GEORGE STRAIT – PART 3 BEGINS
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.
Music & Awards – ACM 50th Anniversary Milestone Award – 2015 – An Academy of Country Music Production Special – “George Strait: 21 MCA Awards Spanning 4 Decades”
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Music – CMA Awards Special – 2017 – A CMAVEVO Production Special – “Artists Of Then, Now & Forever – Forever Country” – Wonderful Overlay of “Take Me Home Country Road” + “I Will Always Love You” + “On The Road Again”
In 2018, Strait released a single called “Codigo”, after a brand of tequila produced by a company in which he had invested.
Music – Official Music Video – 2023 – From the Album Honky Tonk Time Machine – George Strait – “Codigo” – A Tribute To His Favorite Drink
On September 26, 2012, Strait announced that he was retiring from touring, …..and that his Cowboy Rides Away Tour would be his last. 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…..with 21 concerts in 2013 and 26 concerts in 2014….. as the tour ended in Arlington, Texas, on June 7, 2014…..while Strait was supported on the tour by his longtime 11-member touring group, the Ace in the Hole Band…..then for the 2013 leg, Martina McBride was the opening act.
Music – Live on Austin City Limits – 1989 – George Strait & The Ace In The Hole Band – Entire Show
Music – Live in Concert in Oklahoma City, OK – 2013 – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait – “This Is Where The Cowboy Rides Away”
Music – Live in Concert in Oklahoma City, OK – 2013 – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait – “I’ll Always Remember You”
Music – Live in Concert in Boise, Idaho – 2013 – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait – “The Chair” & “How About Them Cowgirls”
Music – Live in Concert in Las Vegas, NV – 2017 – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait & Dean Dillon – “Easy Come, Easy Go” + “Here For A Good Time”
Music – Live in Concert in San Antonio, TX – 2013 – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait – “The Chair” & “Dance time in Texas”
On January 9, 2014, Strait initiated the 2nd 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…..when many of these country artists gathered together for the tour’s final concert in Arlington, Texas on June 7, before 104,793 fans…..which is the largest ticketed attendance ever at a single concert in the United States. 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.
Music – Live in Concert in Arlington, TX – 2014 – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait & His Son Bubba Duet – “Arkansas Dan”
Music – Live in Concert at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA – 2014 – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait & Martina McBride Duet – “Jackson” & “Golden Rings”
Music – Live in Concert in Arlington, TX – 2014 – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait – “I Believe”
Music – Live in Concert – 2014 – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait – “There Stands A Glass”
Music – Live in Concert – 2016 – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait – “Mama Tried” & “Working Man Blues” – In A Tribute To Merle Haggard
Music – Live in Concert in New Orleans – 2018 – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait – “Sing Me Back Home” – In A Tribute To Merle Haggard
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 CD’s as well. This deluxe DVD is the entire over three-hour concert…..and the two CD’s that accompanied have 28 of the 40 songs sung that night. 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. This CMT concert special had 1+1⁄4 hours of music from the concert and interviews.
Music – Live in Concert at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX – 2014 – The Cowboy Rides Away Tour (Final Stop) – George Strait plus Jason Aldean + Kenny Chesney + Eric Church + Ronnie Dunn + Vince Gill + Faith Hill + Alan Jackson + Miranda Lambert + Martina McBride – Entire Concert
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…..while his style has also been labeled as Texas Country, Western Swing and Honky-Tonk.
Music – Live Full Concert at the ACL Festival in Zilker Park, Austin, TX – 2021 – George Strait & His Ace In The Hole Band
Strait eloped in Mexico with his high school sweetheart Norma in December 1971. Their first child, Jenifer, was born on October 6, 1972. Their son, George Harvey Strait Jr., known as “Bubba”, was born in 1981. Jenifer was killed in an automobile accident in San Marcos on June 25, 1986, at age 13. The family set up the Jenifer Lynn Strait Foundation…..which donates money to children’s charities in the San Antonio area. George Strait Jr., who is a graduate of Texas State University, competed as a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association team-roping competitor. 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. 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.
Music – Special Dedication – December 4, 2021 – A GS fan films Production Special – “George Strait’s 50th Anniversary Dedication to His Wife Norma” – Very Beautiful!!!
Music – Live in Concert at Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX – 2009 – George Strait – “Living For The Night”
Since 2010, Strait has served as spokesman for the VF Corporation’s Wrangler National Patriot program…..which is a campaign designed to raise awareness and funds for America’s wounded and fallen military veterans and their families. 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.” He also appeared in commercials for Tractor Supply Company.
TV Ads & Music – 1995 – George Strait for Wrangler Jeans
TV Ads & Music – 2002 – George Strait for Tractor Supply Company
TV Ads & Music – 2914 – George Strait & Trevor Brazile for Wrangler Jeans – Long Live Cowboys
TV Ads & Music – Public Service Announcement – 2010 – George Strait for Water Conservation
Strait owns a Gulfstream G450 business jet with its tail number N518GS 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. 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…..as the Invitational raises money for David Feherty’s Troops First Foundation benefiting wounded servicemen, servicewomen and their families…..and since its beginning in 2012 has raised more than $5 million. In January 2018, George Strait was named the 2018 Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference…..which is a statewide group of business and political leaders…..as Strait was being honored for his fundraising efforts in the wake of the widespread flooding following Hurricane Harvey.
Music – Live Strait From Texas Mini Concert at the Erwin Center’s 40th Anniversary Show – 2018 – George Strait & Asleep at the Wheel – Entire Program
In more than 30 years of recording…..which have all been spent with MCA Records…..while George Strait has garnered 61 # 1 songs on all country charts (including Mediabase 24/7, the former Radio & Records chart and the now-defunct Gavin Report chart)…..plus, he has more # 1 hits than any other artist in a single genre. His 44 Billboard country # 1 hits are a record…..with four more than Conway Twitty’s total that includes several duets with Loretta Lynn. Additionally, Strait is also the 1st artist in the history of Billboard to have at least one single enter the top 10 of a Billboard chart for 30 consecutive years…..when starting in 1981 as his debut single “Unwound” peaked at # 6 on the Hot Country Singles chart. All of his top-10 singles have been on that chart. Strait has sold more than 68 million records in the United States alone…..and his certifications from the RIAA include 13 multiplatinum, 33 platinum, and 38 gold albums.
Music – Live in Concert in Las Vegas – 2018 – George Strait – “I Ain’t Her Cowboy Anymore” & “Take Me Back To Texas”
Music – Live in Concert in Las Vegas – 2018 – George Strait – “Old Violin”
Music – Live in Concert in Las Vegas T Mobile Center – 2018 – George Strait – “Wrapped”
Strait has acted in several films…..with a bit part in The Soldier in 1982…..and he starred in Pure Country in 1992…..while he also appeared as himself in Grand Champion in 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…..which provided the opportunity for Strait to branch out from his own traditional country sound for a more rock-and-roll approach…..albeit 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…..as 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.
Movie & Music – Movie Clip – 1982 – From the Movie The Soldier – Scene In The Honky Tonk With George Strait On Stage Singing “Fool Hearted Memory”
Movie & Music – Movie Clip – 1992 – From the Movie Pure Country – Scene With George Strait On Stage Singing in the Lady in the Bar Club “I Cross My Heart”
Music & Movie – Official Theatrical Trailer – 1992 – For the Movie “Pure Country” – Starring George Strait + Lesley Anne Warren + Isabel Glasser
Music & Movie – Official Movie Trailer – 2002 – For the Movie “Grand Champion” – Starring George Strait + Joey Lauren Adams + Emma Roberts + Jacob Fisher + George Strait
Strait holds the record for most # 1 albums and singles, gold albums, platinum albums and multiplatinum albums in the history of country music …..and is 11th in the most # 1 albums in all other genres…..while being 3rd only to Elvis Presley and The Beatles with the most gold and platinum albums in the history of music. Strait has been certified as the 12th-best selling artist in American history…..with career record sales of 70 million in the United States.
Music – Rare Interview – 2016 – A Tennessean Production Special – “George Strait: On Why Love Is Everything”
Music – Special – 2022 – A Taste of Country Production Special – “George Strait: Let’s 20,000 Fans Know How He Feels About His Wife on Their 50th Anniversary”
Strait has held the world record for most # 1 hit singles across all charts and genres with 60 # 1 hits since 2013…..while being 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 2nd all-time in top-10 hits in the history of music…..plus, he is currently only 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…..plus he also just recently won that same honor in 2013…..and is the only artist to win the top honor in 3 different decades…..while holding the career record for CMA nominations (as a whole)…..and the most consecutively of all time. Heck, it’s my guess he will cut another album before 2030…..while will go to # 1 and he’ll become the the only artist to win in 4 different decades.
Music – Rare Interview – 1986 – An Entertainment Tonight Production Special – “George Strait: On His Meteoric Rise To The Top & Whether He Wears Pajamas”
Music & News – 2018 – A Star News Today Production Special – “George Strait: Influenced by His Faith, His Devotion to His Wife and the Loss of His Daughter.”
Music & Rodeo – George Strait Team Roping Competition – 2017 – A RodeoReed Production Special – “George Strait: Behind the Scenes with Rodeo Reed + George Strait”
Music & Rodeo – 2009 – A ACM – Academy of Country Music Production Special – “George Strait: On His Roping Ranch in Texas, Talks About Being Named ACM Artist of the Decade.”
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. He was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006 …..where he performed his then-latest # 1 hit “Give it Away” right before accepting his replica Hall of Fame plaque at the 40th CMA Awards. He was only the 2nd 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.
Music & Interviews – 2009 – A Great American Country Production Special – “Garth Brooks: On The Honor of Presenting George Strait With the CMA Entertainer of the Decade Award”
Music – Lifestyle Profile – 2020 – A CountryFancast Production Special – “George Strait: On His Ranch In Texas”
Music – Special – 2021 – A I Love Country Music Production Special – “George Strait: How He Spends His Millions”
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 2000’s…..as he was presented the award by the previous winner Garth Brooks…..with past winners of the award like Marty Robbins (1960’s), Loretta Lynn (1970’s), Alabama (1980’s), and Garth Brooks (1990’s).
Music – Live in Concert at the Houston Rodeo at the Astrodome, Houston, Texas – 1985 – George Strait & his Ace in the Hole Band – Part 1
Music – Live in Concert at the Houston Rodeo at the Astrodome, Houston, Texas – 1985 – George Strait & his Ace in the Hole Band – Part 2
With his win of the Entertainer of the Year award in 2013, he is the only artist to ever win that award in three different decades…..while also being the oldest winner…..plus, 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.
Music & Awards – Live at the Country Music Association Awards – 2013 – ABC’s Robin Roberts Presents George Strait With The CMA Entertainer of the Year Award
On June 1, 2013, Strait appeared at the Alamodome, in San Antonio, Texas, before 70,000 fans in the last concert of the 1st half of his two-year farewell tour…..when Texas 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.
Music & News – 2013 – A KABB FOX San Antonio Production Special Report – “George Strait: Live at the Alamo Dome”
Music – Live in Concert at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, TX – A The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Production Special – George Strait – “Heartland”
On October 1st and October 8th, 2021, George Strait and the Ace In The Hole Band appeared at the Austin City Limits Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas…..and we were “up front and personal” with the stage for an incredible performance by the King of Country Music in our own back yard. It was truly a night to remember as evidence by this video of his entire show.
Music – Live at the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, TX – 2021 – George Strait – The King of Country Music
In April of 1922, George Strait performed live at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas…..and the highlight of the concert was when Willie Nelson and George Strait sang 3 duets together…..yep, two of Austin’s Very Favorite Sons, Willie Nelson at age 90 and George Strait at 72…..who are two of the biggest icons of country music ever…..while onstage in Austin singing “Pancho & Lefty”….. “Good Hearted Woman”…..and…..”Sing One With Willie”…..as this series of videos has a very warm place in the hearts of Austinites and Central Texans all over the world.
Music – Live in Concert at Moody Center in Austin, TX – 2022 – George Strait & Willie Nelson Duet – “Pancho and Lefty”
Music – Live in Concert at Moody Center in Austin, TX – 2022 – George Strait & Willie Nelson Duet – “Good Hearted Woman”
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Strait at number 156 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time…..but that is sure to change as evidenced by his newest album Honky Tonk Time Machine…..which was in March of 2023…..as it is obvious that he career in not even close to being over….while featuring songs like “Sing One With Willie (Nelson duet)”…..”Codico”, his favorite drink….“God and Country Music”, which serves as a beautiful sermon of life…..”The Weight of the Badge”, as his tribute to our police, firemen, 1st responders…..plus, “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar”, with just another George Strait “boot scootin’ special”…..like so many others throughout his career.
Music – Live at the Broken Spoke Honky Tonk Bar and Dance Hall – 2023 – From the Album Honky Tonk Time Machine – George Strait & Willie Nelson Duet – “Sing One With Willie”
Music – Official Music Audio – 2023 – From the Album Honky Tonk Time Machine – George Strait – “God And Country Music” – A Testament To His Faith
Music – Official Audio – 2023 – From the Album Honky Tonk Time Machine – George Strait – “Honky Tonk Time Machine”
Music – Official Audio – 2023 – From the Album Honky Tonk Time Machine – George Strait – “Sometimes Love”
Music – Official Audio – 2023 – From the Album Honky Tonk Time Machine – George Strait – “What Goes Up”
Bringing this post about The King of Country Music to a conclusion is a bittersweet moment for us here at ImaSportsPhile because George Strait is and will forever be “Our Singling Cowboy” back home in Austin and Central Texas…..cuz we have spent the past half century listening and “boot scootin’ to his music with our favorite gal doing some “thigh huggin'” while sashshaying around the dance floors of honky-tonks in Texas. The truth be known, George is the classiest person in country music…..with never a word of gossip about him….. You know he’s a special kind of talent when he’s being played on the Oldies stations while he’s still currently racking up # 1 hits. George is a true entertainer…..who doesn’t need all the smoke and lights and jumping around on the stage…..cuz you just give him some Wranglers jeans, a cowboy hat and a guitar and you’ve got a show to remember. You never hear ,read or see anything negative or bad about this man…..and that is almost nonexistent in any famous career…..as I truly believe that he is a Christian who practices what he preaches…..while his father and mother are to be commended for raising such a man with a pure heart and a beautiful soul. You look at George and you see a strong man with the heart of a Angel…..when you know that they broke the mold when the future King of Country Music was born. George Strait is called a legend of country music for a reason…..cuz he never puts out a bad song…..while all of his songs are real, pure country songs…..which tell real stories that many of us can relate to. Imagine how much better our world would be if everyone were to follow his lead…..with so much deeper, so much more beautiful peace, hope, faith, love through all of time…..and honestly no matter how old he gets, his music never changes. Many of his songs bring back a lot of memories for me…..as he knows exactly how to touch a person’s heart…..when God blessed the world when He gave you that one of a kind voice…..with simple, elegant, heart-felt, gorgeous production and flawless vocal…..who can sing on key every time. George Strait is for country music what Frank Sinatra is for pop music…..as he only gets better with age and every song he does…..and you simply just can’t pick one favorite song. He’s just incredible! A man standing at the mic, his guitar, his voice and a great band…..who will always be King George…..as pure perfection…..with no auto tune, no overdubs…..but just a great, great band and a super singer with perfect pitch…..while doing songs with heart and soul…..which is music you can feel. One of the most unique things about George Strait is his ability to make music in the tradition of Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, George Jones, and Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys…..while George Strait keeps it traditional and of course, country…..as his style of country music and in particular, western swing are truly flawless…..while Hank, Lefty, George and Bob Wills would be proud of him. Since I’ve followed his music for many many years…..and can safely say that he is always a lot of fun and on target …..plus, his music won’t grow old either…..while always giving tribute to his favorite country artists…..and he also picked an old tribute to his band naming each person individually…..which is old school with all THE GREATS. He is just the best in the West or any place else…..who is also hugely gifted and talented…..which are small words to describe George Strait. We at ImaSportsPhile are so glad that George is a Son of Texas! Gracias ,George Strait…..cuz you will always be the best and such a huge talent…..plus, an outstanding role model for his choosing clean lyrics, great arrangements, delivery while being saddled with a voice that is incomparable…..and you are a good husband and dad…..for George Strait, you are the best, beyond being The King of Country Music.
Music – Live at CMA Awards Show – 2023 – From the Album Love is Everything – George Strait – “I Got A Car”
Music – Live at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ – 2023 – From the Album Love is Everything – George Strait – “When The Credits Roll”
Music – Live at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ – 2023 – From the Album Love is Everything – George Strait & Chris Stapleton – “You Don’t Know What You’re Missing”
Music – Live at T Mobile Stadium in Las Vegas, NV – 2023 – From the Album Honky Tonk Time Machine – George Strait – “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar”
