Hudson “Hud Light” Bolton didn’t come from a rodeo family — but he was born to ride. The Milan, Tennessee, native was just 10 years old when his older brother, Bryce, decided to try bull riding at a Thursday night rodeo in Missouri. Hudson tagged along, climbed on a mini bull and never looked back.

What began at that small-town rodeo quickly became a lifelong calling. Through middle and high school, Bolton balanced football and rodeo before eventually choosing the chutes over the gridiron. He homeschooled to focus fully on riding, traveling to junior and high school rodeos across Tennessee and beyond. That decision paid off in a big way. At 17, he went a perfect 4-for-4 at the International Finals Rodeo to capture the 2023 IPRA World Championship, setting the stage for his breakout professional run.

In 2024, Bolton was selected in the first round of the PBR Teams New Rider Draft by the New York Mavericks and placed on the Protected Roster. Then came his defining moment in 2025. Despite missing 10 events due to a midseason injury, the 19-year-old stormed back to finish No. 7 in the world and claim the coveted title of 2025 PBR Rookie of the Year, going 23-for-38 (60.5%) with eight Top 10 finishes. But his season didn’t end there. Competing in both organizations, Bolton also captured the 2025 PRCA Rookie of the Year title — becoming the first rider ever to win the honor in both leagues in the same year. Already qualified for the NFR in Las Vegas, he became the only cowboy that season to ride on all three of the sport’s biggest stages.

Though he spent much of the 2025 Teams season chasing his PRCA Rookie of the Year dream, Bolton still made an impact when it mattered most. He helped deliver New York’s first-ever perfect game and was the team’s fifth-frame closer during the end-of-season stretch.

At the 2025 PBR Teams Championship inside T-Mobile Arena, Bolton helped the last-seeded Mavericks mount a dominant stand in their opening three-way game, riding Black Harbor for a game-tying high score that kept New York’s season alive in front of a roaring Vegas crowd. The performance capped a breakout year that proved he belonged among the world’s elite.

Then came the 2026 PBR World Finals.

Bolton caught fire in Fort Worth, recording a perfect 7-for-7 start across Cowtown Coliseum and Dickies Arena to launch himself directly into the World Championship conversation. The Tennessee standout also built a remarkable 14-bull riding streak during the end of the season, cementing himself as one of the hottest riders on tour.

By the end of the nine-round marathon, Bolton finished 7-for-9 to be crowned the 2026 PBR World Finals Event Champion, collecting the accompanying $500,000 bonus and officially arriving as one of the sport’s premier stars.