Ty Murray finally tied the knot.

The 38-year-old seven-time world all-around champion wed pop star Jewel Kilcher during a private ceremony in the Bahamas on Aug. 7.

When the couple began dating a decade ago, it was curious. Throughout the 1990s, Murray had what seemed to be a solid relationship with a woman who was a former a college rodeo champion. During a 1999 conversation, Murray said they been together for a decade and everything seemed fine. But a short time later, their relationship was over and Murray began dating Jewel.

On the surface, it seemed somewhat out of the ordinary. Here was this pop star dating the most successful rodeo cowboy of our time. However, the more I learned about Jewel, the more I saw that they fit each other like a pair of handmade boots.

Jewel, 34, spent childhood years on an Alaska ranch and always felt at home at Murray’s picturesque 2,200-acre ranch near Stephenville.

Since the couple began their relationship, I’ve seen Jewel at many Professional Bull Riders and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association shows, and she fits right in. She’s graciously used her celebrity to help advance the PBR by regularly attending high-profile events and sometimes singing the national anthem or one of her new songs on the PBR’s national telecasts.

“She’s very supportive,” Murray said of Jewel in a recent interview. “We try to support each other in different ways. She’s gotten a ton of press for the PBR just out of a genuine love and an interest in the sport, and in what we’re doing and trying to build at the PBR.”

Murray, a PBR founding father who continues to advise the association, said Jewel also has benefited from the PBR. In February, she teamed up with the PBR to perform “Stronger Woman,” the first single to be released from her new country-infused album, “Perfectly Clear” at the PBR’s tour stop in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The Winston-Salem show was part of the PBR’s Built Ford Tough Series, the PBR’s top-tier tour. One of the key organizers of the North Carolina show was 1995 world champion Jerome Davis, who has been wheelchair-bound since from a 1998 bull riding accident, and Jewel’s performance was a part of the PBR’s NBC telecast.

In a statement released by the PBR, Jewel said: “The sport has been a huge part of my life for over 10 years. I cannot think of a better place to debut the music from my new record.”

Murray PRCA won world all-around titles in 1989-94 and 1998. He also finished as runner-up in the PBR's 1999 world title race after winning the average title at the World Finals.

Murray is the nephew of former world steer wrestling world champion Butch Myers of Athens (Murray's mother, Joy, is Myers' sister).

Another millionaire

After winning the average titles at the Omak (Wash.) Stampede and in Hermiston last weekend, veteran roper Jeff Chapman of Athens became the 73rd PRCA cowboy to surpass $1 million in career earnings.

Chapman is having a banner season. In the PRCA world tie-down roping standings, he is ranked 10th with $54,663 and he’s on pace to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo. And last month, Chapman earned more than $100,000 after winning the tie-down roping title at the Calgary Stampede Rodeo in Alberta.

In the playoffs

Jeff Chapman and Athens steer wrestler Cash Myers advanced to the Aug. 12-16 Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo, a high-profile invitational rodeo in the PRCA. The rodeo features 36 competitors in each event from the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour, a series of 26 sizable shows, and the March Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho. The Caldwell Rodeo is the first show in the Ariat Playoffs, a series of four PRCA shows that will offer competitors $1.6 million in prize money.

Lowe riding tough

Three-time world champion Will Lowe of Canyon earned $1,014 after tying for first at the Sonora Outlaw ProRodeo aboard a bronc named Sin City. The rodeo was produced by Stace Smith of Athens, the PRCA top stock contractor for the past four years.

Bull riding’s cup

L.J. Jenkins of Texico, N.M., the PBR’s 2006 World Finals average winner, is among five U.S. team members who will compete at the Professional Bull Riders’ World Cup this weekend in Chihuahua, Mexico. The other U.S. team members are defending world champion Justin McBride of Elk City, Okla.; former World Finals qualifiers Kody Lostroh of Longmont, Colo.; J.B. Mauney of Mooresville, N.C.; and Sean Willingham of Summerville, Ga. The U.S. team will compete against teams from Mexico, Brazil, Canada and Australia.

Brett Hoffman is a 20-year rodeo columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. He can be reached at brett@myrodeoinsider.com.