PRORODEO Sports - April 24, 2026 Digital Edition

ROCKER STEINER ROCKS OUT ON STAGE WITH ERNEST AT BILLY BOB’S By Alex Dodd R ocker Steiner earned his rockstar nickname with his riding ability and the unique style he brings to PRORODEO arenas across the country. “They knew I could play guitar, so I had to fill in,” Steiner said. “I was the next guy up.” who I was.” Ernest told Steiner after the show that he didn’t miss a beat. “He couldn’t have been more

Steiner knew Ernest might need a little help when he was hanging out with the band before the show. He played a few of the chords in advance and then started taking the lead and got the hang of it. “Anytime the boys need me to step up for some help, I’m there,” he said. Steiner is used to pressure packed moments. He’s competed on the big gest stage in PRORODEO, the Wran gler National Finals Rodeo, four times. He won the world this past year and set a single-season earnings record with $507,533. He won the Resistol Rookie of the Year award in bareback riding in 2022. The rodeo arena is his comfort zone. Playing guitar and singing on stage with a major recording artist is a whole other ballgame. “Honestly, it was way more nerve-wracking than I thought it was going to be,” Steiner said. The crowd loved it. And so did Steiner. “I was more focused on hanging out with the fellas on stage than paying attention to the crowd. But I think they liked it,” he recalled. “I think quite a few of them knew who I was. I’m from Fort Worth and Billy Bob’s is always a pretty big rodeo crowd. So I’m assuming they knew

thankful,” Steiner said. “He was like, ‘Man, we really needed you.’ He was just happy I stepped up. But Ernest is one of my best friends and one of my favorite musicians. So obviously I’m going to get up there with him.” As for the next time Steiner will be on stage playing guitar, fans will have to wait and see. “Maybe the next time a guitar play er’s wife goes into labor,” he said.

But Steiner tried his hand at musi cal stardom because of a unique set of circumstances during country art ist Ernest’s show at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth on April 4. The 22-year-old reigning PRCA Bareback Riding World Champion has known Ernest for a long time. He first met the singer-songwriter during a chance encounter at Kid Rock’s house in the summer of 2023. Steiner and Ernest stayed in touch. The rodeo star went to a few of the country star’s concerts, including when Ernest headlined the Puyallup (Wash.) Rodeo in 2024. But Steiner wasn’t necessarily planning on getting on stage at Billy Bob’s during Ernest’s show. “(Ernest’s) guitar player and his wife are actually from Fort Worth, and his wife was pregnant,” Steiner recalled. “She was in the hospital, and they didn’t know she was going to (give birth) that night. But she went into labor during their fifth or sixth song. So he had to leave for their last two songs.” Thankfully for Ernest, he had a buddy in the crowd who knew how to play guitar and isn’t shy about performing for a crowd.

APRIL 24, 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 37