View source for George Strait

{{short description|American country music singer (born 1952)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = George Strait
| background        = solo_singer
| image             = File:George Strait 2014 1.jpg
| alt               = A photo of George Strait playing a guitar
| caption           = Strait in 2014
| birth_name        = George Harvey Strait
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1952|05|18}}
| birth_place       = [[Poteet, Texas]], U.S.<!--As per WP:LINKDIRECT and Template:infobox person, birth/death place indicates city, state, then country. No need to spell out "United States; 'U.S.' is fine.-->
| origin            = [[Pearsall, Texas]]{{sfn|Bego|2001|p=7}}
| spouse            = {{marriage|Norma Strait|1971}}
| genre             = {{flatlist| <!-- DO ''not'' add country music, as Strait's form of country music is often neotraditional country -->
* [[Neotraditional country]]
* [[Texas country music|Texas country]]
* [[Western swing]]
* [[Honky-tonk#music|honky-tonk]]
}}
| discography       = {{hlist|[[George Strait albums discography|Albums]]|[[George Strait singles discography|singles]]}}
| occupations       = {{flatlist|
* Singer 
* songwriter 
* actor
* record producer
* rancher
}}
| instruments       = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar
}}
| years_active      = 1976–present
| label             = {{flatlist|
* [[D Records]]<ref name="erlewineart"/>
* [[MCA Records|MCA]] ([[Universal Music Group Nashville|MCA Nashville]])<!--please don't change, MCA and MCA Nashville are different-->
}}
| current_member_of = [[Ace in the Hole Band]]
| website           = {{URL|georgestrait.com}}
| module            = {{Infobox military person |embed=yes
| allegiance    = [[United States]]
| branch        = [[United States Army]]
| unit          = [[25th Infantry Division (United States)|25th Infantry Division]], [[Schofield Barracks]]
| rank          = [[File:Army-USA-OR-04a (Army greens).svg|23px]] [[Corporal#United_States_Army|Corporal]]
| serviceyears  = 1971–1975
}}
| module2          = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
 | signature       = George Strait sig.svg
 }} 
}}
'''George Harvey Strait Sr.''' (born May 18, 1952) is an American [[country music]] singer, songwriter, actor, music producer, and rancher. 

Strait has sold over 120 million records worldwide, making him one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling music artists]] of all time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Live at Texas Stadium |url=https://www.georgestrait.com/the-music-albums/live-at-texas-stadium/ |access-date=July 18, 2022 |work=georgestrait.com}}</ref> He holds the [[RIAA]] record for most certified albums by any artist, with 33 different albums that are certified platinum or gold.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold & Platinum |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=George+strait#search_section |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=RIAA |language=en-US}}</ref> Considering singles and albums, he has a total of 20 multi-platinum, 33 platinum and 24 gold certifications. 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.<ref name="RIAA-Albums">{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=top_tallies&ttt=TAA |access-date=March 11, 2022 |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]}}</ref>

He is credited for pioneering the [[neotraditional country]] style in the 1980s,<ref name="dicaire">{{cite book |last1=Dicaire |first1=David |title=The New Generation of Country Music Stars |date=August 18, 2008 |publisher=McFarland, Incorporated |isbn=9780786437870 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8lWQBQAAQBAJ&q=George%20Strait |access-date=November 11, 2022}}</ref> famed for his authentic cowboy image and roots-oriented sound at a time when the [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] music industry was dominated by [[country pop]] crossover acts. Given his influence on the genre, Strait has been nicknamed the "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|King of Country Music]]" by writers and music critics. He currently holds the record for the most (60) number one songs on all charts by an artist, in any genre of music,<ref name="UDiscoverMusic" /><ref name="radio-60" /> including a record 44 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs]] chart. He has been nominated for 16 [[Grammy Awards]], winning his first and only award for [[Grammy Award for Best Country Album|Best Country Album]] in 2009 with his album ''[[Troubadour (George Strait album)|Troubadour]]''.<ref name="grammynoms">{{cite web |title=George Strait |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/george-strait/16096 |website=[[Grammy Awards]] |access-date=May 18, 2025}}</ref>

Strait's career in country music began performing with his band [[Ace in the Hole Band|Ace in the Hole]] in Texas [[honky-tonk]]s in the 1970s, recording tracks for the [[Houston]]-based [[independent record label]] [[D Records]].<ref name="erlewineart"/> While working on ranches across Texas in his 20s during the day, Strait performed with the Ace in the Hole during nights and the weekend. By the late 1970s, Strait caught the interest of former [[MCA Records]] executive Erv Woosley, who became Strait's longtime manager and helped him with signing to MCA Records.<ref name="Lambourne">{{cite web |last1=Lambourne |first1=Aidan |title=Even Before He Was A Country Star, George Strait Was A Cowboy — See The Job He Had Before Making It Big |url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/even-before-he-was-a-country-star-george-strait-was-a-cowboy-see-the-job-he-had-before-making-it-big/ |website=Wide Open Country |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref>

Strait's commercial success began when his first major label single "[[Unwound (song)|Unwound]]" was a minor hit in 1981 and scored his first number one country radio hit with "[[Fool Hearted Memory]]" in 1982, introducing the neotraditional country style 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. Strait was named [[Country Music Association Awards|CMA]] Entertainer of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 2013, and [[Academy of Country Music|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.

Strait became known for his touring career after he designed a 360-degree configuration and introduced festival style tours.<ref name="billboard-waddell"/> His final concert, for [[The Cowboy Rides Away Tour]] at [[AT&T Stadium]], drew 104,793 people, setting a new record for the largest indoor concert in North America.<ref name="dmn-tipping" /> 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]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2024-06-16 |title=George Strait Breaks Attendance Record With Largest Concert Ever Held in the U.S. |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/george-strait-breaks-concert-attendance-record-1235710814/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-17 |title=George Strait sets record for biggest ticketed concert in U.S. history |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/george-strait-sets-record-for-biggest-ticketed-concert-in-us-history/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He additionally was inducted into the  [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in the same year for its class of 2025.<ref name="simmerman">{{cite news |last1=Simmerman |first1=Alexis |title=STATE Country music's George Strait to be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2024/06/26/george-strait-hollywood-walk-of-fame-class-of-2025-inductee-country-music-artist-concert-kyle-field/74219486007/ |access-date=September 18, 2024 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=June 26, 2024}}</ref>

==Early life==
George Harvey Strait was born on May 18, 1952, in [[Poteet, Texas|Poteet]], [[Texas]],{{sfn|Bego|2001|p=7}} to John Byron Strait Sr. (January 11, 1922 – June 4, 2013),<ref name="cmt-father"/> and Doris Jean Couser (June 26, 1930 – January 30, 2010). He is a second cousin of [[Jackie Bezos]], mother of billionaire businessman [[Jeff Bezos]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/entertainment/2021/07/28/jeff-bezos-george-strait-cousin-case-you-forgot/5390908001/|title=In case you forgot, Jeff Bezos is still George Strait's cousin|first=Ella Malena|last=Feldman|website=Austin American-Statesman}}</ref>

He grew up in nearby [[Pearsall, Texas|Pearsall]], in [[Frio County, Texas|Frio County]],{{sfn|Bego|2001|p=7}} where his father was a junior high school mathematics teacher and the owner of a {{convert|2000|acre|ha|adj=mid}} cattle ranch outside of [[Big Wells, Texas|Big Wells]], Texas.{{sfn|Bego|2001|p=7}} The family worked at the ranch on the weekends and in the summers.{{sfn|Bego|2001|p=7}} 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.<ref name="cmt-about"/> For most of his early life, George was in ranching alongside his older brother Buddy and his father John.<ref name="CMHOF">{{cite web |title=George Strait |url=https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/hall-of-fame/george-strait |website=[[Country Music Hall of Fame]] |access-date=December 17, 2023}}</ref>

Strait began his musical career while attending Pearsall High School, where he performed in a [[rock and roll]] [[Garage rock|garage band]], known as the Stoics, taking most of their influence and inspiration from [[the Beatles]] and other [[British Invasion]]-era rock groups.<ref name="allmusic-erlewine"/> "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.<ref name="CMHOF"/> His musical preference soon turned to country with singers [[Hank Thompson (musician)|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.<ref name="usa-mccafferty" />

==Marriage and military service==
He eloped with his high school sweetheart, Norma Voss after their high school graduation.<ref name="CMHOF"/> 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 (United States)|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.<ref name="CMHOF"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/george-strait-country-artists-who-have-served/ |title=Country Artists Who Have Served: George Strait |first=Billy |last=Dukes |year=2012 |website=tasteofcountry.com |access-date=January 28, 2021}}</ref> On October 6, 1972, while still in Hawaii, George and Norma had their first child, Jenifer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/norma-strait-bio/ |title=Meet George Strait's Other Half, Norma Strait |first=Kelli |last=McDonald |year=2018 |website=countrywide.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203065255/https://www.wideopencountry.com/norma-strait-bio/ |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=May 3, 2020}}</ref> He served in the United States Army from 1971 to 1975 and ultimately attained the rank of corporal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=353230|title=Shadow box|website=Army.togetherness.com|access-date=September 28, 2019|archive-date=December 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202051820/https://army.togetherweserved.com/army/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=353230|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==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, Texas|San Marcos]]. He graduated with a degree in agriculture.<ref name=swt>{{cite web |url=https://www.txstate.edu/news/news_releases/news_archive/2006/05/StraightDoctorate053006.html |title=Country superstar Strait receives honorary doctorate |date=May 30, 2006 |website=www.txstate.edu |language=en |access-date=January 19, 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922221943/https://www.txstate.edu/news/news_releases/news_archive/2006/05/StraightDoctorate053006.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref name="swt" /> 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.<ref name="swt" />
==Music career==
===1970s===
[[File:Cheatham Street Warehouse West Entrance 2020.jpg|thumb|left|George Strait had his first performance at [[Cheatham Street Warehouse]] in [[San Marcos, Texas]] on October 13, 1975.<ref name="cheathamhistory">{{cite web |title=History |url=https://cheathamstreet.com/history |website=[[Cheatham Street Warehouse]] |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>]]
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-tonk]]s and bars around south and central Texas, traveling as far east as [[Huntsville, Texas|Huntsville]] and [[Houston]].<ref name="album-notes-box"/> They gained a regional following and opened for national acts such as [[The Texas Playboys]] and [[Asleep at the Wheel]].<ref name="spong">{{cite news |last1=Spong |first1=John |title=How a Band of Hippies and Potheads Kept Western Swing Alive |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/how-band-hippies-potheads-kept-western-swing-alive/ |access-date=November 20, 2024 |work=[[Texas Monthly]] |date=December 2021}}</ref> 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 record label|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.<ref name="album-notes-box"/><ref name="erlewine"/> 

[[File:Asleep at the Wheel 1976.JPG|thumb|right|[[Western swing]] band [[Asleep at the Wheel]], pictured here in 1976, featured George Strait as an opening act during his early years performing in the 1970s. Asleep at the Wheel has in return, been an opening act for Strait in later years.<ref name="spong"/>]]

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 with [[Kent Finlay]], owner of the Cheatham Street Warehouse, in search of a major label record deal in which Strait was turned down by every label in town, he considered giving up music altogether.<ref name="cooperTN14">{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Peter |title=George Strait's career has endured like no other |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/peter-cooper/2014/03/20/george-straits-career-endured-like/6676485/ |access-date=July 13, 2025 |work=[[The Tennessean]] |date=March 20, 2014}}</ref> He was offered a job designing [[Cattle-pen|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 Records|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.<ref name="billboard-1981"/> The Ace in the Hole band remained with Strait, performing as the backup and touring band for the now solo career of Strait.<ref name="erlewine"/>

===1980s===
In the spring of 1981, Strait released his first single for MCA Records, titled "[[Unwound (song)|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)]]".<ref name="allmusic-erlewine"/>

[[File:2006-07-28 - United States - Wyoming - Cody - Rodeo - Cowboy.jpg|thumb|right|"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 music (North America)|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.<ref name="wocABM">{{cite web |last1=Sparkman |first1=Darby |title='Amarillo by Morning': The Story Behind George Strait's Ode to the Rodeo |url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/amarillo-by-morning/ |website=Wide Open Country |access-date=October 15, 2023 |date=August 3, 2022}}</ref><ref name="tennbestcoiuntry">{{cite news |title=What are the all-time greatest country songs? These 100 top our list |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/08/25/best-country-music-songs-all-time/1760586001/ |access-date=October 15, 2023 |work=[[The Tennessean]] |date=August 25, 2019}}</ref>]]

''Strait Country'' was hailed by critics as being a "new-traditionalist" breakthrough that broke the trend of pop-influenced country prevalent at the time.<ref name="allmusic-erlewine"/> 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 (genre)|Western]] ballad "[[Amarillo by Morning (song)|Amarillo by Morning]]" which was originally sung and written by [[Terry Stafford]] in 1973. It later became one of Strait's [[signature song]]s.<ref name="dawson">{{cite web |last1=Dawson |first1=Elisabeth |title=George Strait: 10 Prime Hits |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1732434/george-strait-10-prime-hits/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114225737/http://www.cmt.com/news/1732434/george-strait-10-prime-hits/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |quote="You can smell the truck stop coffee when you hear this lonely anthem that became one of Strait’s signature songs after it was released in 1983." |website=[[Country Music Television|CMT]] |access-date=April 29, 2021}}</ref> 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<ref name="cmt-lp-discography"/> from his next two albums ''[[Right or Wrong (George Strait album)|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 (George Strait album)|greatest hits compilation]], which featured songs from his first three albums. Also in 1985, Strait released ''[[Something Special (George Strait album)|Something Special]]'', the third-straight number-one album of his career, featuring the number-one single "[[The Chair (song)|The Chair]]".<ref name="allmusic-erlewine"/> In 1986, Strait repeated as the CMA vocalist of the year and released his fourth number-one album ''[[7 (George Strait 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.<ref name="philly-daughter"/> When the vehicle flipped over onto its passenger's side, Jenifer was partially ejected, killing her on impact.<ref name="philly-daughter"/><ref name="straight-fever"/> 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.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/george-strait-on-the-record-and-lawrence-wright-on-texas|title=George Strait on the Record, and Lawrence Wright on Texas|first=David|last=Remnick|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=July 28, 2017|access-date=January 28, 2021}}</ref>

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 (George Strait song)|Ace in the Hole]]" in 1989.<ref name="cmt-lp-discography"/> 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 (song)|Ocean Front Property]]", "[[All My Ex's Live in Texas]]", "[[Famous Last Words of a Fool]]", and "[[Baby Blue (George Strait song)|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.<ref name="allmusic-erlewine"/>

===1990s===
[[File:George Strait on stage.jpg|thumb|upright|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 (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.<ref name="ew-nash"/> 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 (George Strait song)|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|''Billboard'' 200]] album charts. The success continued with his next album, ''[[Easy Come, Easy Go (George Strait 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.<ref name="allmusic-erlewine"/>

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 (George Strait album)|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 (George Strait song)|Carried Away]]", "[[One Night at a Time]]", and "[[I Just Want to Dance with You]]".<ref name="allmusic-erlewine"/>

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.<ref name="allmusic-erlewine"/> 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.<ref name="allmusic-erlewine"/>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://math.illinoisstate.edu/day/courses/old/312/toursdata.html |title=Top concert tours of North America in 1998 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=December 28, 1998 |website=<!--Not stated--> |access-date=January 28, 2021 |quote=<!--Not stated--> |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307165510/https://math.illinoisstate.edu/day/courses/old/312/toursdata.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Strait completed the decade with the album ''[[Always Never the Same (George Strait 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 (George Strait song)|Meanwhile]]", and the number-one "[[Write This Down (song)|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".<ref name="ew-nash"/> 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.<ref name="cmt-about"/>

===2000s===
[[File:George Strait 2013 5.JPG|thumb|Strait on the Cowboy Rides Away Tour, XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut, February 23, 2013]]
Strait released a [[George Strait (album)|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 (George Strait album)|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."<ref name="rs-dresdale"/> It featured "vocal processing", and was considered by some critics as an experimental album.<ref name="erlewine"/> 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|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], with the former peaking at number 23, Strait's highest rank on the chart. The single "[[Run (George Strait song)|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/culture/main/article/On-this-day-in-2002-George-Strait-shut-down-the-6113271.php|title=On this day in 2002, George Strait shut down the Astrodome|date=March 3, 2015|publisher=Houston Chronicle|access-date=January 28, 2021}}</ref>

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."<ref name="erlewine"/> It did not produce any number ones for Strait, but included the hits "[[Cowboys Like Us]]" and a cover of [[Bruce Robison]]'s "[[Desperately (George Strait song)|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 (song)|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&nbsp;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.<ref name="gactv-stark"/>

[[File:George Strait 2014 3.jpg|thumb|upright|left|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|date=January 2018}} 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 (magazine)|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 (George Strait song)|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 (song)|It Just Comes Natural]]" became his 42nd ''Billboard'' number one.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

In 2007, "[[Wrapped (George Strait song)|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 (George Strait album)|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.<ref name="cmt-morris"/>
[[File:George Strait 2014 2.jpg|thumb|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 (album)|Twang]]'', released on August 11, 2009. ''Twang'' was certified gold for selling over 500,000 copies.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} By 2009, he broke [[Conway Twitty]]'s previous record for the most number-one hits on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s [[Hot Country Songs]] chart when his 44 number one singles surpassed Twitty's 40.<ref name="billboard-2010" /> 

=== 2010s ===
In 2010, ''Billboard'' ranked Strait number one in the top-25 country artists of the past 25 years.<ref name="billboard-2009"/> On September 6, 2011, Strait released the album, ''[[Here for a Good Time (album)|Here for a Good Time]]'', which yielded two number-one singles—"[[Here for a Good Time (song)|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]]",<ref name="gs-give"/> which was included on his album ''[[Love Is Everything (George Strait 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.<ref name="theboot-thompson"/> The song reached the top of the ''[[Mediabase]]'' charts in May 2013. The album's next single, "[[I Believe (George Strait song)|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.<ref name="cmt-legend" /> The award honors the concert industry's top artist based on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Boxscore chart and box-office performance.<ref name="music-row-hollabaugh" /> Strait is the first country artist to receive ''Billboard''{{'}}s highest touring accolade.<ref name="usatoday-mansfield" /> 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 (George Strait song)|Let it Go]]".<ref name="people-mcafee" />

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 (Willie Nelson song)|On the Road Again]]", and "[[I Will Always Love You]]", which celebrates 50 years of the [[CMA Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/scenes-cmas-historic-music-video-featuring-30-country/story?id=42129062|title=30 Country Music Stars Join Forces for Historic CMA Music Video|date=September 22, 2016|work=ABC News|access-date=September 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115165209/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/scenes-cmas-historic-music-video-featuring-30-country/story?id=42129062|archive-date=November 15, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, Strait released a single called "Codigo", after a brand of [[tequila]] produced by a company in which he had invested.<ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Chamberlain|date=December 20, 2018|title=Còdigo is more than just a George Strait song... it's his brand of tequila|url=https://www.soundslikenashville.com/food-drink/codigo-george-strait-song-tequila/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221224152/https://www.soundslikenashville.com/food-drink/codigo-george-strait-song-tequila/|archive-date=February 21, 2019|website=Sounds like Nashville|access-date=February 21, 2019}}</ref>

===The Cowboy Rides Away Tour===
{{Main|The Cowboy Rides Away Tour}}
[[File:George Strait 2013 2.JPG|thumb|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.<ref name="cowboy-rides-away"/><ref name="musicrow-skates"/><ref name="gs-tour-dates"/> 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.<ref name="cowboy-rides-away"/>

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 (singer)|Chris Young]], [[Ronnie Dunn]], [[Luke Bryan]], [[Tim McGraw]], [[Kenny Chesney]], [[Alan Jackson]], and [[Asleep at the Wheel]].<ref name="billboard-duffy"/> 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 both the largest attendance at a single-headliner concert in the United States, and the largest ticketed attendance ever at a concert in a stadium in the United States. Strait would then break both his own records ten years later, at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. 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, [[The Rolling Stones|Rolling Stones]] concert at the New Orleans [[Caesars Superdome|Superdome]] (opening acts, [[The Neville Brothers]], followed by [[George Thorogood|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.<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 Old Bridge Township, New Jersey. 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> On July 27, 2025 Strait organized an intimate relief concert in [[Boerne, Texas|Boerne]] to aid in the relief efforts in central Texas communities affected by the [[July 2025 Central Texas floods]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Christopher |date=2025-07-28 |title=Garth Brooks surprises Boerne crowd, joins George Strait in heartfelt flood relief concert |url=https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/garth-brooks-surprises-boerne-crowd-joins-george-strait-in-heartfelt-flood-relief-concert-texas-hill-country-flooding-camp-mystic-songs-fans |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=WOAI |language=en}}</ref> In total the concert raised $6.25M.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-28 |title=George Strait raises $6.25M for victims of Hill Country flooding |url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/state/texas-news/texas-flood/george-strait-benefit-concernt-texas-floods/285-7a2affda-bd1a-44aa-ac22-f717fe6f803f |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=khou.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

That attendance record stood until Saturday, September 27, 2025 when Zach Bryan performed a concert at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, once again breaking the record for…largest attendance ever at a U.S. ticketed concert with a single headlining act. He played to an announced crowd of 112,408. It was only the second concert in the 98-year history of the venue, but the first by a headlining act.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clickondetroit.com/entertainment/2025/09/28/zach-bryan-takes-over-michigan-stadium-in-ann-arbor-for-record-breaking-concert/|title=Zach Bryan takes over Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor for record-breaking concert|first=Noelle|last=Friel|date=September 28, 2025|website=Clickondetroit.com|access-date=October 21, 2025}}</ref>

== Musical style and influences ==
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]].<ref name="UTexasCMP">{{cite web |last1=Kern |first1=Holly |last2=Gurwitz |first2=Zane |last3=Markey |first3=MaKayla |title=Neo-Traditionalism |url=https://sites.dwrl.utexas.edu/countrymusic/the-history/new-traditionalism/ |website=Country Music Project |publisher=[[University of Texas, Austin]] |access-date=October 15, 2023 |date=September 22, 2014}}</ref><ref name="dicaire"/><ref name="neotradsilva">{{cite web |last1=Silva |first1=Robert |title=History of Neotraditional Country Music |url=https://www.liveabout.com/history-of-neotraditional-country-music-931987 |website=LiveAbout.com |access-date=March 15, 2022 |date=March 17, 2017}}</ref> His style has also been labeled as [[Texas country music|Texas country]], [[Western swing]],<ref name="erlewineart"/><ref name="UTexasCMP"/> and [[Honky tonk music|honky-tonk]].<ref name="UTexasCMP"/><ref name="erlewineart">{{cite web |last1=Erlewine |first1=Stephen |title=George Strait |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/george-strait-mn0000944084 |website=AllMusic |access-date=July 13, 2020}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
George Strait has been cited as an influence by country artists such as [[Clint Black]],<ref name=mitchell1989>{{citation |last=Mitchell |first=Rick |title=Clint Black sees stardom in the offing: First album by Katy, Texas country performer proves that he's for real |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |date=July 2, 1989 |page=Zest, p. 9 |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1989_634276 |access-date=April 9, 2009}}</ref> [[Rick Trevino]],<ref name="capozzoli">{{cite news |last1=Capozzoli |first1=Michael |title=All Country Rick Trevino’s Roots Are In Country Music And That’s Where He Intends To Stay |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/aug/30/all-country-rick-trevinos-roots-are-in-country/ |access-date=October 15, 2025 |work=The Spokesman Review |date=August 30, 1995}}</ref> [[Lee Ann Womack]],<ref name="kjcleeann">{{cite web |last1=Coyne |first1=Kevin John |title=100 Greatest Women, #16: Lee Ann Womack |url=https://www.countryuniverse.net/2018/09/09/100-greatest-women-16-lee-ann-womack/ |website=Country Universe |access-date=October 15, 2025 |date=September 9, 2018}}</ref> [[Alan Jackson]],<ref name="bryant">{{cite web |last1=Bryant |first1=Manly |title=Alan Jackson Reveals George Strait Was “One Of The Reasons” He Moved To Nashville |url=https://classiccountrymusic.com/alan-jackson-reveals-george-strait-was-one-of-the-reasons-he-moved-to-nashville/ |website=Classic Country Music |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref> [[Mark Chesnutt]],<ref name="gibsonMC">{{cite web |last1=Gibson |first1=Donald |title=An Interview with Mark Chesnutt |url=https://www.writeonmusic.com/2016/07/an-interview-with-mark-chesnutt.html |website=Write On Music |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref> [[Evan Felker]] of the [[Turnpike Troubadours]],<ref name="ASTT">{{cite web |last1=Maxwell |first1=Emily |title=Turnpike Troubadours |url=https://americansongwriter.com/writer-week-turnpike-troubadors/ |website=American Songwriter |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref> [[Parker McCollum]],<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/parker-mccollum-handle-on-you-makin-tracks-interview-1235135424/|title=Makin' Tracks: Parker McCollum Gets a 'Handle' on His George Strait Influences| magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=September 7, 2022|access-date=March 23, 2023|author=Tom Roland}}</ref> [[Charley Crockett]],<ref name="crabtreecc">{{cite web |last1=Crabtree |first1=Mary Claire |title=Charley Crockett On Cutting The George Strait Hit “Amarillo By Morning” For New Album: “These Kids Don’t Know This Song” |url=https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2025/03/12/charley-crockett-on-cutting-the-george-strait-hit-amarillo-by-morning-for-new-album-these-kids-dont-know-this-fing-song/ |website=Whiskey Riff |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref> [[Zach Top]],<ref name="edwardsZT">{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=Clayton |title=“I’m an Idiot”: Zach Top Admits He Still Gets Starstruck Around His Country Music Heroes, Talks Meeting George Strait, Vince Gill |url=https://americansongwriter.com/im-an-idiot-zach-top-admits-he-still-gets-starstruck-around-his-country-music-heroes-talks-meeting-george-strait-vince-gill/ |website=American Songwriter |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref> and [[Kacey Musgraves]].<ref name="TOCKM">{{cite web |last1=Alex |first1=Sam |title=Kacey Musgraves on Her Christmas Album and Touring With George Strait |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/kacey-musgraves-christmas-album-george-strait-interview/ |website=Taste of Country |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:George strait 2005 cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|Strait at the [[San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo]] in 2005]]
Strait eloped in Mexico with his high school sweetheart Norma in December 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a44796/george-norma-strait-love-story/|title=Every Hopeless Romantic Should Read George and Norma Strait's Love Story|first=Maria|last=Carter|date=September 14, 2017|website=Country Living|access-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150359/https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/a44796/george-norma-strait-love-story/|archive-date=March 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Their first child, Jenifer, was born on October 6, 1972. Their son, George Harvey Strait Jr., known as "Bubba", was born in 1981.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Netemeyer|first1=Sarah|title=Meet George Strait's wife, Norma Strait|url=http://countryfancast.com/george-strait-wife-norma|access-date=May 16, 2017|publisher=Country Fancast|date=May 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603073513/http://countryfancast.com/george-strait-wife-norma/|archive-date=June 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

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.<ref name="rachel-joy-scott"/> George Strait Jr., who is a graduate of [[Texas A&M]], competed as a [[Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association]] [[team roping|team-roping]] competitor.<ref name="wgna-strait-heir"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abc13.com/archive/8656783/|title=Rodeo announces special guest George Strait to perform in 2013 – ABC13 Houston Archive|website=Abc13.com|access-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329122302/https://abc13.com/archive/8656783/|archive-date=March 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

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 (brand)|Wrangler]] National Patriot program, a campaign designed to raise awareness and funds for America's wounded and fallen military veterans and their families.<ref name="american-profile-vets"/> 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."<ref name="american-profile-vets"/> He also appeared in commercials for [[Tractor Supply Company]].<ref>{{Citation|title=2002 Tractor Supply Company Commercial (with George Strait)| date=April 4, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGrE13JSpUA|language=en|access-date=2022-02-15}}</ref>

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.<ref name="after-midnight-garner"/> 

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]].<ref>{{cite web|title=George Strait Team Roping comes to a close|url=https://ropesmart.com/george-strait-team-roping-comes-to-a-close/|website=RopeSmart|access-date=September 14, 2024}}</ref>

[[File:George Strait Auctions his Boots for the Troops.jpg|thumb|right|Vaqueros del Mar 5, George Strait auctions off his boots for the troops: George Strait (in orange cap), [[Tom Cusick]], [[David Feherty]]]]

Strait owns a Gulfstream G450 business jet; its tail number is N518GS.{{cn|date=November 2025}} 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kristv.com/story/36421540/king-of-country-george-strait-gov-greg-abbott-visit-rockport|title=King of Country George Strait, Gov. Greg Abbott visit Rockport|website=Kristv.com|access-date=November 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119055428/http://www.kristv.com/story/36421540/king-of-country-george-strait-gov-greg-abbott-visit-rockport|archive-date=November 19, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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&nbsp;million have been raised by the events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tapatioresort.com/photo-gallery/vaqueros-del-mar-invitational.php|title=Vaqueros Del Mar Invitational Photo Gallery|website=Tapatioresort.com|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111052746/http://www.tapatioresort.com/photo-gallery/vaqueros-del-mar-invitational.php|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countryschatter.com/2017/11/george-straits-7th-annual-vaqueros-del-mar-invitational-raises-1-5-million/|title=George Strait's 7th Annual Vaqueros Del Mar Invitational raises $1.5+ Million|date=November 3, 2017|website=Countryschatter.com|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111110222/http://www.countryschatter.com/2017/11/george-straits-7th-annual-vaqueros-del-mar-invitational-raises-1-5-million/|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/171154/george-strait-raises-over-1-5-million-in-seventh-a|title=George Strait Raises Over $1.5 Million in Seventh Annual 'Vaqueros Del Mar Invitational'|website=Allaccess.com|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111165012/https://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/171154/george-strait-raises-over-1-5-million-in-seventh-a|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1789200/george-strait-named-2018-texan-of-the-year/|title=George Strait Named 2018 Texan of the Year|publisher=Country Music Television|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111165053/http://www.cmt.com/news/1789200/george-strait-named-2018-texan-of-the-year/|archive-date=January 11, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/george-strait-named-texan-of-the-year-w513341|title=George Strait Named 'Texan of the Year'|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202220847/https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/george-strait-named-texan-of-the-year-w513341|archive-date=February 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|George Strait albums discography|George Strait singles discography|}}
In more than 30 years of recording, all of which have been spent with MCA Records, George Strait has garnered 60 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]].<ref name="american-chronicle-stark"/> 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.<ref name="cmt-30-consecutive"/> Strait has sold more than 70&nbsp;million records in the United States alone,<ref name="riaa-top-selling"/> and his certifications from the RIAA include 13 multiplatinum, 33 platinum, and 38 gold albums.<ref name="riaa-top-awarded"/>

{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* ''[[Strait Country]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Strait from the Heart]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Right or Wrong (George Strait album)|Right or Wrong]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Something Special (George Strait album)|Something Special]]'' (1985)
* ''[[7 (George Strait album)|#7]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Ocean Front Property]]'' (1987)
* ''[[If You Ain't Lovin' You Ain't Livin']]'' (1988)
* ''[[Beyond the Blue Neon]]'' (1989)
* ''[[Livin' It Up (album)|Livin' It Up]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Chill of an Early Fall]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Holding My Own]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Pure Country (soundtrack)|Pure Country]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Easy Come Easy Go (George Strait album)|Easy Come Easy Go]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Lead On]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Blue Clear Sky]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Carrying Your Love with Me]]'' (1997)
* ''[[One Step at a Time (George Strait album)|One Step at a Time]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Always Never the Same (George Strait album)|Always Never the Same]]'' (1999)
* ''[[George Strait (album)|George Strait]]'' (2000)
* ''[[The Road Less Traveled (George Strait album)|The Road Less Traveled]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Honkytonkville]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Somewhere Down in Texas]]'' (2005)
* ''[[It Just Comes Natural]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Troubadour (George Strait album)|Troubadour]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Twang (album)|Twang]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Here for a Good Time]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Love Is Everything (George Strait album)|Love Is Everything]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Cold Beer Conversation]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Honky Tonk Time Machine]]'' (2019)
* ''[[Cowboys and Dreamers]]'' (2024)
{{Div col end}}
*

== Filmography ==

Strait has acted in several films. He had a [[bit part]] in ''[[The Soldier (1982 film)|The Soldier]]'' (1982) and starred in ''[[Pure Country (film)|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&nbsp;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''.<ref name="cmt-new-film"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:50px;"|Year
! style="width:200px;"|Title
! style="width:200px;"|Role
|-
|1982 ||''[[The Soldier (1982 film)|The Soldier]]'' ||Himself
|-
|1992 ||''[[Pure Country (film)|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 ==

[[File:Hall of Fame Rotunda.jpg|thumb|upright|George Strait [[Country Music Hall of Fame]] plaque]]
Given his influence on the genre, Strait has been nicknamed the "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|King of Country Music]]" by writers and music critics.<ref name="UDiscoverMusic">{{cite web|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=George Strait |url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/artist/george-strait/ |website=[[UDiscoverMusic]] |access-date=June 12, 2022 |date=March 8, 2020}}</ref><ref name="dedekker">{{cite news |last1=DeDekker |first1=Jeff |title=George Strait is the king of country music |url=https://nationalpost.com/uncategorized/george-strait-is-the-king-of-country-music |access-date=June 12, 2022 |work=National Post |date=September 14, 2011}}</ref><ref name="garcia">{{cite news |last1=Garcia |first1=Ricky |title=George Strait turns 70: Facts you may not know about the 'King of Country' |url=https://www.kxan.com/entertainment-news/george-strait-turns-70-facts-you-may-not-know-about-the-king-of-country/ |access-date=June 12, 2022 |work=[[KXAN-TV]] |date=May 18, 2022}}</ref><ref name="NCWHM-GS">{{cite web |title=Western Heritage Awards - George Strait - Lifetime Achievement |url=https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/collections/awards/wha/george-strait/ |website=[[National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum]] |access-date=July 18, 2025}}</ref><ref name="cp-villalva">{{cite news |last=Villalva |first=Brittney R. |title=George Strait Farewell Tour Announced |newspaper=The Christian Post |date=September 27, 2012 |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/george-strait-farewell-tour-announced-king-of-country-to-retire-video-82292/ |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018173518/http://www.christianpost.com/news/george-strait-farewell-tour-announced-king-of-country-to-retire-video-82292/ |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.<ref name="theboot-betts"/> Strait has been certified as the 12th-best selling artist in American history, with career record sales of 70 million in the United States.<ref name="gather-billboard-record"/>

Strait has held the world record for most number one hit singles across all charts and genres with 60 number-one hits since 2013,<ref name="UDiscoverMusic"/><ref name="radio-60"/> 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 (American band)|Alabama]] (1980s), and [[Garth Brooks]] (1990s).<ref name="gs-awards"/> 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 of 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.<ref name="mysanantonio-saldana"/>

In 2023, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked Strait at number 156 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=1 January 2023|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/george-strait-10-1234642928/|access-date=27 March 2023}}</ref>

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Honoree for Lifetime Artistic Achievement to be presented in December 2025 at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:5%;"| Year
! style="width:30%;"| Award
! style="width:30%;"| Category
! style="width:30%;"| Work
! style="width:5%;" class="unsortable"| {{Tooltip|Ref|Reference}}
|-
| 1985
| [[Academy of Country Music]]
| Top Male Vocalist
|—
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 1985
| [[Country Music Association]]
| Male Vocalist of the Year
|—
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 1985
| Country Music Association
| Album of the Year
| ''Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind''
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 1986
| Academy of Country Music
| Top Male Vocalist
|—
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 1986
| Academy of Country Music
| Album of the Year
| ''Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind''
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 1986
| Music City News Country
| Male Artist of the Year
|—
|
|-
| 1986
| Country Music Association
| Male Vocalist of the Year
|—
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 1986
| Billboard Year-End Awards
| Top Country Artist
|—
|
|-
| 1987
| Billboard Year-End Awards
| Top Country Artist
|—
|
|-
| 1988
| Academy of Country Music
| Top Male Vocalist
|—
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 1989
| Country Music Association
| Entertainer of the Year
|—
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 1989
| Special
| Connie B. Gay Award
|—
|
|-
| 1989
| Academy of Country Music
| Entertainer of the Year
|—
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 1989
| Special
| Presidential American Success Award
|—
|
|-
| 1990
| Country Music Association
| Entertainer of the Year
|—
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 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''
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 1995
| Academy of Country Music
| Single of the Year
| "Check Yes or No"
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 1995
| [[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers|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"
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 1996
| Country Music Association
| Album of the Year
| ''Blue Clear Sky''
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 1996
| Country Music Association
| Male Vocalist of the Year
|—
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 1996
| Academy of Country Music
| Top Male Vocalist
|—
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 1996
| Academy of Country Music
| Album of the Year
| ''Blue Clear Sky''
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 1996
| Radio & Records
| Best Single
| "Check Yes or No"
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 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
|—
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 1997
| Country Music Association
| Album of the Year
| ''Carrying Your Love With Me''
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 1997
| [[American Music Awards]]
| Favorite Country Album
| ''Blue Clear Sky''
|
|-
| 1997
| Academy of Country Music
| Top Male Vocalist
|—
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 1997
| Academy of Country Music
| Album of the Year
| ''Carrying Your Love With Me''
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 1997
| Radio & Records
| Best Album
| ''Blue Clear Sky''
|
|-
| 1997
| Radio & Records
| Best Male Vocalist
|—
|
|-
| 1998
| Country Music Association
| Male Vocalist of the Year
|—
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 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 / [[The Nashville Network|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)
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 2001
| Country Music Association
| Song of the Year
| "Murder On Music Row" (awarded to songwriters)
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 2002
| [[Country Weekly]]
| Favorite Collaborative Song
| "Designated Drinker" (with Alan Jackson)
|
|-
| 2003
| [[Country Music Television|CMT]] 40 Greatest Men of Country Music
| Ranked No.&nbsp;9{{citation needed|date=August 2016}}
|—
|
|-
| 2003
| Academy of Country Music
| Special Achievement Award (in recognition of 50 No.&nbsp;1 Songs)
|—
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 2003
| Special Award
| National Medal of Arts
|—
|
|-
|2004
|Cheyenne Frontier Days
|Hall of Fame
|—
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cfdrodeo.com/cfd-old-west-museum/our-story/history/cheyenne-frontier-days-hall-of-fame-inductees|title=Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame Inductees|work=Cheyenne Frontier Days|access-date=October 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001182617/https://www.cfdrodeo.com/cfd-old-west-museum/our-story/history/cheyenne-frontier-days-hall-of-fame-inductees/|archive-date=October 1, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2005
| Country Music Association
| Musical Event of the Year
| "Good News, Bad News" (with Lee Ann Womack)
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 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"
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 2006
| Academy of Country Music
| Single Record of the Year (producer)
| "Give It Away"
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 2006
| Academy of Country Music
| Song of the Year (artist)
| "Give It Away"
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 2007
| Country Music Association
| Song of the Year
| "Give It Away" (awarded to songwriter [[Jamey Johnson]])
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 2007
| Country Music Association
| Album of the Year
| ''It Just Comes Natural'' (for artist and producer)
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 2008
| Country Music Association
| Single of the Year
| "I Saw God Today"
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 2008
| Country Music Association
| Album of the Year
| ''Troubadour''
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 2009
| [[Grammy Awards]]
| Best Country Album
| ''Troubadour''
|
|-
| 2009
| Academy of Country Music
| Artist of the Decade
|—
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 2010
| [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard.com]]
| Top Country Artist of the Past 25 Years
|—
|<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957890/george-strait-tops-billboards-list-of-top-25-country-artists-of-the-past-25 |title=George Strait Tops Billboard's List of Top 25 Country Artists of the Past 25 Years |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511052853/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957890/george-strait-tops-billboards-list-of-top-25-country-artists-of-the-past-25 |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2013
| [[Country Radio Broadcasters|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
|—
|<ref name="cma-awards"/>
|-
| 2014
| Academy of Country Music
| Entertainer of the Year
|—
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 2015
| Academy of Country Music
| 50th Anniversary Milestone Award Winner
|—
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
| 2017
| Academy of Country Music
| [[Cliffie Stone]] Icon Award
|—
|<ref name="amc-winners"/>
|-
|2020
|[[Billboard Music Award]]s
|Top Country Tour
|
|
|-
|2021
|[[National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum|National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum]]
|Western Heritage Awards
|Lifetime Achievement Award
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=George Strait|url=https://nationalcowboymuseum.org/heritage-awards/george-strait/|access-date=August 22, 2021|website=National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum|language=}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2|2024
|[[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
|Inducted into Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2025
|
|<ref name="simmerman"/>
|-
|[[58th Annual Country Music Association Awards|Country Music Association Awards]]
|[[Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award]]
|
|<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Nicholson|first=Jessica |date=2024-11-12 |title=George Strait to Receive 2024 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/george-strait-2024-cma-willie-nelson-lifetime-achievement-award-1235826776/|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

== References ==

=== Citations ===

<references>
<ref name="after-midnight-garner">{{cite news |last=Garner |first=Blair |title=George Strait is a grandfather |newspaper=After Midnight |date=February 8, 2012 |url=http://www.aftermidnite.com/pages/musicnews.html?feed=104651&article=9730040 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130116104402/http://www.aftermidnite.com/pages/musicnews.html?feed=104651&article=9730040 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |access-date=February 10, 2012 }}</ref>

<ref name="album-notes-box">{{cite AV media notes|last=Kingsley |first=Paul |title=Straight Out of the Box |others=George Strait |year=1995 |type=booklet |publisher=MCA Records }}</ref>

<ref name="allmusic-erlewine">{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |title=George Strait Biography |publisher=AllMusic |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/george-strait-mn0000944084/biography |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420012330/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/george-strait-mn0000944084/biography |archive-date=April 20, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="amc-winners">{{cite web |title=Winners |publisher=Academy of Country Music |url=https://www.acmcountry.com/winners |access-date=May 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322065626/https://www.acmcountry.com/winners |archive-date=March 22, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="american-chronicle-stark">{{cite news |last=Stark |first=Phyllis |title=Being George Strait |work=American Chronicle |date=February 26, 2006 |url=http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=21330 |access-date=March 15, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509200508/http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=21330 |archive-date=May 9, 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="american-profile-vets">{{cite web |title=George Strait Remembers Fellow Veterans |publisher=American Profile |url=http://www.americanprofile.com/articles/george-strait-remembers-fellow-veterans/ |date=November 2, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105053429/http://www.americanprofile.com/articles/george-strait-remembers-fellow-veterans/ |archive-date=November 5, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<!-- Not in use
<ref name="bego">{{cite book|last=Bego |first=Mark |title=George Strait: The Story of Country's Living Legend |publisher=Citadel Press |location=New York |year=2001 |isbn=978-0806522586|ref=none}}</ref>
Not in use-->

<ref name="billboard-1981">{{cite magazine |title=Billboard Hot Country Singles |magazine=Billboard |volume=93 |issue=31 |page=46 |date=August 8, 1981 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dyQEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106154657/http://books.google.com/books/about/Billboard.html?id=DyQEAAAAMBAJ |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="billboard-2009">{{cite magazine |title=George Strait Tops Billboard's List of Top 25 Country Artists of the Past 25 Years |magazine=Billboard |date=June 7, 2010 |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957890/george-strait-tops-billboards-list-of-top-25-country-artists-of-the-past-25 |access-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008000826/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957890/george-strait-tops-billboards-list-of-top-25-country-artists-of-the-past-25 |archive-date=October 8, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="billboard-2010">{{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |title=Best of 2009 by the Numbers |magazine=Billboard |date=December 29, 2009 |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/best-of-2009-by-the-numbers/ |access-date=January 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612042158/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/266306/best-of-2009-by-the-numbers |archive-date=June 12, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<!--unused ref<ref name="billboard-allen">{{cite magazine|last=Allen |first=Bob |title=George Strait's Final Show Sets Billboard Boxscore Attendance Records |magazine=Billboard |date=June 16, 2014 |url=http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/touring/6121496/george-strait-final-show-sets-billboard-boxscore-attendance-records |access-date=December 25, 2014}}</ref>-->

<ref name="billboard-duffy">{{cite magazine |last=Duffy |first=Thom |title=George Strait, Martina McBride Turn New Jersey into Cowboy Country |magazine=Billboard |date=March 3, 2014 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/country/george-strait-martina-mcbride-turn-new-jersey-into-cowboy-country-5923094/ |access-date=March 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307110716/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-615/5923094/george-strait-martina-mcbride-turn-new-jersey-into-cowboy-country |archive-date=March 7, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="billboard-waddell">{{cite magazine|last=Waddell |first=Ray |title=Legend of Live Goes Country |magazine=Billboard |volume=125 |issue=44 |pages=55–56 |year=2013 }}</ref>

<ref name="cma-awards">{{cite web |title=Past Winners |publisher=Country Music Association |url=http://www.cmaworld.com/cma-awards/50awards/past-winners/ |access-date=May 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603081046/http://www.cmaworld.com/cma-awards/50awards/past-winners/ |archive-date=June 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="cmt-30-consecutive">{{cite web |title=George Strait First to Achieve 30 Consecutive Years of Top 10 Hits |publisher=CMT News |date=April 14, 2010 |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1636146/george-strait-first-to-achieve-30-consecutive-years-of-top-10-hits.jhtml |access-date=May 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419171950/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1636146/george-strait-first-to-achieve-30-consecutive-years-of-top-10-hits.jhtml |archive-date=April 19, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="cmt-about">{{cite web |title=About George Strait |publisher=CMT |url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/george-strait/biography/ |access-date=December 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206021521/http://www.cmt.com/artists/george-strait/biography/ |archive-date=February 6, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="cmt-father">{{cite web |title=George Strait's Father Dies at Age 91 |publisher=CMT |date=June 4, 2013 |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1708468/george-straits-father-dies-at-age-91.jhtml |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018175636/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1708468/george-straits-father-dies-at-age-91.jhtml |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="cmt-legend">{{cite web |title=George Strait Presented Billboard Legend of Live Award |publisher=CMT |date=November 15, 2013 |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1717559/george-strait-presented-billboard-legend-of-live-award.jhtml |access-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019155400/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1717559/george-strait-presented-billboard-legend-of-live-award.jhtml |archive-date=October 19, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="cmt-lp-discography">{{cite web |title=George Strait Discography |publisher=CMT |url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/george-strait/discography/ |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018201127/http://www.cmt.com/artists/george-strait/discography/ |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="cmt-morris">{{cite web |last=Morris |first=Edward |title=Rollin' on the River: BMI Salutes Writers of George Strait's "River of Love" |work=CMT |date=May 15, 2009 |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1611510/rollin-on-the-river-bmi-salutes-writers-of-george-straits-river-of-love.jhtml |access-date=December 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623144043/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1611510/rollin-on-the-river-bmi-salutes-writers-of-george-straits-river-of-love.jhtml |archive-date=June 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="cmt-new-film">{{cite web |title=George Strait Will Have Limited Role in New Film |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1625971/george-strait-will-have-limited-role-in-new-film-a-pure-country-gift.jhtml |access-date=March 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323004349/http://www.cmt.com/news/news-in-brief/1625971/george-strait-will-have-limited-role-in-new-film-a-pure-country-gift.jhtml |archive-date=March 23, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="cowboy-rides-away">{{cite web |title=The Cowboy Rides Away Tour ... |date=September 26, 2012 |publisher=George Strait |url=http://wgna.com/george-strait-announces-farewell-tour-the-cowboy-rides-away-tour/ |access-date=September 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802011050/http://wgna.com/george-strait-announces-farewell-tour-the-cowboy-rides-away-tour/ |archive-date=August 2, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<!-- Not in use
<ref name="cp-villalva">{{cite news |last=Villalva |first=Brittney R. |title=George Strait Farewell Tour Announced |newspaper=The Christian Post |date=September 27, 2012 |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/george-strait-farewell-tour-announced-king-of-country-to-retire-video-82292/ |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018173518/http://www.christianpost.com/news/george-strait-farewell-tour-announced-king-of-country-to-retire-video-82292/ |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Not in use-->

<ref name="dmn-tipping">{{cite news |last=Tipping |first=Joy |title=George Strait Sets a U.S. Concert Attendance Record ... |newspaper=The Dallas Morning News |url=http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/george-strait-sets-a-u-s-concert-attendance-record-in-a-musically-superb-star-laden-show.html/ |date=June 8, 2014 |access-date=June 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611113101/http://popcultureblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/george-strait-sets-a-u-s-concert-attendance-record-in-a-musically-superb-star-laden-show.html/ |archive-date=June 11, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="erlewine">{{cite web|last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |title=George Strait |publisher=All Music Guide |url=http://www.livedaily.com/artists/bio/103.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061111024516/http://www.livedaily.com/artists/bio/103.html |archive-date=November 11, 2006 |access-date=October 18, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="ew-nash">{{cite magazine |last=Nash |first=Alanna |title=Chill of an Early Fall |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=April 12, 1991 |url=https://ew.com/article/1991/04/12/chill-early-fall/ |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022205226/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,313934,00.html |archive-date=October 22, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="gactv-stark">{{cite web |last=Stark |first=Phyllis |title=Being George Strait |publisher=GACTV |year=2007 |url=http://www.gactv.com/gac/cda/article_print/0,3008,GAC_26068_5508633_DS-ARTICLE-WITH-GROUPS,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141019145949/http://www.gactv.com/gac/cda/article_print/0,3008,GAC_26068_5508633_DS-ARTICLE-WITH-GROUPS,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 19, 2014 |access-date=October 19, 2014 }}</ref>

<ref name="gather-billboard-record">{{cite web |title=George Strait Sets Billboard Record |publisher=Gather |date=April 14, 2010 |url=http://entertainment.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978173232 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116105436/http://entertainment.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978173232 |archive-date=January 16, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="gs-awards">{{cite web |title=Meet George Strait: Awards |publisher=George Strait |url=http://www.georgestrait.com/awards.asp |access-date=December 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228020055/http://www.georgestrait.com/awards.asp |archive-date=December 28, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="gs-give">{{cite web |title=George Strait to Release New Single ... |publisher=George Strait |date=October 26, 2012 |url=http://www.georgestrait.com/2005Site/news_Detail.asp?pkArticle=441 |access-date=October 19, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019154250/http://www.georgestrait.com/2005Site/news_Detail.asp?pkArticle=441 |archive-date=October 19, 2014}}</ref>

<ref name="gs-tour-dates">{{cite web |title=George Strait Tour, 2013 and 2014 George Strait Concert Tour Dates |url=http://www.georgestraittourdates.com/index.html |publisher=George Strait Tour Dates |access-date=April 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412111648/http://www.georgestraittourdates.com/index.html |archive-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="mysanantonio-saldana">{{cite web |last=Saldana |first=Hector |url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/On-farewell-tour-superstar-George-Strait-in-4569184.php |title=On farewell tour, superstar George Strait in harmony with hometown fans |publisher=My San Antonio |date=June 2, 2013 |access-date=June 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612030500/http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/On-farewell-tour-superstar-George-Strait-in-4569184.php |archive-date=June 12, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="music-row-hollabaugh">{{cite web |last=Hollabaugh |first=Lorie |title=George Strait Crowned 'Legend of Live' at Billboard Touring Awards |publisher=Music Row |date=November 15, 2013 |url=http://www.musicrow.com/2013/11/george-strait-crowned-legend-of-live-at-billboard-touring-awards/ |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324171556/http://www.musicrow.com/2013/11/george-strait-crowned-legend-of-live-at-billboard-touring-awards/ |archive-date=March 24, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="musicrow-skates">{{cite web |last=Skates |first=Sarah |title=George Strait Announces Final Tour |publisher=MusicRow |url=http://www.musicrow.com/2012/09/george-strait-announces-final-tour/ |date=September 26, 2012 |access-date=September 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303011059/http://www.musicrow.com/2012/09/george-strait-announces-final-tour/ |archive-date=March 3, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="people-mcafee">{{cite magazine |last=McAfee |first=Tierney |title=George Strait's ACM Awards Performance: All My Exes Live in Texas |magazine=People |date=April 19, 2015 |url=http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20906362_20916660,00.html |access-date=August 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716095446/http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20906362_20916660,00.html |archive-date=July 16, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="philly-daughter">{{cite web |last=Speers |first=W. |title=Strait's Daughter, 13, Is Killed in a Car Crash |date=June 27, 1986 |url=http://articles.philly.com/1986-06-27/entertainment/26044567_1_george-strait-princess-diana-car-crash |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325175940/http://articles.philly.com/1986-06-27/entertainment/26044567_1_george-strait-princess-diana-car-crash |archive-date=March 25, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="rachel-joy-scott">{{cite web |title=Jenifer Strait |publisher=RachelJoyScott.net |url=http://www.racheljoyscott.net/jenifer_strait/index.htm |access-date=March 15, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308124609/http://www.racheljoyscott.net/jenifer_strait/index.htm |archive-date=March 8, 2007}}</ref>

<ref name="radio-60">{{cite web |title=George Strait Earns 60th No. 1 Hit |url=http://news.radio.com/2013/05/21/george-strait-earns-60th-no-1-single/ |publisher=Radio.com |date=May 21, 2013 |access-date=June 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206093044/http://news.radio.com/2013/05/21/george-strait-earns-60th-no-1-single/ |archive-date=December 6, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="riaa-top-awarded">{{cite web|title=Top Awarded Artists |publisher=RIAA |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblArtTal |access-date=November 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130711195722/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblArtTal |archive-date=July 11, 2013}}</ref>

<ref name="riaa-top-selling">{{cite web|title=Top Selling Artists (only with the albums) |publisher=RIAA |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTopArt |access-date=November 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701163039/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTopArt |archive-date=July 1, 2007}}</ref>

<ref name="rs-dresdale">{{cite magazine |last=Dresdale |first=Andrea |title=George Strait: The Road Less Traveled |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=November 5, 2001 |url=http://www.georgestrait.com/assets/strait_talk/pdf/2001/02-01.pdf |access-date=October 19, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924021802/http://www.georgestrait.com/assets/strait_talk/pdf/2001/02-01.pdf |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="straight-fever">{{cite web |title=The Jenifer Strait Memorial Foundation |publisher=Straight Fever |url=http://straitfever.homestead.com/rememberingjenifer.html |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015040031/http://straitfever.homestead.com/RememberingJenifer.html |archive-date=October 15, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="theboot-betts">{{cite web |last=Betts |first=Stephen L. |title=George Strait Catching Up to Beatles, Elvis |publisher=The Boot |date=June 4, 2009 |url=http://www.theboot.com/2009/06/04/george-strait-catching-up-to-beatles-elvis/ |access-date=November 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229135555/http://www.theboot.com/2009/06/04/george-strait-catching-up-to-beatles-elvis/ |archive-date=December 29, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="theboot-stefano">{{cite news |last=Stefano |first=Angela |title=George Strait Announces 'The Cowboy Rides Away' Live Album |publisher=The Boot |date=August 18, 2014 |url=http://theboot.com/george-strait-the-cowboy-rides-away-live-album-2014/ |access-date=August 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822194515/http://theboot.com/george-strait-the-cowboy-rides-away-live-album-2014/ |archive-date=August 22, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="theboot-thompson">{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Gayle |title=George Strait '60 for 60' Movement Asks Fans to 'Give It All We Got' |publisher=The Boot |date=March 15, 2013 |url=http://theboot.com/george-strait-60-for-60/ |access-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216220146/http://theboot.com/george-strait-60-for-60/ |archive-date=December 16, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="usa-mccafferty">{{cite news |last=McCafferty |first=Dennis |title=Straight Talk |newspaper=USA Weekend |date=January 21, 2007 |url=http://159.54.226.237/07_issues/070121/070121strait.html |access-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013125503/http://159.54.226.237/07_issues/070121/070121strait.html |archive-date=October 13, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="usatoday-mansfield">{{cite web |last=Mansfield |first=Brian |title=George Strait gets 'Billboard' Legend of Live award |work=USA Today |date=August 15, 2013 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/08/15/george-strait-billboard-legend-of-live/2659559/ |access-date=March 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317013321/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2013/08/15/george-strait-billboard-legend-of-live/2659559/ |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<!--<ref name="usatoday-ny">{{cite news|title='New York' tops place songs |newspaper=USA Today |date=September 15, 2003 |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2003-09-15-newyork_x.htm |access-date=October 18, 2014}}</ref> -->

<ref name="wgna-strait-heir">{{cite web |title=Strait Heir |publisher=WGNA |url=http://wgna.com/george-strait-announces-farewell-tour-the-cowboy-rides-away-tour/ |access-date=September 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028165349/http://wgna.com/george-strait-announces-farewell-tour-the-cowboy-rides-away-tour/ |archive-date=October 28, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
</references>

=== Sources ===

{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Bego |first=Mark |title=George Strait: The Story of Country's Living Legend |publisher=Citadel Press |location=New York |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-8065-2258-6 }}
* {{cite book|last=Dickinson |first=Chris |editor-last=Kingsbury |editor-first=Paul |title=The Encyclopedia of Country Music |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-19-539563-1 }}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|George Strait}}
* [http://www.georgestrait.com/ George Strait Online]
* [http://www.georgestrait.us/ George Strait – biography, discography, lyrics, photos, videos] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810210403/http://georgestrait.us/ |date=August 10, 2018 }})
* [http://www.umgnashville.com/georgestrait Official UMG Nashville Artist Page]
* {{IMDb name|0833180}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100822033906/http://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/full-list-of-inductees/view/george-strait Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum]
* [http://www.gstrc.com/ George Strait Team Roping Classic (GSTRC) homepage]
* 1992 interview with George Strait ([https://texasarchive.org/2010_02861 Part 1] and [https://texasarchive.org/2010_02862 Part 2]) on the [[Texas Archive of the Moving Image]]

{{George Strait}}
{{George Strait singles}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for George Strait
|list =
{{Academy of Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year}}
{{American Music Award for Favorite Country Male Artist}}
{{CMA Album of the Year}}
{{CMA Entertainer of the Year}}
{{CMA Male Vocalist of the Year}}
{{2000s Country Music Hall of Fame}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Country Album}}
{{Kennedy Center Honorees 2020s}}
{{National Medal of Arts recipients 2000s}}
{{CMA Lifetime Achievement}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strait, George}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Ace in the Hole Band members]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American racehorse owners and breeders]]
[[Category:Baptists from Texas]]
[[Category:Bezos family]]
[[Category:Country Music Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Texas]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:MCA Records artists]]
[[Category:Male actors from San Antonio]]
[[Category:Members of the Country Music Association]]
[[Category:People from Atascosa County, Texas]]
[[Category:People from La Salle County, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Pearsall, Texas]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas]]
[[Category:Singers from San Antonio]]
[[Category:Texas State University alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:United States National Medal of Arts recipients]]
[[Category:Western swing performers]]