Ten of the World's Toughest Rodeo songs before Saturday's main event

Photo by Nikki Miller

​This ain't my first rodeo, but perhaps it could be yours. This weekend, the "World's Toughest Rodeo" tour makes its annual stop at the Xcel Energy Center (Friday and Saturday, February 3-4, 7:30, $9.50-80 with special pricing for Girl and Boy Scouts, no foolin'). In addition to bull, bareback, and saddle bronc riding as well as barrel racing exhibitions and trick and fancing roping, expect a performance at Saturday night's "Party on the Dirt" by up-and-coming country star Justin Moore (recently nominated for an American Country Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year). Oh, and expect rodeo clowns. So many rodeo clowns. To get you amped up for concussions, broken necks and bad clown jokes (woohoo?), take a listen to our essential country rodeo playlist.

Vern Gosdin - "This Ain't My First Rodeo"

Moe Bandy - "Bandy the Rodeo Clown"

Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings - "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys"

George Strait - "Amarillo by Morning"

Patsy Montana - "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart"