Trace Adkins has a side gig in reality TV. He was a fan favorite on Celebrity Apprentice, an NBC show hosted by future president, Donald Trump. The country singer went from contestant to host on Ultimate Cowboy Showdown. In a shocking turn of events, one of the stars from the show got prison time after an assault arrest. Keep reading for all the details.
What Is Ultimate Cowboy Showdown?
Ultimate Cowboy Showdown aired on the INSP network. It premiered in 2019 and ran for four seasons before it was canceled. The reality show followed real-life cowboys and cowgirls from across the country as they put their skills to the test.
The show was filmed at different ranches in various states, including Wyoming and Texas. The contestants were put through individual and team challenges that showcased cattle herding, roping, and other skills. The winner received a prize package that included a herd of cattle worth about $50,000, a championship belt buckle, and, of course, bragging rights.
Ultimate Cowboy Showdown ended in 2023 with an All-Star season. New episodes won’t be filmed but fans can still watch it online. All four seasons are currently streaming on Peacock.
Reality Star Gets Prison Time After Assault Arrest
Ethan Treadwell was a contestant on the first season of Ultimate Cowboy Showdown. He made it to the final three before getting eliminated. He returned for the show’s All-Star season. PEOPLE magazine reported that the cowboy was called “abrasive” by the judges. But no one expected him to assault an elderly man. The details of the assault are disturbing.
The reality star, 43, got into an altercation with his landlord in 2024. Ethan Treadwell reportedly rented land from William “Junior” Hicks, 74, for seven years before the incident. The Cowboy Showdown star was reportedly evicted months before the assault for unpaid rent. However, he left his cattle to graze the land.
According to the victim, he confronted Ethan Treadwell for moving cattle off the property. The confrontation escalated when Ethan Treadwell violently beat the man until he was unconscious. The elderly man still suffers from traumatic brain injury from the attack. He filed a civil lawsuit but it was dismissed until the criminal case was resolved.
Ethan Treadwell returned to court on August 5, 2026, to find out his fate. The Oklahoma native took a blind plea to a reduced charge of maiming. He was initially charged with aggravated assault and battery. Ethan Treadwell was given a suspended sentence of 25 years in prison, but will only serve 10.
The Ultimate Cowboy Showdown apologized to the victim in court during sentencing. Share your reaction to the shocking case in the comments.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger