Lane Frost – A Legend, A Legacy – A Documentary Premiere

LANE: Life | Legend | Legacy will premiere on Sunday, Nov. 19 at Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas.

More than thirty-years after his death in Cheyenne, WY, Lane Frost is still one of the most celebrated figures in Western culture. Tuff Hedeman, Frost’s close friend says, “…for those who only know the 8 Seconds side of the story, this is the real story.”

Country music superstar Cody Johnson simply sums it up when he says, “I think it’s important to keep Lane’s story alive because you’re never gonna have another story like it.” 

This is exactly why Tough Draw founders, Brad Hughes and James Trawick, along with producers Chris Juen and Chad Gundersen of the acclaimed series The Chosen and Out of Order Studios began production on a true documentary of Lane’s life in March 2020. In the process they secured interviews with Lane’s parents Clyde and Elsie Frost as well as some of the most iconic names in Bull Riding and the rodeo community including Tuff Hedeman, bull riding champion, Lane’s best friend, Don Gay, iconic champion bull rider, and rodeo legend and country music star Cody Johnson.

Frost once said, I always told myself that if I could be a World Champion, I'd be a good one. Lane also credited three men for his success: "Freckles (Brown) and my Dad are the greatest teachers I ever had. They got me started the right way. Donnie (Gay) came along and put the icing on the cake."

The film features JB Mauney, Stetson Wright, Sage Kimzey, Jose Vitor Leme, Josh Frost, Ky Hamilton, John Crimber, Cody Webster, Lane Johnson (NFL), Cody Johnson, Jeff Medders, Pam Minick and Don “Icing On The Cake” Gay.

Hughes and Trawick believed there had to be more to Frost’s life than what was portrayed in the hit film about Frost, 8 Seconds.

“One of my earliest memories of experiencing movies at a theater was with the film, 8 Seconds. I was six and a half years old at the time, and it’s one of the earliest movies where I ever remember feeling emotion,” says Hughes. “I cried at the end of the movie. I loved it.”

Having watched 8 seconds many times myself, I knew there was much more to Lane’s life. This documentary proves that. In fact, while writing this piece, I received a hand-written note with Lane’s mom’s signature on it. She summed up the documentary succinctly.

Note from Lane's Mother / Elsie Frost

Frost started riding dairy calves around the age of five or six and won his first rodeo awards at just ten years old. In 1981, he became the National High School Bull Riding Champion and the following year he won the title of Riding Champion of the first Youth National Finals in Fort Worth, Texas. Barely 60 years after he was born, and just over 40 years after this first major championship, there is no better place than Fort Worth for the premier of this documentary.

Lane would only ride for about seven more years after winning the Championship in Fort Worth before that fateful day on July 30, 1989 in Cheyenne. In that short time, he would become a beloved friend, world champion, and legend.

Trawick hopes this documentary will “shine a more expansive light on Frost, the humanity of his story and the depth of his character for both his legions of fans and individuals just learning about Frost.”

He succeeded.

Stetson Frost, Lane’s nephew sums it up when he says, “To us this was more than a documentary. It’s a true story of a man going above and beyond, chasing his dreams while trying to navigate being human at the same time. The biggest takeaways we want people to have from Lane is find Jesus, hard work pays off and second chances do exist.”

The documentary is impacting people who had the honor of seeing the private premier viewing on Nov. 5, 2023. Tuff Hedeman commented, “I gotta be honest - it was tough to watch. Half of me was gone when Lane died. This true story tells the real-life drama surrounding Lane’s life. But for those who only know the 8 Seconds side of the story, this is the real story…a tribute to what Lane’s life and career did for his friends, family and generations of bull riders that are still trying to be like him.”

Lane Frost / Jerry Gustafson

Trey Holsten, two-time NFR qualifier and a Lane Frost Brand Athlete said, “Respectfully, this film blows '8 Seconds' out of the water. Raw. Surreal. Can’t wait to watch it again."

Kellie Macy, Lane’s widow, summed it up when she said, “It was a beautiful sight to see…” She continued, “…if I had never been truthful with Lane, his mom would have never gotten the chance to lead him to asking Jesus to be his Savior, he gave his heart to the Lord, if I hadn’t been truthful, six months later where would he be? Not in Heaven…please listen to your heart, it never lies!"

Lane not only had a smile many of us hope for, he had a heart. He had a heart for rodeo, competing, his friends, family and his faith. Trawick said, and I am confident, this is a documentary that “will shine a more expansive light on Frost, the humanity of his story and the depth of his character.” Trawick is right, “…the selfless acts Lane did are still felt by the people that received them today. Lasting impact is possible for all of us, all we have to do is treat each person we meet with dignity and respect, be honest and don't let your ego get in the way of doing what is right.”

Cody Johnson’s song "Leather" made me think of Lane. It took “years of work and dirt and hurt to make him.” And, Lane did have his head on straight and his heart was right. His heart, his forgiveness, and Lane being human is why, 34 years after the whole world fell apart for many people on that fateful day in Cheyenne, he is still holding people together.

If you want to attend the premier, tickets are on sale at www.axs.com. Now until showtime, tickets are 25% off regular price. VIP Seating includes two complimentary drink tickets.