MTSU alumni, students help produce music video at Tennessee Miller Coliseum story by Stephanie Barrette and photography by Andy Heidt
Since the music video for legendary country singer Reba McEntire and rising artist Cody Johnson’s single “Dear Rodeo” is set after the rodeo season ends, MTSU graduate Christen Pinkston (’11) needed an arena. She searched online for arenas in the Nashville area, and when she came across Tennessee Miller Coliseum, she realized it was part of MTSU.
McEntire—who comes from a rodeo family—became a part of the documentary, too. Silva called on Pinkston to produce the video as well.
Shooting the video at her alma mater last fall was “really a full circle moment,” said Pinkston, the video’s producer.
“I knew that once they [McEntire’s team] saw the Tennessee Miller Coliseum that they would fall in love with it and that it would be their choice,” said Keel, dean of the College of Media and Entertainment.
Not only did the Miller Coliseum, located on MTSU’s equestrian campus, serve as the set for the music video, but University students and alumni supported production on the day of the shoot. “I am so super appreciative of the University allowing us to be here,” Pinkston said. “They’ve been so accommodating, and it’s been really nice to see students and people excited about a video and an opportunity.”
Collaboration and Teamwork Pinkston had previously worked with music video director Shaun Silva to produce a film showcasing the story behind the song: Johnson’s previous career in the rodeo.
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After Pinkston discovered the horse arena, Warner Music Group’s Shane Tarleton, senior vice president of artist development, reached out to MTSU’s Beverly Keel about the project.
Within minutes, multiple campus teams came together to help make it a reality, including the Division of Marketing and Communications, the Media and Entertainment and Liberal Arts colleges, Production Services, and the staff that manages the coliseum, which is about 6 miles away from the main campus. Including students came up in conversation “right away,” Keel said. “That’s our main goal always. . . . People especially love our students because they’re so scrappy and hardworking. Our students know how to behave in these settings. They’re here to work. They’re not fans.”
