If you’ve ever listened to rodeo announcer Charlie McKellips, you’d think he was born announcing rodeos. His natural banter, enthusiasm, and passion for narrating the sport align perfectly with his chosen profession.
Growing up around his father Chuck McKellips of the C.R. McKellips Rodeo Company and being a fourth-generation rodeo competitor offered him special insight into the nuances of rodeo production and provided him with a passion from the start. While announcing rodeos had long been of interest to him, it was only in recent years that he began working as an announcer professionally.
In fact, it was at a company Christmas party in 2008 when his potential as an announcer came to the forefront. Charlie got up at the DJ booth and started acting like a rodeo announcer as a joke. While he wasn’t serious at the time, his talent shone through, and his dad said, “There’s my new announcer.” Not long after, he went and purchased a cheap PA system and microphone and loaded up his computer with music. Eager to learn, Charlie also gained advice from PRCA announcers Scott Grover, Brandon McLagan, and Jesse Knudsen. Always a familiar fixture at rodeo, people were still surprised to see Charlie in this new role. In true cowboy fashion, little by little he earned their respect and admiration.
Now with several years of announcing under his belt Charlie still seeks to learn and grow while enjoying every moment of the ride. As a former steer wrestler for Ft. Scott Community College, he knows what life is like on both sides of the arena fence and is able to create a link between the crowd and the competitors. This ability has provided him with a wide range of opportunities, including international travel. Charlie served as the music director alongside Jesse Knudsen and announced one performance while working for the Rice Bull Riding Company at the invitation of the Saudi Royal Family at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Saudi Arabia.
Even with his popularity growing, Charlie stays true to himself and his own unique style of presenting rodeo to spectators nationwide. He knows the importance of hard work and staying true to your roots, while always improving your craft. He often watches other sporting events from wrestling to football, adapting useful practices he sees to his own approach, but chooses to never imitate another announcer. In addition, while he likes announcing professional rodeo, he also loves announcing for rodeos his family’s company is involved with and providing the fans with the same quality of experience they would at a professional show.
Charlie encourages every young person dreaming of announcing to get behind a microphone every chance they can, whether it’s a 4-H horse show or a backyard bull riding. This generosity is apparent in his passion for rodeo and his knack for making fans feel like they’ve really seen something special at every event. It also shines through in his work educating the general public about aspects of ranching, rodeo, and raising livestock through his TikTok channel and short updates, which are regularly watched by over 10,000 people. He is always quick to answer questions and help anyone who wants to learn more. He shares that he’d rather someone be great thanks to his support rather than him just being successful on his own and never building others up.
It is clear that Charlie McKellips has found his niche behind a microphone, and rodeo fans are all the better for it. While he continues the proud legacy of his family, he has made his own name for himself, earned through hard work and a willingness to help, regardless of whether the task is loading panels or choosing music for timed events.
Follow his videos on TikTok (charliemckellips) and look for him at a rodeo near you.
*featured image photo credit to TF Event Photography
