[7] The City of Houston celebrates this event with Go Texan Day, where residents are encouraged to dress in western wear the Friday before the rodeo begins.

[8] The rodeo has drawn some of the world's biggest recording artists, including Gene Autry, Beyoncé, blink-182, Selena Gomez, Keith Urban, Ariana Grande, Selena, Reba McEntire, Kiss, Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, Charley Pride, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Alan Jackson, REO Speedwagon, Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, Janet Jackson, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Los Tigres del Norte, Bon Jovi, ZZ Top, Chris Stapleton, John Legend, Taylor Swift, Gwen Stefani, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

In the early 1920s, James W. Sartwelle, a stockyard manager from Sealy, Texas, founded the American Brahman Breeders Association.

[10] Approximately 2,000 people attended the exposition, where they were also entertained by the Future Farmers Band, comprising 68 high school students from around the state.

In 1952, the media were invited to join cowboys on a 75 miles (121 km) trek from Brenham, Texas to the Fat Stock Show.

In 1957, the Texas State Legislature granted Harris County the ability to issue bonds to finance a new stadium, so that the city could attract a team.

The presentation to the county commissioners listed four main uses for the new facility: 1) Major league baseball, 2) football, 3) the Fat Stock Show, and 4) various other activities.

To mark their new location, the organizing committee introduced a new logo, the Bowlegged H. The first night of the rodeo featured entertainment by the stars of the television series Gunsmoke.

[14] Louis Pearce Jr served sixty years as a board member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Calling themselves Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride, the group journeyed 400 miles (640 km) from the border crossing at Reynosa, Mexico to Houston.

Later that year, country singer George Strait set a record, having played to more than 1 million Houston rodeo attendees.

[25] The same year, HLSR was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame along with 15 other PRCA rodeos that had previously been granted special recognition.

The bill would also encourage the rodeo to contract with more minority-owned business and to add minorities to the livestock show's executive committee.

Livestock show President Leroy Shafer insisted that the legislation was unprecedented, and that non-profits should not be held to the same standards as public entities.

Shafer maintained that the executive committee membership was determined in large part by length of volunteer service, with the members having served, on average, for 37.5 years.

[28] Some competitors were upset with the change, as winning the RodeoHouston $50,000 prize had generally been enough to qualify a cowboy for the National Finals Rodeo.

Because they were now independent, the show could now invite specific competitors who might not otherwise have qualified to appear, such as local cowboy, 8-time world champion calf roper Fred Whitfield.

The Super Series is PRCA-sanctioned and money won here by contestants counts toward the world standings for the National Finals Rodeo.

[31] On March 11, 2020 after running for 8 of 20 planned days, the rodeo was shut down by the city of Houston after evidence emerged of community spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Traditionally held the Friday before the rodeo begins, the day is meant to encourage the Houston community to celebrate Western culture.

Each morning, they drive their vehicles and horse trailers to the next camping spot, then have a bus or convoy take them back so they can retrace their path on horseback.

[17] The rides converge at Memorial Park in Houston on Go Texan Day, the Friday before the livestock show and rodeo begins.

The Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before the livestock show begins, the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, established in 1974, is held on the grounds of NRG Park.

It offers one of the largest prize purses in North America, over $2 million, which count for the PRCA's National Finals Rodeo.

[53] Visitors who are not attending the rodeo and concert can purchase a lower-cost general admission ticket to gain access to all of NRG Park except the stadium.

[48] According to livestock show CEO Joel Cowley, "if we can draw people here for a concert or a carnival or a rodeo and teach them something about agriculture, it’s a win in regard to our mission.

"[54] NRG Center contains AgVenture, which provides educational displays about agriculture and the origins of the food for sale at grocery stores.

[58] Adults can visit The Hideout, a temporary dance hall located in a large tent near NRG Arena.

Several past performers at The Hideout, including the Dixie Chicks, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, and the Eli Young Band, later became headliners at the main rodeo show.

In 2017, the Ministers of Agriculture from Russia and Colombia made official visits to HLSR, joining more than 2,600 other international businessmen representing 88 countries.