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A live album recorded from the final concert in Arlington titled ''[[The Cowboy Rides Away: Live from AT&T Stadium]]'' was released on September 16, 2014, with DVD/CDs of the concert being released on November 10, 2014, with [[Walmart]] exclusively releasing a deluxe edition including two CDs, as well. This deluxe DVD is the entire over three-hour concert and the accompanying two CDs have 28 of the 40 songs sung that night.<ref name="theboot-stefano"/> On August 29, 2014, the [[Country Music Television]] channel broadcast a two-hour concert special of the event titled ''George Strait: The Cowboy Rides Away''.<ref name="theboot-stefano"/> This CMT concert special had {{frac|1|1|4}} hours of music from the concert and interviews.
A live album recorded from the final concert in Arlington titled ''[[The Cowboy Rides Away: Live from AT&T Stadium]]'' was released on September 16, 2014, with DVD/CDs of the concert being released on November 10, 2014, with [[Walmart]] exclusively releasing a deluxe edition including two CDs, as well. This deluxe DVD is the entire over three-hour concert and the accompanying two CDs have 28 of the 40 songs sung that night.<ref name="theboot-stefano"/> On August 29, 2014, the [[Country Music Television]] channel broadcast a two-hour concert special of the event titled ''George Strait: The Cowboy Rides Away''.<ref name="theboot-stefano"/> This CMT concert special had {{frac|1|1|4}} hours of music from the concert and interviews.


===2020s===
Strait broke the record for most fans at a U.S. concert by a single headlining act on Saturday, June 15, 2024, with a concert at [[Kyle Field]] at [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station, Texas]], with 110,905 fans in attendance. The record was previously held by [[Grateful Dead|The Grateful Dead]] who had 107,019 fans in attendance at their 1977 show at Raceway Park in New Jersey.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://savingcountrymusic.com/the-real-significance-of-george-straits-record-setting-concert/ | title=The REAL Significance of George Strait's Record-Setting Concert - Saving Country Music | date=June 17, 2024 }}</ref> The show also set a new record for Texas A&M’s Kyle Field for most fans at a single event. The previous record was on October 11, 2014, with 110,633 fans, for a [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M football]] game against [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/george-strait-breaks-concert-attendance-record-1235710814/ | title=George Strait Breaks Attendance Record with Largest Concert Ever Held in the U.S. | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>
Strait broke the record for most fans at a U.S. concert by a single headlining act on Saturday, June 15, 2024, with a concert at [[Kyle Field]] at [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station, Texas]], with 110,905 fans in attendance. The record was previously held by [[Grateful Dead|The Grateful Dead]] who had 107,019 fans in attendance at their 1977 show at Raceway Park in New Jersey.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://savingcountrymusic.com/the-real-significance-of-george-straits-record-setting-concert/ | title=The REAL Significance of George Strait's Record-Setting Concert - Saving Country Music | date=June 17, 2024 }}</ref> The show also set a new record for Texas A&M’s Kyle Field for most fans at a single event. The previous record was on October 11, 2014, with 110,633 fans, for a [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M football]] game against [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]].<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/george-strait-breaks-concert-attendance-record-1235710814/ | title=George Strait Breaks Attendance Record with Largest Concert Ever Held in the U.S. | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] }}</ref>


Revision as of 22:40, 22 October 2024

George Strait
A photo of George Strait holding a guitar
Strait performing in 2014
Background information
Birth nameGeorge Harvey Strait Sr.
Born (1952-05-18) May 18, 1952 (age 72)
Poteet, Texas, U.S.
OriginPearsall, Texas[1]
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
  • record producer
  • rancher
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Discography
Years active1976–present
Labels
Member ofAce in the Hole Band
Spouse
Norma Strait
​
(m. 1971)​
Websitewww.georgestrait.com
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1971–1975
Rank Corporal
Unit25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks

George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer.

Strait has sold more than 120 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.[3] He holds the RIAA record for most certified albums by any artist, with 33 different albums that are certified platinum or gold.[4] Considering singles and albums, he has a total of 20 multi-platinum, 33 platinum and 24 gold certification. According to the RIAA, Strait is the 12th best-selling album recording artist in the United States overall selling over 70 million records across the United States.[5]

He is credited for pioneering the neotraditional country style in the 1980s,[6] famed for his authentic cowboy image and roots-oriented sound at a time when the Nashville music industry was dominated by country pop crossover acts. Given his influence on the genre, Strait has been nicknamed the "King of Country Music" by writers and music critics.[7][8][9][10] He currently holds the record for the most number one songs on all charts by an artist, in any genre of music.[7][11]

Strait's career in country music began performing with his band Ace in the Hole in Texas honky-tonks in the 1970s, recording tracks for the Dallas-based independent record label D Records.[2] Strait's success began when his first single "Unwound" was a hit in 1981, helping introduce the neotraditional movement to the mainstream. During the 1980s, seven of his albums reached number one on the country charts. In the 2000s, he was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music, elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and won his first Grammy award for the album Troubadour. Strait was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 2013, and ACM Entertainer of the Year in 1990 and 2014. He has been nominated for more CMA and ACM awards and has more wins in both categories than any other artist.

By 2009, he broke Conway Twitty's previous record for the most number-one hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart when his 44 number one singles surpassed Twitty's 40.[12] Strait has amassed 60 number-one hits.[13] "Give It All We Got Tonight" was number one in 2013,[14] breaking a record also previously set by Twitty. Strait holds the record for most number one songs on all charts by an artist in any genre of music."[7][11]

Strait has been known for his touring career beginning when he designed a 360-degree configuration and introduced festival style tours. For example, the Strait Tours earned $99 million in three years.[15] His final concert for The Cowboy Rides Away Tour at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in June 2014, drew 104,793 people. It set a new record for the largest indoor concert in North America.[16]

In mid-2024, Strait set the record for the largest ticketed concert for a single act in U.S. history, with over 110,905 people at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.[17][18] He additionally was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the same year for its class of 2025.[19]

Early life

George Harvey Strait Sr. was born on May 18, 1952, in Poteet, Texas,[1] to John Byron Strait Sr. (January 11, 1922 – June 4, 2013),[20] and Doris Jean Couser (June 26, 1930 – January 30, 2010).

He grew up in nearby Pearsall, in Frio County[1] where his father was a junior high school mathematics teacher and the owner of a 2,000-acre (810 ha) cattle ranch outside of Big Wells, Texas.[1] The family worked at the ranch on the weekends and in the summers.[1] When George was in the fourth grade, his father and mother were divorced, and his mother moved away with his sister, Pency. George and his brother John "Buddy" Jr. (1950–2009) grew up with their father.[21] For most of his early life, George was in ranching alongside his older brother Buddy and his father John.[22]

Strait began his musical career while attending Pearsall High School, where he performed in a rock and roll garage band, known as the Stoics, taking most of their influence and inspiration from the Beatles and other British Invasion-era rock groups.[23] "The Beatles were big," Strait confirmed. "I listened to them a lot and that whole bunch of groups that were popular then." He performed in other rock bands during his high school tenure.[22] His musical preference soon turned to country with singers Hank Thompson, Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, and Frank Sinatra influencing his style. Strait did not tune in to and listen to country music radio often as a youth, usually selecting the news and the farmer's report instead. His introduction to country music came mostly by way of live performances, which according to Strait could be heard in every town in Texas.[24]

Marriage and military service

He eloped with his high school sweetheart, Norma Voss after their high school graduation.[22] The couple initially married in Mexico on December 4, 1971. In the same year, he enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman. While stationed at Schofield Barracks adjacent to Wahiawa, Hawaii as part of the 25th Infantry Division, George auditioned and began performing with an Army-sponsored country music band, "Rambling Country", which also played off-base under the name "Santee".[22][25] On October 6, 1972, while still in Hawaii, George and Norma had their first child, Jenifer.[26] He served in the United States Army from 1971 to 1975 and ultimately attained the rank of corporal.[27]

Higher education

After George Strait was honorably discharged from the Army in 1975, he enrolled at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos. He graduated with a degree in agriculture.[28] He was also presented an honorary doctoral degree by his alma mater–Texas State University in San Marcos–in a private ceremony on May 26, 2006.[28] Strait is a loyal alumnus of the college; in 1985 he established an endowment fund for the development and operation of the Freeman Ranch for agricultural purposes, land and wildlife management, and gifts of scholarships.[28]

Music career

1970s

George Strait had his first performance at Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, Texas on October 13, 1975.[29]

During his college years, Strait joined the country band Stoney Ridge, answering a flyer the band posted around campus looking for a new vocalist. Strait renamed the group the Ace in the Hole Band, and quickly became the lead; they began to perform at different honky-tonks and bars around south and central Texas, traveling as far east as Huntsville and Houston.[30] They gained a regional following and opened for national acts such as The Texas Playboys. Soon his band was given the opportunity to record several Strait-penned singles, including "That Don't Change The Way I Feel About You" and "I Can't Go On Dying Like This" for the Houston-based D Records independent label. However, the songs never achieved wide recognition, and Strait continued to manage his family cattle ranch during the day to make some extra cash.[30][31]

While he continued to play with his band, without any real connections to the recording industry, Strait became friends with Erv Woolsey, who operated one of the bars in which the Ace in the Hole band played and who had previously worked for the major label MCA Records. Woolsey convinced some of his Music Row (Nashville) connections to come to Texas and to listen to Strait and his band play. Impressed with the performance but concerned that they could not market the Western Swing sound that the band featured, they left without offering a deal.

After several unsuccessful trips to Nashville in search of a record deal in which Strait was turned down by every label in town, he considered giving up music altogether. He was offered a job designing cattle pens and decided to take it. He gave the band notice that he was leaving, but after a discussion with his wife, she convinced him to give pursuing music one more year. Not long afterward, a major label, MCA, signed Strait to a recording contract in February 1981. The initial deal was for one song. If the single did well, the label would consider doing an album.[32] The Ace in the Hole band remained with Strait, performing as the backup and touring band for the now solo career of Strait.[31]

1980s

In the spring of 1981, Strait released his first single for MCA Records, titled "Unwound", which climbed to number six on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart that year and was included on his debut album Strait Country. The record featured two other singles including "Down and Out", a number 16 hit for Strait, and "If You're Thinking You Want a Stranger (There's One Coming Home)".[33]

"Amarillo by Morning," which tells the story of a Texas rodeo cowboy, was originally recorded and written by Terry Stafford in 1973. In 1982, Strait recorded the song with a more Western-based instrumentation. The song has become a signature song associated with Strait; it has been referred as one of the greatest country songs of all time.[34][35]

Strait Country was hailed by critics as being a "new-traditionalist" breakthrough that broke the trend of pop-influenced country prevalent at the time.[33] The critically acclaimed Strait from the Heart, his second album, was released in 1982 and featured the first number-one single of his career, "Fool Hearted Memory" and the top-five Western ballad "Amarillo by Morning" which was originally sung and written by Terry Stafford in 1973. It later became one of Strait's signature songs.[36] In 1983, Strait made his first appearance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, when the headlining star, Eddie Rabbitt became sick with the flu. Performing at that rodeo has since become a mainstay throughout his career. He has made more than 20 appearances at the rodeo and played for more than one million fans.

Strait recorded 17 number ones during the decade, including a string of five that lasted from 1983 to 1984[37] from his next two albums Right or Wrong, his first number-one album and the CMA award-winning Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind. The next year, he won the CMA award for top male vocalist, and released his first greatest hits compilation, which featured songs from his first three albums. Also in 1985, Strait released Something Special, the third-straight number-one album of his career, featuring the number-one single "The Chair".[33] In 1986, Strait repeated as the CMA vocalist of the year and released his fourth number-one album #7.

Strait and his family were struck with tragedy when his 13-year-old daughter, Jenifer, was killed in a one-car, alcohol-unrelated accident in 1986. She was riding in a Ford Mustang driven by Gregory Wilson Allen, 18, of Staples, Texas. Allen was charged with a class A misdemeanor for vehicular homicide. Mike Cox, spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin, said, "The responding trooper determined the cause of accident to be excessive speed and that the car did not negotiate the turn properly. Jenifer was riding in the front passenger seat, and none of the four occupants was wearing seat belts at the time.[38] When the vehicle flipped over onto its passenger's side, Jenifer was partially ejected, killing her on impact.[38][39] The incident caused George to greatly limit his contact with the media. He stopped doing interviews for many years after the accident; he and his family did not wish to discuss Jenifer's death.[40]

George Strait's grief did not hinder his performance, however, or his output; as he released 11 straight number-one hits, starting with "Nobody in His Right Mind Would've Left Her" in 1986 and ending with "Ace in the Hole" in 1989.[37] The singles spanned four albums including #7, Ocean Front Property in 1987, If You Ain't Lovin' You Ain't Livin' in 1988, and 1989's Beyond the Blue Neon, all of which reached the number one spot on country album charts. Ocean Front Property was the first country album to ever debut at number one on the charts by any artist. The streak included such songs as "Ocean Front Property", "All My Ex's Live in Texas", "Famous Last Words of a Fool", and "Baby Blue". Strait finished the decade by winning the CMA Entertainer of the Year award in 1989. One year later, he won the award again.[33]

1990s

Strait performing live at the 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, Maryland on April 7, 2008

Strait began the decade with the release of his 10th studio album, Livin' It Up, which featured two number-one hits, including "Love Without End, Amen", his first multiweek hit, and "I've Come to Expect It From You". Both songs remained first for five weeks in 1990. Chill of an Early Fall shortly followed in 1991, and received positive reviews. Entertainment Weekly noted that the album marked a shift for Strait from "repeating himself" in his previous works to producing different material.[41] It produced the number-one songs "If I Know Me" and "You Know Me Better Than That", but ended his streak of 31 straight top-10 hits with the cover of "Lovesick Blues", which peaked at number 24. The record blocked his run of eight top-charting albums with its peak of number four. In the spring of 1992, Holding My Own was released. It did not produce any number ones, but did include two top-five songs, including "So Much Like My Dad".

Later in 1992, Strait played the main character in the film Pure Country, and released the film's soundtrack. It was his most successful studio album, producing such hits as "Heartland", "I Cross My Heart", and "When Did You Stop Loving Me", and peaked at number one and number six respectively on the Country and Billboard 200 album charts. The success continued with his next album, Easy Come, Easy Go in 1993, which reached the top five on the Billboard 200 and featured the hits "I'd Like to Have That One Back", "The Man in Love with You", and the number-one title track.[33]

His next four albums, including Lead On in 1994, Blue Clear Sky in 1996, Carrying Your Love with Me in 1997, and 1998's One Step at a Time, all charted at number one, with Blue Clear Sky claiming the spot on its debut week, and Carrying Your Love with Me peaking at number one on the Billboard 200 for the first time in Strait's career. This series of albums produced eight number-one singles for Strait, including "You Can't Make a Heart Love Somebody", "Carried Away", "One Night at a Time", and "I Just Want to Dance with You".[33]

During this period, Strait also released a four-disc, box-set career retrospective, Strait Out of the Box, in 1995, which also included two new songs, the top 5 hit "I Know She Still Loves Me" and the No.1 hit "Check Yes or No". It became the second-best selling box set ever with shipments of 8 million in the United States. He was named as the CMA's Top Male Vocalist in 1997 and 1998.[33] Starting in 1997, and continuing until 2001, Strait headlined the George Strait Country Music Festival, which included artists such as Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, and others.[33]

In an effort to introduce these acts to as many fans as possible, the festival promised not to visit any market more than twice. It played only a small number of dates, usually no more than 20 a year, but still managed to be the ninth-biggest grossing tour of 1998.[42]

Strait completed the decade with the album Always Never the Same in 1999, which peaked at number two on country charts and matched the cross-over success of Pure Country by reaching number six on the Billboard 200. The record produced the hits "What Do You Say to That", "Meanwhile", and the number-one "Write This Down". Reviews of the album's material were generally mixed, but Entertainment Weekly observed that at this point in his career, Strait could record the "most lightweight" material and "make it soar" on the radio with his "grace".[41] All in all, Strait scored 17 number-one hits on the Billboard country airplay charts in the decade, and carried his successes into the next century.[21]

2000s

Strait on the Cowboy Rides Away Tour, XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut, February 23, 2013

Strait released a self-titled album in 2000, which despite a number-one and number-seven showing on the country and Billboard 200 album charts, respectively, produced no number-one singles, and was the first studio album of his career to not be certified platinum. The singles "Go On" and "If You Can Do Anything Else" were released from the record, with both peaking in the top five. In May 2001, The Road Less Traveled was released. Reviews for the album were mostly positive; Rolling Stone described it as sticking to the formula, "but adds a few twists that make it superior to his last few releases."[43] It featured "vocal processing", and was considered by some critics as an experimental album.[31] Three singles were released from it, two of which reached number one, including "She'll Leave You with a Smile", his 50th on combined charts and "Living and Living Well", both of which reached the top 30 of Billboard Hot 100, with the former peaking at number 23, Strait's highest rank on the chart. The single "Run" peaked at number two and reached number 34 on the Billboard 100. Strait released two records in 2003. For the Last Time: Live from the Astrodome was a recording of the last Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to take place in the Astrodome. The performance itself set the record for paid attendance at the venue, with 68,266 people, breaking Latin superstar Selena's previous record of about 67,000 in 1995.[44]

His next album, Honkytonkville was described as "a fiery set of hard country", and was praised "for its mixture of the old Strait with his modern, superstar self."[31] It did not produce any number ones for Strait, but included the hits "Cowboys Like Us" and a cover of Bruce Robison's "Desperately". His 2004 performance at Reliant Stadium set a new rodeo attendance record, with 68,679 spectators. That year, he issued a greatest hits package billed as 50 Number Ones, chronicling the number-one hits of his career from all charts, starting with "Fool Hearted Memory" and ending with "She'll Leave You With a Smile." A new track, "I Hate Everything", was also included, and became his 51st overall number one in 2004.

The next year, Somewhere Down in Texas arrived, which produced the hit "You'll Be There", marking Strait's first appearance on the adult contemporary chart. The next year, he embarked on a tour that included only 18 performances, but grossed over $15 million. He attributed this success to the fact that his band and he are "musically very tight", have a large pool of songs to draw from, and perform those songs very similarly to how they sound on their albums.[45]

Strait on the Cowboy Rides Away Tour, XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut, February 23, 2013

On October 3, 2006, Strait marked his 30th year in the music industry with the release of a new album titled It Just Comes Natural. The album was recorded in Key West, Florida, in Jimmy Buffett's Shrimp Boat Sound Studio (said to be a better recording location due to lack of allergy flare-ups during recording process), which was also the recording location of Troubadour.[citation needed] It featured 15 new songs. Strait's long-time friend and songwriter, Dean Dillon, co-wrote two of the songs on the album. It received generally positive reviews from critics. People, in their four-star review, remarked, "If ever there was a natural in country music, it's Strait," while USA Today raved that "he continues to make such consistent quality look easy". The first single from the album, "Give It Away" reached number one, making one of its co-writers, country legend "Whispering Bill" Anderson, the first songwriter to have a number-one hit in five different decades. The title track, "It Just Comes Natural" became his 42nd Billboard number one.[citation needed]

In 2007, "Wrapped" reached number one on the Mediabase 24/7 country music charts, giving Strait his 55th overall number-one single. From January through April of that year, Strait headlined a 23-date arena tour with country-music legend Ronnie Milsap and then-newcomer Taylor Swift. He released a new album titled Troubadour on April 1, 2008. The CD contained 12 tracks, including a duet with Patty Loveless and another with long-time songwriter Dean Dillon. The lead single from the album, "I Saw God Today", debuted at number 19 on the Radio and Records and Billboard charts. It is the highest debut ever for a single from Strait and the fourth-highest debut for a song in country-music history. Troubadour debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 album charts, selling over 160,000 copies in its first week of release. "River of Love", the third single from the album, became his 57th number-one song in 2009.[46]

Strait on the Cowboy Rides Away Tour at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, March 1, 2014

In April 2009, Strait was honored by the Academy of Country Music with the Artist of the Decade Award, which was presented to Strait by the previous ACM Artist of the Decade, Garth Brooks. In June of that year, he headlined the first event at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Strait's single "Living for the Night" was released on May 28, 2009, and was written by Strait, his son Bubba, and Dean Dillon. The song was the lead single from his album Twang, released on August 11, 2009. Twang was certified gold for selling over 500,000 copies.[citation needed]

2010s

In 2010, Billboard ranked Strait number one in the top-25 country artists of the past 25 years.[47] On September 6, 2011, Strait released the album, Here for a Good Time, which yielded two number-one singles—"Here for a Good Time" and "Love's Gonna Make It Alright"—bringing Strait's number-one singles total to 59. The album's third single, "Drinkin' Man", was less successful, peaking at number 37.

In October 2012, Strait released the single "Give It All We Got Tonight",[48] which was included on his album Love Is Everything, released on May 14, 2013. The song initiated a "60 for 60" movement by Strait's label, to make the song his 60th number-one single on all country charts while he was still 60 years old.[49] The song reached the top of the Mediabase charts in May 2013. The album's next single, "I Believe", reached number 50 on the U.S. Country Airplay chart, making it Strait's first single to miss the top 40. Strait won the 2013 CMA Entertainer of the Year award.

In November 2013, Billboard presented Strait with its Legend of Live honor during the 10th annual Billboard Touring Awards ceremony.[50] The award honors the concert industry's top artist based on Billboard's Boxscore chart and box-office performance.[51] Strait is the first country artist to receive Billboard's highest touring accolade.[52] On April 19, 2015, Strait made a guest appearance at the 2015 ACM Awards, he performed "All My Ex's Lives in Texas" and his new single "Let it Go".[53]

In 2016, Strait was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", for a mash-up track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again", and "I Will Always Love You", which celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards.[54]

In 2018, Strait released a single called "Codigo", after a brand of tequila produced by a company in which he had invested.[55]

The Cowboy Rides Away Tour

Main article: The Cowboy Rides Away Tour
Strait on the Cowboy Rides Away Tour, XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut, February 23, 2013

On September 26, 2012, Strait announced that he was retiring from touring, and that his Cowboy Rides Away Tour would be his last.[56][57][58] Tickets for both arenas and stadiums on the Cowboy Rides Away Tour sold out in a matter of hours. The tour started on January 18, 2013, in Lubbock, Texas, and was divided into two legs: 21 concerts in 2013 and 26 concerts in 2014. The tour ended in Arlington, Texas, on June 7, 2014. Strait was supported on the tour by his longtime 11-member touring group, the Ace in the Hole Band. For the 2013 leg, Martina McBride was the opening performer.[56]

On January 9, 2014, Strait initiated the second leg of the tour, which featured the opening performers Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack, Merle Haggard, Chris Young, Ronnie Dunn, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, and Asleep at the Wheel.[59] Many of these performers gathered together for the tour's final concert in Arlington, Texas on June 7, before 104,793 fans - at the time the largest ticketed attendance ever at a single-headlining act concert in the United States. Strait would then break his own record, ten years later. The concert also set a record for the largest gross at a single-show country concert, $18,194,374, and broke the 33-year-old record as well for "largest indoor concert ever," easily surpassing the 87,500 fans who attended the December 5, 1981, Rolling Stones concert at the New Orleans Superdome (opening acts, The Neville Brothers, followed by George Thorogood and the Destroyers).

A live album recorded from the final concert in Arlington titled The Cowboy Rides Away: Live from AT&T Stadium was released on September 16, 2014, with DVD/CDs of the concert being released on November 10, 2014, with Walmart exclusively releasing a deluxe edition including two CDs, as well. This deluxe DVD is the entire over three-hour concert and the accompanying two CDs have 28 of the 40 songs sung that night.[60] On August 29, 2014, the Country Music Television channel broadcast a two-hour concert special of the event titled George Strait: The Cowboy Rides Away.[60] This CMT concert special had 1+1⁄4 hours of music from the concert and interviews.

2020s

Strait broke the record for most fans at a U.S. concert by a single headlining act on Saturday, June 15, 2024, with a concert at Kyle Field at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, with 110,905 fans in attendance. The record was previously held by The Grateful Dead who had 107,019 fans in attendance at their 1977 show at Raceway Park in New Jersey.[61] The show also set a new record for Texas A&M’s Kyle Field for most fans at a single event. The previous record was on October 11, 2014, with 110,633 fans, for a Texas A&M football game against Ole Miss.[62]

Musical style

Strait's style of country music has been largely labeled as neotraditional country, which relies on traditional instrumentation in country music, i.e. fiddle and pedal steel guitar.[63][6][64] His style has also been labeled as Texas country, Western swing,[2][63] and honky-tonk.[63][2]

Personal life

Strait at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in 2005

Strait eloped in Mexico with his high school sweetheart Norma in December 1971.[65] Their first child, Jenifer, was born on October 6, 1972. Their son, George Harvey Strait Jr., known as "Bubba", was born in 1981.[66]

Jenifer was killed in an automobile accident in San Marcos on June 25, 1986, at age 13. The family set up the Jenifer Lyn Strait Foundation, which donates money to children's charities in the San Antonio area.[67] George Strait Jr., who is a graduate of Texas A&M, competed as a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association team-roping competitor.[68] Strait was able to watch his son compete at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 2006 shortly before taking the stage for his own performance.[69]

On April 10, 2009, John Byron "Buddy" Strait, who was George's older brother, died at the age of 58.

Since 2010, Strait has served as spokesman for the Wrangler National Patriot program, a campaign designed to raise awareness and funds for America's wounded and fallen military veterans and their families.[70] Strait says, "I've been a part of the Wrangler family for a long time... when they came to me with the idea for supporting fallen and wounded American veterans and their families, I knew I wanted to get involved."[70] He also appeared in commercials for Tractor Supply Company.[71]

In February 2012, Strait became a grandfather when George Strait Jr. and his wife Tamara had their first child, a son, George Harvey Strait III.[72]

From 1983 through 2017, Strait hosted a prestigious, annual team-roping event; The George Strait Team Roping Classic. It was originally held in Kingsville, Texas, but then took place for several years at the San Antonio Rose Palace.[73]

Vaqueros del Mar 5, George Strait auctions off his boots for the troops: George Strait, Tom Cusick, David Feherty

Strait owns a Gulfstream G450 business jet; its tail number is N518GS.[74] His personal aircraft is housed at the Landmark Aviation facility in San Antonio. He teamed up with Texas Governor Greg Abbott to help with disaster relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey which devastated coastal areas of Texas.[75]

Strait along with long-time friend and business partner Tom Cusick created the Vaqueros Del Mar (Cowboys of the Sea) Invitational Golf Tournament and Concert held annually at Strait and Cusick's Texas Hill Country resort Tapatio Springs Resort near Boerne, Texas. The Invitational raises money for David Feherty's Troops First Foundation, benefiting wounded servicemen, servicewomen and their families. Since its beginning in 2012, more than US$5 million have been raised by the events.[76][77][78] In January 2018, George Strait was named the 2018 Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference, a statewide group of business and political leaders. Strait was honored for his fundraising efforts in the wake of the widespread flooding following Hurricane Harvey.[79][80]

Discography

Main articles: George Strait albums discography and George Strait singles discography

In more than 30 years of recording, all of which have been spent with MCA Records, George Strait has garnered 61 number-one songs on all country charts (including Mediabase 24/7, the former Radio & Records chart, and the now-defunct Gavin Report chart), and has more number-one hits than any other artist in a single genre. His 44 Billboard country number-one hits are a record, four more than Conway Twitty's total that includes several duets with Loretta Lynn.[81] Additionally, Strait is also the first artist in the history of Billboard to have at least one single enter the top 10 of a Billboard chart for 30 consecutive years, starting in 1981 when his debut single "Unwound" peaked at number six on the Hot Country Singles chart. All of his top-10 singles have been on that chart.[82] Strait has sold more than 70 million records in the United States alone,[83] and his certifications from the RIAA include 13 multiplatinum, 33 platinum, and 38 gold albums.[84]

Filmography

Strait has acted in several films. He had a bit part in The Soldier (1982) and starred in Pure Country (1992). He also appeared as himself in Grand Champion (2002).

The film Pure Country featured George Strait in the lead role as Dusty Chandler, a famous country singer who strays too far from his country roots and traditional sound. It provided the opportunity for Strait to branch out from his own traditional country sound for a more rock-and-roll approach. The film had little success at the box office and took in only $15 million, but the soundtrack also called Pure Country, produced several hit singles for Strait. It has become his best-selling album to date. Strait had a limited role in the sequel to Pure Country, Pure Country 2: The Gift.[85]

Year Title Role
1982 The Soldier Himself
1992 Pure Country Wyatt "Dusty" Chandler
2002 Grand Champion Himself
2003 King of the Hill Voice of Cornell
2010 Pure Country 2: The Gift Himself

Honors and awards

George Strait Country Music Hall of Fame plaque

Strait holds the record for most number-one albums and singles, gold albums, platinum albums, and multiplatinum albums in the history of country music, and is 11th in the most number-one albums in all other genres. Strait is third only to Elvis Presley and The Beatles with the most gold and platinum albums in the history of music.[86] Strait has been certified as the 12th-best selling artist in American history, with career record sales of 70 million in the United States.[87]

Strait has held the world record for most number one hit singles across all charts and genres with 60 number-one hits since 2013,[7][11] and is the only artist in the history of music of any kind to have a top-10 hit every year for 30 years. He is also second all-time in top-10 hits in the history of music, currently five away from breaking the all-time record held by Eddy Arnold, who had 92 in his historic career. Strait has won 22 CMA Awards, including consecutive Entertainer of the Year honors in 1989 and 1990, and also just recently won that same honor in 2013 (and is the only artist to win the top honor in three different decades) and holds the career record for CMA nominations (as a whole) and the most consecutively of all time.

As of 2009, he holds the record for the most CMA awards. Strait also holds those same records for wins and nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards. Strait was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006, performing his then-latest number-one hit "Give it Away" right before accepting his replica Hall of Fame plaque at the 40th CMA Awards. He was only the second artist (after Eddy Arnold in 1966) to be inducted into the Hall of Fame while still actively recording and producing chart-topping hits and albums.

As of June 8, 2010, Strait was named the top country-music artist of the past 25 years according to Billboard. In October 2008, the Academy of Country Music Awards named Strait their Artist of the Decade for the 2000s. He was presented the award by the previous winner Garth Brooks. Past winners of the award are Marty Robbins (1960s), Loretta Lynn (1970s), Alabama (1980s), and Garth Brooks (1990s).[88] With the win of the entertainer-of-the-year award in 2013, he is the only artist to ever win that award in three different decades and also was the oldest winner. The win is currently the longest span between wins for that award, as well. Strait is also tied with Merle Haggard for the most male vocalist-of-the-year awards.

On June 1, 2013, Strait appeared at the Alamodome, in San Antonio, Texas, before 70,000 fans in the last concert of the first half of his two-year farewell tour. Governor Rick Perry, who was in attendance with First Lady Anita Thigpen Perry, announced that May 18, Strait's birthday, would be "George Strait Day" in Texas each year.[89]

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Strait at number 156 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[90]

Year Award Category Work Ref
1985 Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist — [91]
1985 Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year — [92]
1985 Country Music Association Album of the Year Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind [92]
1986 Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist — [91]
1986 Academy of Country Music Album of the Year Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind [91]
1986 Music City News Country Male Artist of the Year —
1986 Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year — [92]
1986 Billboard Year-End Awards Top Country Artist —
1987 Billboard Year-End Awards Top Country Artist —
1988 Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist — [91]
1989 Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year — [92]
1989 Special Connie B. Gay Award —
1989 Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year — [91]
1989 Special Presidential American Success Award —
1990 Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year — [92]
1990 Radio & Records Country Performer of the Year —
1991 American Music Awards Favorite Country Male Artist —
1993 Academy of Country Music Tex Ritter Movie of the Year Pure Country [91]
1995 Academy of Country Music Single of the Year "Check Yes or No" [91]
1995 ASCAP Voice Of Music Award —
1996 TNN/Music City News Video of the Year "Check Yes or No"
1996 TNN/Music City News Single of the Year "Check Yes or No"
1996 TNN/Music City News Album of the Year Lead On
1996 Music City News Country Single of the Year "Check Yes or No"
1996 Country Music Association Single of the Year "Check Yes or No" [92]
1996 Country Music Association Album of the Year Blue Clear Sky [92]
1996 Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year — [92]
1996 Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist — [91]
1996 Academy of Country Music Album of the Year Blue Clear Sky [91]
1996 Radio & Records Best Single "Check Yes or No" [91]
1996 Radio & Records Best Male Vocalist —
1996 Radio & Records Most Valuable Performer —
1997 TNN/Music City News Album of the Year Blue Clear Sky
1997 Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year — [92]
1997 Country Music Association Album of the Year Carrying Your Love With Me [92]
1997 American Music Awards Favorite Country Album Blue Clear Sky
1997 Academy of Country Music Top Male Vocalist — [91]
1997 Academy of Country Music Album of the Year Carrying Your Love With Me [91]
1997 Radio & Records Best Album Blue Clear Sky
1997 Radio & Records Best Male Vocalist —
1998 Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year — [92]
1998 American Music Awards Favorite Country Male Artist —
1998 American Music Awards Favorite Country Album Carrying Your Love With Me
1998 Radio & Records Best Male Vocalist —
1999 Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards Favorite Song "I Just Want to Dance with You"
1999 Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards Favorite Line Dance Song "I Just Want to Dance with You"
1999 Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards Favorite Video Entertainer —
1999 Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards Favorite Male Artist —
1999 Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards Favorite Entertainer —
1999 Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards Album of the Year One Step at a Time
2000 Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards Impact Artist of the Year —
2000 Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards Single of the Year "Write This Down"
2000 Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards Male Artist of the Year —
2000 Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards Entertainer of the Year —
2000 Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards Album of the Year Always Never The Same
2000 Country Music Association Vocal Event of the Year "Murder on Music Row" (with Alan Jackson) [92]
2001 Country Music Association Song of the Year "Murder On Music Row" (awarded to songwriters) [92]
2002 Country Weekly Favorite Collaborative Song "Designated Drinker" (with Alan Jackson)
2003 CMT 40 Greatest Men of Country Music Ranked No. 9[citation needed] —
2003 Academy of Country Music Special Achievement Award (in recognition of 50 No. 1 Songs) — [91]
2003 Special Award National Medal of Arts —
2004 Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame — [93]
2005 Country Music Association Musical Event of the Year "Good News, Bad News" (with Lee Ann Womack) [92]
2006 Honorary Doctoral Degree Texas State University–San Marcos —
2006 Country Music Hall of Fame Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame —
2006 Academy of Country Music Single Record of the Year (artist) "Give It Away" [92]
2006 Academy of Country Music Single Record of the Year (producer) "Give It Away" [92]
2006 Academy of Country Music Song of the Year (artist) "Give It Away" [92]
2007 Country Music Association Song of the Year "Give It Away" (awarded to songwriter Jamey Johnson) [92]
2007 Country Music Association Album of the Year It Just Comes Natural (for artist and producer) [92]
2008 Country Music Association Single of the Year "I Saw God Today" [92]
2008 Country Music Association Album of the Year Troubadour [92]
2009 Grammy Awards Best Country Album Troubadour
2009 Academy of Country Music Artist of the Decade — [91]
2010 Billboard.com Top Country Artist of the Past 25 Years — [94]
2013 Country Radio Broadcasters Inc. Country Radio Broadcasters Career Achievement Award —
2013 ASCAP ASCAP Founders Award —
2013 Billboard Touring Awards Legend of Live Award —
2013 Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year — [92]
2014 Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year — [91]
2015 Academy of Country Music 50th Anniversary Milestone Award Winner — [91]
2017 Academy of Country Music Cliffie Stone Icon Award — [91]
2020 Billboard Music Awards Top Country Tour
2021 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Western Heritage Awards Lifetime Achievement Award [95]
2024 Hollywood Walk of Fame Inducted into Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2025 [19]

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Sources

  • Bego, Mark (2001). George Strait: The Story of Country's Living Legend. New York: Citadel Press. ISBN 978-0-8065-2258-6.
  • Dickinson, Chris (2012). Kingsbury, Paul (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-539563-1.
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