Cody Johnson: Historic Houston Rodeo Finale with Underwood & León

Cody Johnson shattered NRG Stadium’s all-time concert-only attendance record Sunday night, drawing 80,203 paid attendees to the final performance of the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, according to organizers.

The evening culminated in a surprise duet with Carrie Underwood, performing their 2024 collaboration, “I’m Gonna Love You.” Johnson introduced Underwood to a roaring crowd, the volume of which reportedly competed with the stadium’s sound system, according to multiple concertgoers.

The performance marked the close of a lineup that featured a strong showing of Texas-based artists, including Lizzo, Parker McCollum, Forest Frank, Kelly Clarkson, and Koe Wetzel. Johnson, though not a native Houstonian, hails from Sebastopol, Texas, a modest town northeast of Huntsville.

Prior to Underwood’s appearance, Johnson was joined by fellow country artists Jon Pardi and Randy Houser. Houser’s performance marked his debut at the Houston rodeo.

In preparation for Johnson’s finale, more than 4,000 cubic yards of dirt – approximately 600 truckloads – were removed from the lower level of NRG Stadium, replacing the rodeo’s traditional dirt floor with a concrete surface and additional floor seating. The change created a significantly different concert experience for attendees.

“I’m Gonna Love You” garnered significant attention upon its release, amassing over 109 million streams on Spotify and reaching the Top 10 on both Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts.

Carín León also performed as a special guest during Johnson’s set.