her husband, Jeremy (Josh Hartnett), and agents make the decision to recruit someone to ghostwrite her next book in order to continue her legacy.

The person hired for the job is Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), an aspiring author whose books mostly get ignored. She’s eager to take on the project, but the reality of Verity’s situation throws her for a loop. When she discovers a secret file that seems to be Verity admitting to some very bad things, Lowen starts to spin even more, imagining situations that may not actually be happening.

Directed by Michael Showalter and adapted by Nick Antosca from the book by Colleen Hoover, the film initially has a nice rhythm to it, setting up the three main characters well and building up tension. Though current day Verity can’t speak or move, the film gets to the heart of her through old interviews Lowen watches to get to know her mind better. Using that footage and other small moments at the house, a type of rivalry develops between the two characters.

Strangely, though, Showalter and Antosca fail to capitalize on the early momentum. The story stagnates about halfway through the movie and never delivers on what it seems to be promising. Whether they’re too true to Hoover’s original story or change things too much is difficult to tell for those who haven’t read the book, but either way, the result is a big tease with not much in the way of a payoff.

What’s most disappointing about the film is its inability to decide on a tone. There are some points where it feels like over-the-top, campy fun, and others where it seems like the filmmakers are going for a straight-up horror vibe. The down-the-middle approach that they land on serves neither the story nor the characters well. Moments that should be full of suspense or could get laughs often fall flat because of the indecisiveness of the filmmakers.

Due to her character’s affliction, Hathaway is reduced to a supporting role in the film, but she gets by on presence alone and still has a few scenes where she demonstrates her star power. Johnson delivers a good performance despite her typical lack of emotion. Like many of her roles, it’s her body that seems to get more attention than her acting. Hartnett is on a roll thanks to recent roles in Oppenheimer and Trap, and he puts in solid work here, as well.

Verity has the bones of a tense thriller, but it’s filled in with a bunch of questionable story beats that don’t prove as satisfying as the premise. The meta-plot of the authors of thrillers becoming involved in a thriller themselves should have been juicy and full of great twists, but ultimately it’s as catatonic as Verity herself.

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Verity is now playing in theaters.

movies film

RodeoHouston 2026

RodeoHouston reveals 2026 lineup starring Lizzo, Lainey Wilson, and Creed

Movie Review

Anne Hathaway's busy 2026 continues with meta-thriller Verity

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