All Feature Articles

PBR Provides Beautiful Redemption in Music City

by Rich and Laura Lynch

What a difference a year makes. Like a well crafted country song one man turned heartbreak into joy by just holding on when the PBR Music City Knockout returned to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on August 20, 2017.


The third major of the PBR season takes place in Nashville.

In 2016, we were on the same site - drawn in and captivated by the Professional Bull Riding Association's new format that paired riders directly against one another in a single elimination contest that determined who would advance to the final rounds of the showdown. Last year, when a bull fell on Fabiano Vieira he lost a spot and his final pairing when he needed to withdraw due to serious injury. This let eventual winner Cooper Davis back into the competition and he became the champion.

We arrived a little early to the sports arena to find a plaza party underway complete with local musicians, food trucks, vendors and hundreds of fans gathering in anticipation of the evening's exciting festivities. Inside, the night of man versus beast kicked off with fire and fireworks before the riders were introduced to the near capacity crowd in the arena. Underscoring the danger and separating this event from other major sporting occasions - a solemn prayer was offered for the safety of the riders, livestock and the bull fighters who would be assisting with the program.


The bulls were particularly fierce at the Saturday night showdown.

This year's return to Nashville represented the third of four major battles in the sport of Professional Bull Riding. In terms of golf or tennis, it would be the prestigious equivalent of the British Open or Wimbledon. The event results would have a dramatic impact on the overall PBR rankings and would come with a large payday, too.

After a long night of intense riding and drama we watched as a lot of the local favorites, American stars and up and coming young guns fell by the wayside one by one. The last man standing was none other than Fabiano Vieira. He had made it all the way back from the agony of defeat to the thrill of victory to become the 2017 Music City Knockout champion.


A few stars of the show doing their thing in Tennessee.

The night really had it all complete with a couple of rare video reviews. Both were challenges initiated by the riders with one gaining precious hundredths of seconds on his time while another was penalized. The bulls seemed tougher and harder to ride this year over last and several refused to return to the pen so they needed to be shown the way by a cowboy on horseback with lasso and leverage. Even the bulls are recognized for their effort and "Pearl Harbor" was named the YETI "Built for the Wild" Bull of the Event with a total 45.5 points.

The PBR is fan and family friendly entertainment and their comedic master of ceremonies is Flint Rasmussen - known the world over as perhaps the most famous "rodeo clown" in the sport of bull riding. Flint was clowning around during the television time-outs and he showed off his dancing skills mimicking everyone from Beyonce to Michael Jackson.


More scenes for the PBR Music City Knockout.

The city of Nashville took the brunt of his mocking, too, as he tore into the town's recently acquired dubious repetition as a home of bachelorette parties and pedal car taverns. When he saw two attractive women walking to the concourse he stopped them before becoming strangely taken by one of the girl's fancy attire. "I could rock that romper," was a theme he would go on to repeat for the rest of the show.

Not to be outdone by Music City, Sin City better known as Las Vegas will host the 2017 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals complete with a star-studded music lineup set to perform for fans nightly during the five-day November event when the toughest sport on dirt crowns a new World Champion. Performances will include sets by Joe Nichols, Shinedown, LOCASH, Night Ranger and Warrant. These country artists and rock favorites will complement the epic meeting between the toughest cowboys and rankest bucking animals in the business - and that's no bull.


It's a big payday for the world's best bull riders.

Related Links: For more information on the PBR and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -- Professional Bull Riding






















.







Do you like MCN??? Did you know that the easiest way to support this site is to BUY our founder's DEBUT ALBUM on BANDCAMP? At check out you can even throw in a bit more to really say "we appreciate you"! Thanks!!!





Alejandro Medina III Is Ready to Breakout with a Genre-Bridging Repertoire in Nashville



The 35th Annual Antiques & Garden Show Cultivates a Big Crowd at Music City Center in Nashville



Chief's On Broadway Puts Out the Fire During Hot Chicken Week in Nashville



The Music Valley Village Has a Lot to Offer Both Tourists and Locals Alike in Nashville, Tennessee



Well, Hello Dolly - Beloved Global Icon Set to Unveil a New Musical in Nashville Before Great White Way Debut in 2026



The Circus Is Back in Town at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville



His Heart Will Go On - A Celebration of Life for Acclaimed Songwriter Will Jennings at the Ford Theater in Nashville



Michael W. Smith Brings Every Christmas Home For the Holidays at The Fisher Center in Nashville



Trans-Siberian Orchestra Finds Reason For the Season with The Lost Christmas Eve in Nashville



The Belmont Bruins Take Two From MTSU at the Curb Event Center in Nashville



The New & Old World - A Collection of Rare Spanish Arts Sails Into the Nashville Symphony Center



Guitar Legend Lee Roy Parnell Brings His Texas Flavored Christmas to Broadway in Nashville



Troy Kemp and AC/DC: Aussie Acts Planting Their Flag in Music City



Ben Folds Throws a Paper Airplane Party in Nashville



Thankful Once Again for The Catio in Nashville



The Frontmen Deliver Their First Ever Christmas Concert at the Tennessee Ballroom in Nashville



Turning On the 10th Annual Holiday Lights at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Belle Meade



Zoolumination Celebrates the Year of the Dragon at the Nashville Zoo



Rhiannon Giddens and Silkroad Ensemble Bring American Railroad to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville



Country Superstar Ronnie McDowell Opens the Troubadour VIP Lounge in the Music Valley





Warren Haynes - Million Voices Whisper



Pure Prairie League - Back on Track



Dan Tyminski - Live From The Ryman



Kim Richey - Every New Beginning



Jack McKeon - Talking to Strangers



Avery Anna - Mood Swings



Dex Green - Imaginary War



Jon Muq - Flying Away



Don McLean - American Boys



Jason Minton - Rock Collection





• Meet Rich and Laura Lynch.

© 2025 MusicCityNashville.net
All Rights Reserved