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New Sound To 'Howdy Folks', Voice Of Big Tex Fired

BJ Austin
/
KERA News

The new and improved Big Tex will also have a different voice when he debuts at the State Fair in September.

Big Tex is undergoing a reconstruction after catching fire the last year.

The Fair’s Sue Gooding says the contract with Bill Bragg, the voice of Big Texas for 11 years, will not be renewed.

“We do offer a talent contract and that contract requires that both parties agree to the terms of the contract, and that wasn’t possible this year,” Gooding said.  

Gooding declined to explain, but said it’s important to protect the Fair’s brand.

Bragg says he’s shocked, and tells the Dallas Morning News he probably ruffled feathers with a charity appearance at which he was introduced as the voice of Big Tex. 

Gooding says there will not be auditions to be the next Big Tex voice, but she will listen to emailed submissions. 

Former KERA reporter BJ Austin spent more than 25 years in broadcast journalism, anchoring and reporting in Atlanta, New York, New Orleans and Dallas. Along the way, she covered Atlanta City Hall, the Georgia Legislature and the corruption trials of Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards.