More Than Just a Musician: Uncovering the Unexpected Layers of Chris LeDoux’s Life

By OldiesSong

It’s clear that Chris LeDoux’s identity was deeply intertwined with the cowboy lifestyle, which permeated both his music and his life offstage.

Chris LeDoux’s life certainly held more than just music. Here are some of those layers:

He was a real cowboy and a decorated rodeo champion.
LeDoux won the Little Britches Rider Bareback World Championship in 1964.
He also won the Wyoming State High School Bareback Bronc Championship twice.
In 1969, he became the National Intercollegiate Bareback Riding Champion.
His pinnacle in rodeo was winning the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Bareback World Championship in 1976.
He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2005 as both a Bareback Bronc Rider and a Notable figure.

Chris married Peggy Rhoads on January 4, 1972.
They built a life together on their ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming.
Chris and Peggy had five children: Clay, Ned, Will, Beau, and Cindy.
Family was a central part of his life, and he often returned home to help with ranch chores.

His music often reflected life lessons drawn from his rodeo experiences.
He seemed to value hard work, honesty, love, and respect for others.
One of his quotes was, “Don’t be scared, just enjoy your ride,” which could be seen as a personal philosophy.
He appreciated the small moments of joy in life.

Even while pursuing music, he remained connected to his ranching life in Wyoming.
He was a bronze sculptor.
His early music career involved self-releasing albums and selling them at rodeos.
His rodeo background gave his cowboy songs authenticity and credibility with his audience.