Sosebee to expose his personality for fans at Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo

SALT LAKE CITY – The first thing fans will notice about Cody Sosebee is his dialect

He’s from western Arkansas, and his roots shine in conversation, as does his personality. Sosebee has a unique flair about him, which is why he’s so good at what he does.

As one of the most sought-after clowns and entertainers in ProRodeo, he will lend his talents and southern drawl to Utah’s Own Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5; Saturday, Sept. 6; and Monday, Sept. 8, in the Days of ’47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City. Tickets can be purchased at UtahStateFair.com/tickets.

“I’m really pumped to work that rodeo,” said Sosebee, 53, of Charleston, Arkansas. “It’s my first time there, and I’m anxious to get to entertain in front of the great fans. Utah has possibly the best rodeo fans in the world. All the rodeo clowns want to work Utah rodeos because of the beautiful setting and the wild fans.”

He will get to for three September nights during the Utah State Fair. Sosebee not only provides comedy relief during the rodeo but also showcases his talents in other ways. Packed into his larger-than-life persona – and a body to match – are boundless amounts of energy, fan-loving acts and knee-slapping comedy.

“I think I bring a sense of energy to an event, and I try to bring a new level of energy,” he said. “I try to bring a high level of energy to your show. I think rodeo competes with other extreme sports, and I think we’re in a class of entertainment like those.

“When people come to an event, they want to see the level of high energy for the entire two hours they’re there, and that’s what I want to give them.”

The rodeo will feature world-class competition, with many of the top cowboys and cowgirls battling for the big bucks in the state’s capital city. Alas, it’s more than a contest. Rodeo features family-friendly entertainment, which is where Sosebee enters the picture.

A former bareback rider, he transitioned from the game and onto the stage. He went from spurring bucking horses to showing off talents with his antics and acts. The most intriguing thing about Sosebee is that he’s just being himself, and it works.

Over his lifetime, he’s been nominated more than 20 times for PRCA Clown of the Year and Comedy Act of the Year, winning the last in 2018. That was a year after he was selected to work as the barrelman at the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale. It was a tribute bestowed upon him by the top bull riders in the game.

“Jokes are the unfortunate situations of other people, but you can’t hardly tell some jokes anymore for fear of upsetting some people,” Sosebee said. “I’ve changed my jokes in my acts to being about me; everything’s about me. I laugh at myself. I’m a big, chubby, dancing guy. I look funny when I walk. I sound funny when I talk. It’s OK to laugh at yourself.”

Sosebee’s self-deprecating humor appeals to the throngs of people who enjoy his talents. If he’s laughing at himself, others are laughing right along with him.