George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush honored at Houston rodeo with engraved seats at NRG Stadium

HOUSTON — Thousands of fans showed up to Brad Paisley’s show at NRG Stadium Saturday, but not every seat was filled.

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KTRK reported that RodeoHouston fans, the late President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush, had two seats engraved in their honor at the show. The side-by-side seats were empty, save for flowers in Barbara Bush's chair.

"They had a very special relationship with some of the entertainers -- Reba McEntire and Brad Paisley in particular," Rodeo Houston president Joel Cowley told KTRK. "When Reba or Brad would play they'd usually come in advance of the show and sit down and visit with them. And then they would enjoy seats right beside the bucking chute."

KENS5 reported that a moment of silence was held at the show in honor of the couple.

“(President and Mrs. Bush) sat here many many times, cheering on rodeo athletes and the calf scramblers, bringing joy to the entire stadium,” a  rodeo announcer said at the show.

Barbara Bush died April 17, 2018 at age 92. George H.W. Bush died about eight months later at age 94 on November 30, 2018.

Cox Media Group