Chris LeDoux Rides Again with Son Ned on New Song
It’s going on 20 years since rodeo legend and country music hero Chris LeDoux passed away. But with the help of his son and fellow performer Ned LeDoux, his voice is coming back to life, at least for one song. As people prepare for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas this week, Ned LeDoux has released a new song that through a little help and serendipity, features his legendary father. And no, this isn’t one of those AI-generated things.
The last song Chris LeDoux ever recorded was called “One Hand In The Riggin’,” but it never was released. Chris LeDoux’s vocal part was supposed to appear on an album by the song’s writer, Brenn Hill, who co-wrote the track with Bruce Bouton. But for one reason or another, Brenn Hill decided to not release the song, so the unused vocal track sat on the shelf.
“Twenty-one years later, I ran into Brenn at the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada, and he reminded me that he still had that vocal track—and that God had a better path for it,” Ned LeDoux explains. The plan was hatched to put both generations of LeDoux on the song together as part of an upcoming album from Ned produced by legendary producer/guitar player Mac McAnally.
“Mac dropped dad’s vocal in while I was out on tour. So, the first time I heard it, Dad and I were singing together. Man, it gave me chills,” says Ned LeDoux.
Ned played drums in his father’s band up until his death in 2005. To help carry on the family’s musical legacy, Ned transitioned to guitar and singing, and has since become a respected member of the cowboy and Western music community, touring regularly and releasing multiple albums.
Along with a new album coming in early 2025 (release date TBA), Ned LeDoux is also getting ready to appear in the feature film Buffalo Daze that has strong ties to the Yellowstone world. He’ll also be performing at the Silverton Casino Lodge on December 5th and 6th as part of NFR 2025 in Las Vegas.
December 4, 2024 @ 8:21 pm
I love all of Ned’s album’s and looking forward to this release. This song is also on the Western Underground album that Chris’ band, I think, put out after he passed. Brenn Hill has some good tunes too. Really like this version too!
December 5, 2024 @ 2:51 am
Everything Taylor said.
This really made my day. That Western Underground album is pretty great. The saddest part is that Dustin Lynch did lead vocals, and then went so bad.
December 5, 2024 @ 9:00 am
That was Dustin Evans, not Dustin Lynch. He’s a regional artist out of South Dakota who opened for Chris quite a bit.
December 5, 2024 @ 1:46 pm
Thanks, learn something new every day.
Great album.
December 6, 2024 @ 9:25 pm
I agree that Western Underground album is awesome. It is one of my favorites. I searched for it for years and finally found it at a local thrift store for only a quarter. Plus it was signed by the whole band! Jackpot!
December 4, 2024 @ 9:12 pm
Brb gotta take a Shaboozey and then I’ll comment on the post.
December 4, 2024 @ 9:29 pm
Garth Brooks brought LeDoux into the mainstream–twice: . By name-checking him in one single and the cutting a duet with him on another. Without that, LeDoux was just a regional act issuing his own records.Gotta give Garth some credit for that.
December 5, 2024 @ 4:57 am
His pre-Nashville cassettes were way more interesting. Glad he got the money though.
December 5, 2024 @ 6:51 am
Everything touched by mainstream Nashville suffers a creative death.
Even Haggard fell like a stone during his Nashville years, and he never truly recovered.
December 5, 2024 @ 12:59 pm
Ledoux’s commercial music was great on its own merits.
Sure, there was a few bad cuts here and there, but he left a great body of work that most of us love.
Ned’s a chip off the ol block. He’s carrying the tradition honorably.
December 5, 2024 @ 6:53 am
Listening to Chris’ pre-Garth years, it’s clear that he’s the template for Garth, good and bad.
December 5, 2024 @ 2:06 pm
The name dropping song was my favorite one barf ever did, and that first album was his only good one in my opinion. I listened to it end to end many times in middle and high school.
December 10, 2024 @ 11:06 am
His first album was made by Garth the artist.
After “Much too young” caught on, the other albums were made by Garth the businessman, custom-tailored. Sure, good songs scattered around, but mostly soulless AOR.
So, he’s no better or worse than most other artists before and after. Some of them becomes rightfully legends, like Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson or Dean Martin, but most of them ends up largely forgotten, deserved or not.
My 80 year old mom still regards Tommy Steele and Pat Boone superior to Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry, bless her gullible innocense. She’s my mom, nonetheless, so it shall pass.
December 4, 2024 @ 9:30 pm
People who criticize AI and are skeptical of it’s use are correct.
December 4, 2024 @ 11:46 pm
It’s always open season on skepticism. That’s how knowing stuff gets done.
Is it happening here though?
December 5, 2024 @ 3:26 pm
AI wasn’t used in this case but there is a degree of ridicule towards people that are skeptical of a push to continue to use it in modern music. Unless there is a more unified public rejection of AI in music it’s going to become a thing. I don’t think statement in this article denying the use of AI was a direct ridule of those who have that concern but it’s inevitable that AI will work it’s way into modern music if people don’t sound the alarm bells and reject AI as being anti-artistic. Otherwise it’ll be 2030 and people will be complaining about AI comprising a large chunk of the new popular music and there will be questions of why wasn’t this stopped.
I have no problem with an unrealsed vocal track being used posthumously and mixed in the studio for release by a direct relative like this. Hank Jr did it.
December 5, 2024 @ 1:59 am
I’ve thought for a while that Chris would be a perfect subject for a movie biopic. I’m surprised I haven’t heard about Garth wanting to produce one.
December 5, 2024 @ 5:24 am
Ned is one of my favorite singers. Can’t wait for the new album. Still miss Chris Ledoux!
December 5, 2024 @ 8:19 am
Born and raised in Utah Chris was always on the radio be it 8 tracks of vinyl. Never missed a concert in SLC or ogden. As far as rodeo cowboy music and putting you in the setting of the arenas and that with songs for me he was one the of best.
December 5, 2024 @ 1:31 pm
Reminiscent of “Tear in my Beer”. This was haunting. Ned is as genuine and straightforward as his old man.
December 6, 2024 @ 7:37 am
Man, I miss Chris LeDoux. Never got to see him live, even the summer I spent in the Rockies.