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Who Is George Strait?
George Strait is a legendary country music singer who began his career while serving in the U.S. Army. His rise to fame came in the 1980s after signing a recording contract with MCA Records, and he has since become one of the most influential artists in the country music genre. Known for his commitment to the traditional country sound, Strait has produced numerous chart-topping albums and won multiple awards throughout his career. His achievements include the biggest-selling boxed set in country music history, solidifying his legacy as the “King of Country.”
Early Life
Born on May 18, 1952, in Poteet, Texas, George Strait was raised on a family farm in Pearsall, Texas. He pursued agricultural studies at Southwest Texas State University but his passion for music emerged early. Strait eloped with his high school sweetheart, Norma, before enlisting in the U.S. Army. While stationed in Hawaii, he performed with an Army-sponsored band, Rambling Country. Upon returning to Texas, he formed his own group, Ace in the Hole, which quickly built a strong local following and laid the groundwork for his illustrious career in country music.
Commercial Breakthrough
After years of striving for a record deal, George Strait secured a solo contract with MCA Records in 1981. His debut album, Strait Country (1981), featuring the hit single “Unwound,” played a pivotal role in reviving traditional country music by boosting its radio presence. Over the following decade, Strait released a series of No. 1 albums, including Strait From the Heart (1982), Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind (1984), Something Special (1985), Ocean Front Property (1987), and Beyond the Blue Neon (1989), all of which achieved platinum or multi-platinum certification. In 1989, he was honored as the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year, an award he earned again in 1990.
Acting Debut
Strait made his acting debut in 1992 with the motion picture Pure Country, recording several hit songs for its soundtrack, including “I Cross My Heart,” “Heartland,” “Where the Sidewalk Ends,” and “The King of Broken Hearts.” In 1995, Strait released Strait Out of the Box, a four-disc career retrospective that sold over five million copies, making it the biggest-selling box set in country music history. During the late 1990s, he continued to release successful albums, such as Blue Clear Sky (1996), Carrying Your Love With Me (1997), and One Step at a Time (1998). His 2000 self-titled album produced several hit singles, including “Go On” and “If It’s Gonna Rain.”
Later Albums
Entering the new millennium, Strait’s popularity showed no signs of slowing down. His album The Road Less Traveled (2001) produced two No. 1 singles: “She’ll Leave You with a Smile” and “Living and Living Well.” The album also achieved platinum status. His 2003 release, Honkytonkville, included the hits “Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa” and “Cowboys Like Us.” That year, Strait was awarded the National Medal of the Arts by President George W. Bush.
In 2005, Somewhere Down in Texas became another commercial success, fueled by singles such as “You’ll Be There” and “She Let Herself Go.” The duet “Good News, Bad News,” with Lee Ann Womack, won the CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year. Strait followed up with It Just Comes Natural (2006), which featured chart-topping singles, including the title track and “Give It Away.” This album earned Strait two CMA Awards and led to his induction into the CMA Hall of Fame.
Awards and Accolades
Strait remains a dominant figure in country music. His 2008 album, Troubadour, debuted at No. 1 on the country charts, with its lead single, “I Saw God Today,” reaching the top of the charts as well. In September of that year, he received CMA awards for Album of the Year and Single of the Year. In 2009, Strait was awarded a Grammy for Troubadour and was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music. He has also earned the title of CMA Entertainer of the Year three times, most recently in 2013. In 2014, Strait was named Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
That same year, Strait embarked on his final tour, The Cowboy Rides Away, concluding with a sold-out performance at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, attended by over 100,000 fans. Although he stepped away from touring, Strait remains committed to releasing music, with five more albums contracted under MCA Records.
Personal Life
Outside of his music career, Strait enjoys steer roping, golf, and skiing. He and his wife, Norma, have one son, George Jr., who is pursuing a professional rodeo career. In 1986, Strait’s daughter, Jennifer, tragically died in a car accident. In her memory, the family established the Jennifer Lynn Strait Foundation, which raises funds for children’s charities.