Horses have long symbolized unbridled spirit and freedom, and the equine star in Kyle Park’s “Rio” is no exception.
The song is currently having a moment as Park’s fourth No. 1 on the Texas Regional Radio Report (TRRR) from his sixth album Don’t Forget Where You Come From. Erin Enderlin, a member of CMT’s Next Women of Country program, co-wrote the song with Park.
“The last album I made, The Blue Roof Sessions was a rockin’ album, but it had no fiddle and steel,” Park tells CMT.com. “I felt Don’t Forget Where You Come From was getting me back to what’s gotten me into country music — the lyrics and the sounds of fiddle, steel and real drums. I’ve always had real drums, but these days country is a lot of tracks. And I refuse to do that. I love what got me into country music — the music, the lyrics and not anything else.”
“Rio” introduces its star as an instinctive red-hued steed who can weather any storm and make sunset rides turn into golden memories that last a lifetime. Rio’s new owner bonds with him over adventures going wherever he goes.
Director Paul De La Cerda directed the cinematic piece on a private ranch in Corona, N.M. with rodeo champion Tuf Cooper playing Rio’s owner.
“The ranch owners, the Muncie family, I met them through a friend of Tuf Cooper’s,” Park says. “They come from a long line of professional cowboys, as well. They rode me around [the property] on their ranger all day and couldn’t have been more hospital. The old man in the video is the old man who owned the ranch … It was a classic cowboy lifestyle — ‘We take care of our kind around here.’”