RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Rapid City Post – July 6, 2026 – Country music artist Chancey Williams brought authentic cowboy music to the Black Hills for America’s 250th birthday celebration at Mount Rushmore on July 3, resulting in an unforgettable moment when Air Force One flew overhead mid-concert. The high-profile event, which featured speeches by President Donald Trump and South Dakota Governor Rhoden, was broadcast nationwide on national news media, including a full broadcast on C-SPAN.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Monday while hauling hay in his hometown of Moorcroft, Wyoming, Williams reflected on the whirlwind experience that came together through regional connections.
“Honestly, I don’t know how they found us, but reached out to our team,” Williams said. “They said they were really pushing for us because we just fit the vibe of what the event was. It’s real country music that represents 250 years, and I grew up near the area. They did a bunch of research on our music and she thought the energy fit the event.”
The celebration faced logistical hurdles as typical Black Hills summer storms rolled through the region. Rain and hail threatened to cancel the musical portion of the evening entirely to ensure time for the presidential and gubernatorial addresses. Williams’ original 90-minute set was ultimately trimmed down to roughly 45 minutes, with the band taking the stage close to dark around 8:30p.m.
The timing adjustments led to a serendipitous moment for the band. The original itinerary called for the Air Force band to play during the Air Force One flyover after Williams left the stage. Instead, the presidential Boeing 747 soared past the monument while Williams was performing.
“In our ears they said Air Force One two minutes out,” Williams said. “We got to do a lot of really cool things in my life, but like that moment, maybe the coolest thing I’ve ever been a part of or got to do because we’re singing on stage a song that I wrote at Mount Rushmore for America’s 250th birthday before the president, and here comes Air Force One during one of our songs.”
The flyover occurred during “The Saint,” which Williams described as a gritty, up-tempo track that served as the perfect accompaniment for the aircraft.
Despite the shortened timeframe, the band managed to power through a 12-song setlist. The performance kicked off with “Rodeo Cold Beer,” followed by “Anyway,” “Miles On Me,” “Saddle Up,” and an Alabama Medley.
After “The Saint” and “Outlaws,” Williams introduced “The Ballad of Uncle Don,” sharing a lighthearted moment with the massive crowd.
“Not to be confused with our Commander in Chief, but also a good song,” Williams joked on stage.
The band concluded the night with “Highway Junkie,” “Fastest Gun in Town,” “On The Tear,” and their signature anthem, “World Needs More Cowboys.”
Before kicking off with their final number Chancey said: “What a night we’ll remember forever. We live over there in the cowboy sate, and we have a little thing over there. With the way the world’s gone over the years, we think the world would be a better place if the world just had more cowboys… This is for you tonight America! This is ‘The World Needs More Cowboys.'”
Disclosure: The HomeSlice Group, the parent company of The Rapid City Post, is the management team for Chancey Williams.
