Cowboy and singer-songwriter Chris LeDoux’s “This Cowboy’s Hat” has earned a platinum certification from the RIAA. Loved ones of the Missouri-born country artist, who died in 2005, gathered at a ceremony in Nashville to celebrate the achievement. LeDoux’s son Ned, now a touring musician himself, accepted a plaque on his late father’s behalf. The event also featured the debut of an official music video for the song.
“I love the story this song tells,” the video’s director, Jeff Carter, shared. “The Western setting, the flashback images, the honor and courage of the cowboy, the common ground, the resolution. As I learned more about Chris LeDoux the man, the ideas in the song were also the principles he stood for.”
Released in 1982, “This Cowboy’s Hat” marked a pivotal transition in LeDoux’s career as a championship rodeo competitor. In 1989, a mention on Garth Brooks’ hit “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old),” cemented LeDoux as a symbol of real country cred and landed him a Capitol Records deal. On his major-label debut, LeDoux released a re-recorded version of the track, telling the Dallas Morning News in 1997: “It has so much depth. Initially, people thought it was just about this cowboy’s and these bikers’ confrontation. But the real message is no matter what culture you come from, how we dress or talk, we all have these things in common. It’s a wonderful song. It’s sort of become an anthem for us and our fans.”
Also known for country hits like “Western Skies,” “Hooked On An Eight Second Ride,” and “Cadillac Cowboy,” LeDoux also won the World Bareback Title at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1976. After releasing 19 albums and earning almost $4 million in sales during his independent career, LeDoux went on to sell over 6 million albums with Capitol Records and receive widespread acclaim.
Listen to Chris LeDoux’s “This Cowboy’s Hat” now.