Kane Brown Earns Biggest Country Artist Debut In History At Houston Rodeo

Pictured (L-R): Jim Winne, Chairman Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and Joel Cowley, President/CEO Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with Kane Brown. Photo: Alex Alvga

Kane Brown made history with his debut at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Saturday night (March 9), where he played to a ticketed audience of 75,126 fans, earning him the biggest country artist debut in Houston Rodeo history and the Top 15th evening overall in paid attendance ever for the event.

Brown wrapped his headlining arena Live Forever Tour with his debut performance at the Houston Rodeo, and in a milestone moment for the 25-year-old entertainer, he also received a surprise plaque presented by Chairman Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Jim Winne, and Joel Cowley, President/CEO Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, commemorating the official 4X-Platinum certification of his No. 1 hit, “Heaven.”

“Heaven”s 4X-Platinum status follows Brown’s earlier certification of his chart-topping single “What Ifs” as 4X-Platinum, and makes Brown one of only five country artists to achieve multiple 4X-Platinum singles (others include Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, Florida Georgia Line, and Taylor Swift). Also nominated for Single of the Year at the 2019 ACM Awards and for Country Song of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, “Heaven” was country’s most-played airplay hit of 2018.

A lifelong fan of the Rodeo, the milestone was particularly meaningful to Brown, who often sites memories of his childhood playing rodeo with his grandfather and great grandfather, both honored in Brown’s self-titled debut album through his songs “Coldspot” and “Granddaddy’s Chair.”

Earlier in the week Brown celebrated his inclusion in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit, where his wardrobe from his first American Music Awards, the evening he won three AMAs (Country Song, Best Country Album, Best Country Artist)  is currently on display.