Country singer george strait biography

American country music singer (born )

Musical artist

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

Strait has sold over million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.^[3] He holds the RIAA record for most certified albums by any designer, with 33 different albums that are certified platinum or gold.^[4] Considering singles and albums, he has a total of 20 multi-platinum, 33 platinum and 24 gold certification.

According to the RIAA, Strait is the 12th best-selling album recording artist in the United States overall selling over 70 million records across the United States.^[5]

He is credited for pioneering the neotraditional land style in the s,^[6] famed for his authentic cowboy image and roots-oriented sound at a time when the Nashville melody industry was dominated by territory pop crossover acts.

Given his influence on the genre, Strait has been nicknamed the "King of Country Music" by writers and music critics.^{[7][8][9][10]} He currently holds the record for the most number one songs on all charts by an creator, in any genre of music.^[7][11]

Strait's career in country music began performing with his band Ace in the Hole in Texas honky-tonks in the s, recording tracks for the Dallas-based independent record labelD Records.^[2] Strait's triumph began when his first available "Unwound" was a hit in , helping introduce the neotraditional movement to the mainstream.

During the s, seven of his albums reached number one on the country charts. In the s, he was named Creator of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music, elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and won his first Grammy award for the album Troubadour.

Strait was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in , and , and ACM Entertainer of the Year in and He has been nominated for more CMA and ACM awards and has more wins in both categories than any other artist.

Strait has been known for his touring career beginning when he planned a degree configuration and introduced festival style tours.^[12] His last concert for The Cowboy Rides Away Tour at AT&T Stadium drew , people, setting a new record for the largest indoor concert in North America.^[13] In mid, Strait set the record for the largest ticketed concert for a single behave in U.S.

history, with over , people at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.^[14][15] He additionally was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the same year for its class of ^[16]

Early life

George Harvey Strait Sr.

was born on May 18, , in Poteet, Texas, to John Byron Strait Sr. (January 11, – June 4, ),^[17] and Doris Jean Couser (June 26, – January 30, ).

He grew up in nearby Pearsall, in Frio County, where his father was a junior high school mathematics teacher and the owner of a 2,acre (&#;ha) cattle ranch outside of Big Wells, Texas.

The family worked at the ranch on the weekends and in the summers. 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. (–) grew up with their father.^[18] For most of his early life, George was in ranching alongside his older brother Buddy and his father John.^[19]

Strait began his musical career while attending Pearsall Lofty School, where he performed in a rock and rollgarage band, known as the Stoics, taking most of their influence and inspiration from the Beatles and other British Invasion-era rock groups.^[20] "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.^[19] His musical preference soon turned to land with singers Hank Thompson, Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, and Frank Sinatra influencing his design.

Strait did not tune in to and listen to land music radio often as a youth, usually selecting the news and the farmer's report instead. His introduction to country melody came mostly by way of live performances, which according to Strait could be heard in every town in Texas.^[21]

Marriage and military service

He eloped with his high school sweetheart, Norma Voss after their high school graduation.^[19] The couple initially married in Mexico on December 4, In the same year, he enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman.

While stationed at Schofield Barracks adjacent to Wahiawa, Hawaii, as part of the 25th Infantry Division, George auditioned and began performing with an Army-sponsored country music band, Rambling Country, which also played off-base under the name Santee.^[19][22] On October 6, , while still in Hawaii, George and Norma had their first toddler, Jenifer.^[23] He served in the United States Army from to and ultimately attained the rank of corporal.^[24]

Higher education

After George Strait was honorably discharged from the Army in , he enrolled at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos.

He graduated with a degree in agriculture.^[25] 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, ^[25] Strait is a loyal alumnus of the college; in he established an endowment fund for the progress and operation of the Freeman Ranch for agricultural purposes, territory and wildlife management, and gifts of scholarships.^[25]

Music career

s

During his college years, Strait joined the nation band Stoney Ridge, answering a flyer the band posted around campus looking for a fresh vocalist.

Strait renamed the community the Ace in the Hole Band, and quickly became the lead; they began to deliver at different honky-tonks and bars around south and central Texas, traveling as far east as Huntsville and Houston.^[27] They gained a regional following and opened for national acts such as The Texas Playboys and Asleep at the Wheel.^[28] Soon his band was given the opportunity to record several Strait-penned singles, including "That Don't Change The Way I Feel About You" and "I Can't Go On Dying Like This" for the Houston-based D Records independent label.

However, the songs never achieved wide recognition, and Strait continued to manage his family cattle ranch during the day to make some extra cash.^[27][29]

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.

However, his biggest honor arrived on November The singer has sold more than 70 million albums and recorded 60 chart-topping singles during his career. Previous recipients of the award include Kenny RogersJohnny CashDolly PartonLoretta Lynnand of course, its namesake in Singer George Strait is one of the best-selling country artists of all time, with 60 chart-topping songs and 31 platinum- or multiplatinum-certified albums.

Impressed with the show but concerned that they could not market the Western swing sound that the band featured, they left without offering a deal.

After several unsuccessful trips to Nashville in search of a record deal in which Strait was turned down by every label in town, he considered giving up music altogether.

He was offered a profession designing cattle pens and decided to take it. He gave the band notice that he was leaving, but after a discussion with his wife, she convinced him to give seeking music one more year. Not long afterward, a major label, MCA, signed Strait to a recording contract in February The initial deal was for one song.

If the single did well, the label would regard doing an album.^[30] The Ace in the Hole band remained with Strait, performing as the backup and touring band for the now solo career of Strait.^[29]

s

In the spring of , Strait released his first available for MCA Records, titled "Unwound", which climbed to number six on the Billboard Hot Nation Songs chart that year and was included on his debut album Strait Country.

The tape featured two other singles including "Down and Out", a number 16 hit for Strait, and "If You're Thinking You Hope a Stranger (There's One Coming Home)".^[31]

Strait Country was hailed by critics as being a "new-traditionalist" breakthrough that broke the trend of pop-influenced country prevalent at the time.^[31] The critically acclaimed Strait from the Heart, his second album, was released in and featured the first number-one single of his career, "Fool Hearted Memory" and the top-five Western ballad "Amarillo by Morning" which was originally sung and written by Terry Stafford in It later became one of Strait's signature songs.^[34] In , Strait made his first appearance at the Houston Livestock Exhibit and Rodeo, when the headlining star, Eddie Rabbitt became sick with the flu.

Performing at that rodeo has since turn into 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 to ^[35] from his next two albums Right or Wrong, his first number-one album and the CMA award-winning Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind.

The next year, he won the CMA award for top male vocalist, and released his first greatest hits compilation, which featured songs from his first three albums. Also in , Strait released Something Special, the third-straight number-one album of his career, featuring the number-one single "The Chair".^[31] In , Strait repeated as the CMA vocalist of the year and released his fourth number-one album #7.

Strait and his family were struck with tragedy when his year-old daughter, Jenifer, was killed in a one-car, alcohol-unrelated accident in 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.^[36] When the vehicle flipped over onto its passenger's side, Jenifer was partially ejected, killing her on impact.^[36][37] 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.^[38]

George Strait's grief did not hinder his recital, however, or his output; as he released 11 straight number-one hits, starting with "Nobody in His Right Mind Would've Left Her" in and ending with "Ace in the Hole" in ^[35] The singles spanned four albums including #7, Ocean Front Property in , If You Ain't Lovin' You Ain't Livin' in , and '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 painter. The streak included such songs as "Ocean Front Property", "All My Ex's Live in Texas", "Famous Last Words of a Fool", and "Baby Blue".

Strait finished the decade by winning the CMA Entertainer of the Year award in One year later, he won the award again.^[31]

s

Strait began the decade with the release of his 10th studio album, Livin' It Up, which featured two number-one hits, including "Love Without End, Amen", his first multiweek hit, and "I've Come to Expect It From You".

Both songs remained first for five weeks in Chill of an Early Fall shortly followed in , 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.^[39] 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 hits with the cover of "Lovesick Blues", which peaked at number The record blocked his move of eight top-charting albums with its peak of number four.

In the spring of , Holding My Own was released. It did not produce any number ones, but did encompass two top-five songs, including "So Much Like My Dad".

Later in , Strait played the main character in the clip Pure Country, and released the film's soundtrack.

It was his most successful studio album, producing such hits as "Heartland", "I Cross My Heart", and "When Did You Stop Loving Me", and peaked at number one and number six respectively on the Country and Billboard album charts. The success continued with his next album, Easy Arrive, Easy Go in , which reached the top five on the Billboard and featured the hits "I'd Like to Own That One Back", "The Gentleman in Love with You", and the number-one title track.^[31]

His next four albums, including Lead On in , Blue Clear Sky in , Carrying Your Treasure with Me in , and 's One Step at a Time, all charted at number one, with Blue Clear Sky claiming the spot on its debut week, and Carrying Your Love with Me peaking at number one on the Billboard for the first period in Strait's career.

This series of albums produced eight number-one singles for Strait, including "You Can't Make a Heart Cherish Somebody", "Carried Away", "One Evening at a Time", and "I Just Want to Dance with You".^[31]

During this period, Strait also released a four-disc, box-set career retrospective, Strait Out of the Box, in , which also included two new songs, the top 5 hit "I Realize 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 and ^[31] Starting in , and continuing until , Strait headlined the George Strait Country Melody Festival, which included artists such as Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, and others.^[31]

In an effort to present 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 ^[40]

Strait completed the decade with the album Always Never the Same in , which peaked at number two on country charts and matched the cross-over achievement of Pure Country by reaching number six on the Billboard The record produced the hits "What Do You Say to That", "Meanwhile", and the number-one "Write This Down".

Reviews of the album's material were generally mixed, but Entertainment Weekly observed that at this point in his career, Strait could write down the "most lightweight" material and "make it soar" on the radio with his "grace".^[39] 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.^[18]

s

Strait released a self-titled album in , which despite a number-one and number-seven showing on the nation and Billboard album charts, respectively, produced no number-one singles, and was the first studio album of his career to not be certified platinum.

George Strait is an American land music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. He earned a degree in agriculture upon graduation. As a devoted Texas Declare alum, Strait founded an endowment fund in to support the growth and management of the Freeman Ranch for farming, wildlife and land management, and scholarship donations. After graduating, he was awarded a degree in agriculture.

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 , 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 build it superior to his last few releases."^[41] It featured "vocal processing", and was considered by some critics as an experimental album.^[29] 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 Sizzling , with the former peaking at number 23, Strait's extreme rank on the chart.

The single "Run" peaked at number two and reached number 34 on the Billboard Strait released two records in For the Last Time: Live from the Astrodome was a recording of the last Houston Livestock Exhibit and Rodeo to take place in the Astrodome.

The production itself set the record for paid attendance at the venue, with 68, people, breaking Latin superstar Selena's previous record of about 67, in ^[42]

His next album, Honkytonkville was described as "a fiery set of challenging country", and was praised "for its mixture of the elderly Strait with his modern, superstar self."^[29] It did not form any number ones for Strait, but included the hits "Cowboys Like Us" and a cover of Bruce Robison's "Desperately".

His performance at Reliant Stadium arrange a new rodeo attendance log, with 68, 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 Abhor Everything", was also included, and became his 51st overall number one in

The next year, Somewhere Down in Texas arrived, which produced the hit "You'll Be There", marking Strait's first appearance on the adult contemporary chart.

The next year, he embarked on a tour that included only 18 performances, but grossed over $15&#;million. He attributed this success to the proof that his band and he are "musically very tight", contain a large pool of songs to draw from, and deliver those songs very similarly to how they sound on their albums.^[43]

On October 3, , 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 surpass recording location due to lack of allergy flare-ups during recording process), which was also the recording location of Troubadour.^{[citation needed]} It featured 15 new songs.

Strait's long-time friend and songwriter, Dean Dillon, co-wrote two of the songs on the album. It received generally positive reviews from critics. People, in their four-star review, remarked, "If ever there was a natural in country music, it's Strait," while USA Today raved that "he continues to make such consistent quality look easy".

The first single from the album, "Give It Away" reached number one, making one of its co-writers, country legend "Whispering Bill" Anderson, the first songwriter to hold a number-one hit in five different decades. The title footpath, "It Just Comes Natural" became his 42nd Billboard number one.^{[citation needed]}

In , "Wrapped" reached number one on the Mediabase 24/7 country music charts, giving Strait his 55th overall number-one unpartnered.

From January through April of that year, Strait headlined a date arena tour with country-music legend Ronnie Milsap and then-newcomer Taylor Swift. He released a new album titled Troubadour on April 1, 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 lyric in country-music history.

Troubadour debuted at number one on the Billboard Top album charts, selling over , copies in its first week of release. "River of Love", the third solo from the album, became his 57th number-one song in ^[44]

In April , Strait was honored by the Academy of State 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, , and was written by Strait, his son Bubba, and Dean Dillon.

The song was the direct single from his album Twang, released on August 11, Twang was certified gold for selling over , copies.^{[citation needed]} By , he broke Conway Twitty's previous record for the most number-one hits on Billboard's Scorching Country Songs chart when his 44 number one singles surpassed Twitty's ^[45]

s

In , Billboard ranked Strait number one in the top country artists of the past 25 years.^[46] On September 6, , Strait released the album, Here for a Pleasant Time, which yielded two number-one singles—"Here for a Good Time" and "Love's Gonna Make It Alright"—bringing Strait's number-one singles total to The album's third free, "Drinkin' Man", was less achieving, peaking at number

In October , Strait released the solo "Give It All We Got Tonight",^[47] which was included on his album Love Is Everything, released on May 14, 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.^[48] The song reached the top of the Mediabase charts in May The album's next single, "I Believe", reached number 50 on the U.S.

Country Airplay chart, making it Strait's first unpartnered to miss the top Strait won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award.

In November , Billboard presented Strait with its Legend of Live honor during the 10th annual Billboard Touring Awards ceremony.^[49] The award honors the concert industry's highest artist based on Billboard's Boxscore chart and box-office performance.^[50] Strait is the first country designer to receive Billboard's highest touring accolade.^[51] On April 19, , Strait made a guest appearance at the ACM Awards, he performed "All My Ex's Lives in Texas" and his modern single "Let it Go".^[52]

In , Strait was selected as one of 30 artists to carry out on "Forever Country", for a mash-up track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again", and "I Will Always Love You", which celebrates 50 years of the CMA Awards.^[53]

In , Strait released a single called "Codigo", after a brand of tequila produced by a company in which he had invested.^[54]

The Cowboy Rides Away Tour

Main article: The Cowboy Rides Away Tour

On September 26, , Strait announced that he was retiring from touring, and that his Cowboy Rides Away Tour would be his last.^[55][56][57] 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, , in Lubbock, Texas, and was divided into two legs: 21 concerts in and 26 concerts in The tour ended in Arlington, Texas, on June 7, Strait was supported on the tour by his longtime member touring group, the Ace in the Hole Band.

For the leg, Martina McBride was the opening performer.^[55]

On January 9, , Strait initiated the second leg of the tour, which featured the opening performers Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack, Merle Haggard, Chris Young, Ronnie Dunn, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, and Asleep at the Wheel.^[58] Many of these performers gathered together for the tour's final concert in Arlington, Texas on June 7, before , fans - at the time the largest ticketed attendance ever at a single-headlining act concert in the Joined States.

George Strait is an American country music singer, guitarist, and ‘new traditionalist’ known for reviving interest in the western swing and honky-tonk music of the s and ’40s through his straightforward musical style and unassuming persona.

Strait would then break his own record, ten years later. The concert also set a record for the largest gross at a single-show country concert, $18,,, and broke the year-old record as adv for "largest indoor concert ever," easily surpassing the 87, fans who attended the December 5, , Rolling Stones concert at the New Orleans Superdome (opening acts, The Neville Brothers, followed by George Thorogood and the Destroyers).

A live album recorded from the final concert in Arlington titled The Cowboy Rides Away: Live from AT&T Stadium was released on September 16, , with DVD/CDs of the concert being released on November 10, , 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.^[59] On August 29, , the Country Music Television channel broadcast a two-hour concert special of the event titled George Strait: The Cowboy Rides Away.^[59] This CMT concert extraordinary had 1+1&#;4 hours of harmony from the concert and interviews.

s

Strait broke the record for most fans at a U.S. concert by a single headlining act on Saturday, June 15, , with a concert at Kyle Field at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, with , fans in attendance. The record was previously held by The Grateful Dead who had , fans in attendance at their show at Raceway Park in New Jersey.^[60] The show also set a modern record for Texas A&M’s Kyle Field for most fans at a single event.

The previous record was on October 11, , with , fans, for a Texas A&M football game against Ole Miss.^[61]

Musical style

Strait's approach of country music has been largely labeled as neotraditional territory, which relies on traditional instrumentation in country music, i.e.

fiddle and pedal steel guitar.^[62][6][63] His style has also been labeled as Texas country, Western swing,^[2][62] and honky-tonk.^[62][2]

Personal life

Strait eloped in Mexico with his high educational facility sweetheart Norma in December ^[64] Their first child, Jenifer, was born on October 6, Their son, George Harvey Strait Jr., known as "Bubba", was born in ^[65]

Jenifer was killed in an automobile accident in San Marcos on June 25, , at age The family place up the Jenifer Lyn Strait Foundation, which donates money to children's charities in the San Antonio area.^[66] George Strait Jr., who is a graduate of Texas A&M, competed as a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Associationteam-roping competitor.^[67] Strait was able to monitor his son compete at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in shortly before taking the stage for his own performance.^[68]

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

Since , Strait has served as spokesman for the Wrangler National Patriot program, a campaign designed to promote awareness and funds for America's wounded and fallen military veterans and their families.^[69] Strait says, "I've been a part of the Wrangler family for a long time when they came to me with the notion for supporting fallen and wounded American veterans and their families, I knew I wanted to get involved."^[69] He also appeared in commercials for Tractor Supply Company.^[70]

In February , Strait became a grandfather when George Strait Jr.

and his wife Tamara had their first child, a son, George Harvey Strait III.^[71]

From through , 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.^[72]

Strait owns a Gulfstream G business jet; its tail number is NGS.^[73] 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.^[74]

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 , more than US$5&#;million include been raised by the events.^[75][76][77] In January , George Strait was named the Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference, a statewide organization of business and political leaders.

Strait was honored for his fundraising efforts in the awaken of the widespread flooding tracking Hurricane Harvey.^[78][79]

Discography

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

In more than 30 years of recording, all of which have been spent with MCA Records, George Strait has garnered 61 number-one songs on all country charts (including Mediabase 24/7, the former Radio & Records chart, and the now-defunct Gavin Report chart), and has more number-one hits than any other artist in a unattached genre.

His 44 Billboard region number-one hits are a write down, four more than Conway Twitty's total that includes several duets with Loretta Lynn.^[80] Additionally, Strait is also the first musician 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 when his debut single "Unwound" peaked at number six on the Hot Country Singles chart.

All of his top singles have been on that chart.^[81] Strait has sold more than 70&#;million records in the Together States alone,^[82] and his certifications from the RIAA include 13 multiplatinum, 33 platinum, and 38 gold albums.^[83]

Filmography

Strait has acted in several films.

He had a bit part in The Soldier () and starred in Pure Country (). He also appeared as himself in Grand Champion ().

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 achievement at the box office and took in only $15&#;million, but the soundtrack also called Pure Country, produced several hit singles for Strait.

It has turn into his best-selling album to go out. Strait had a limited role in the sequel to Pure Country, Pure Country 2: The Gift.^[84]

Honors and awards

Strait holds the record for most number-one albums and singles, gold albums, platinum albums, and multiplatinum albums in the history of country song, 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.^[85] Strait has been certified as the 12th-best selling artist in American history, with career record sales of 70 million in the United States.^[86]

Strait has held the world record for most number one hit singles across all charts and genres with 60 number-one hits since ,^[7][11] and is the only artist in the history of music of any kind to have a top hit every year for 30 years.

He is also second all-time in top hits in the history of harmony, 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 and , and also just recently won that same honor in (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 , 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 , 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 musician (after Eddy Arnold in ) to be inducted into the Hall of Fame while still actively recording and producing chart-topping hits and albums.

George Harvey Strait Sr. Strait has sold over million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all period. He is credited for pioneering the neotraditional country style in the s, [ 6 ] famed for his authentic cowboy image and roots-oriented sound at a time when the Nashville music industry was dominated by country pop crossover acts. Given his influence on the genre, Strait has been nicknamed the " King of Country Tune " by writers and melody critics.

As of June 8, , Strait was named the top country-music artist of the past 25 years according to Billboard. In October , the Academy of Country Music Awards named Strait their Artist of the Decade for the s. He was presented the award by the previous winner Garth Brooks.

Past winners of the award are Marty Robbins (s), Loretta Lynn (s), Alabama (s), and Garth Brooks (s).^[87] With the win of the entertainer-of-the-year award in , he is the only artist to ever win that award in three different decades and also was the oldest winner.

The defeat 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, , Strait appeared at the Alamodome, in San Antonio, Texas, before 70, fans in the last concert of the first half of his two-year farewell tour.

GovernorRick 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.^[88]

In , Rolling Stone ranked Strait at number on its list of the Greatest Singers of All Time.^[89]

Year	Award	Category	Work
	Academy of Region Music	Top Male Vocalist	—	[90]
	Country Music Association	Male Vocalist of the Year	—	[91]
	Country Music Association	Album of the Year	Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind	[91]
	Academy of Country Music	Top Male Vocalist	—	[90]
	Academy of Territory Music	Album of the Year	Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind	[90]
	Music City News Country	Male Artist of the Year	—
	Country Harmony Association	Male Vocalist of the Year	—	[91]
	Billboard Year-End Awards	Top Country Artist	—
	Billboard Year-End Awards	Top Country Artist	—
	Academy of Country Music	Top Male Vocalist	—	[90]
	Country Song Association	Entertainer of the Year	—	[91]
	Special	Connie B. Gay Award	—
	Academy of Country Music	Entertainer of the Year	—	[90]
	Special	Presidential American Success Award	—
	Country Music Association	Entertainer of the Year	—	[91]
	Radio & Records	Country Artist of the Year	—
	American Music Awards	Favorite Land Male Artist	—
	Academy of Country Music	Tex Ritter Movie of the Year	Pure Country	[90]
	Academy of Country Harmony	Single of the Year	"Check Yes or No"	[90]
	ASCAP	Voice Of Music Award	—
	TNN/Music City News	Video of the Year	"Check Yes or No"
	TNN/Music City News	Single of the Year	"Check Yes or No"
	TNN/Music City News	Album of the Year	Lead On
	Music Municipality News Country	Single of the Year	"Check Yes or No"
	Country Music Association	Single of the Year	"Check Yes or No"	[91]
	Country Harmony Association	Album of the Year	Blue Clear Sky	[91]
	Country Harmony Association	Male Vocalist of the Year	—	[91]
	Academy of Country Music	Top Male Vocalist	—	[90]
	Academy of Region Music	Album of the Year	Blue Clear Sky	[90]
	Radio & Records	Best Single	"Check Yes or No"	[90]
	Radio & Records	Best Male Vocalist	—
	Radio & Records	Most Valuable Performer	—
	TNN/Music City News	Album of the Year	Blue Clear Sky
	Country Music Association	Male Vocalist of the Year	—	[91]
	Country Music Association	Album of the Year	Carrying Your Love With Me	[91]
	American Music Awards	Favorite Region Album	Blue Clear Sky
	Academy of Country Music	Top Male Vocalist	—	[90]
	Academy of Country Music	Album of the Year	Carrying Your Love With Me	[90]
	Radio & Records	Best Album	Blue Clear Sky
	Radio & Records	Best Male Vocalist	—
	Country Music Association	Male Vocalist of the Year	—	[91]
	American Music Awards	Favorite Country Male Artist	—
	American Music Awards	Favorite Country Album	Carrying Your Adore With Me
	Radio & Records	Best Male Vocalist	—
	Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards	Favorite Song	"I Just Crave to Dance with You"
	Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards	Favorite Line Dance Song	"I Just Want to Dance with You"
	Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards	Favorite Video Entertainer	—
	Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards	Favorite Male Painter	—
	Country Weekly Golden Pick Awards	Favorite Entertainer	—
	Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards	Album of the Year	One Step at a Time
	Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards	Impact Artist of the Year	—
	Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards	Single of the Year	"Write This Down"
	Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards	Male Artist of the Year	—
	Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards	Entertainer of the Year	—
	Country Weekly / TNN/CMT Music Awards	Album of the Year	Always Never The Same
	Country Music Association	Vocal Event of the Year	"Murder on Music Row" (with Alan Jackson)	[91]
	Country Melody Association	Song of the Year	"Murder On Music Row" (awarded to songwriters)	[91]
	Country Weekly	Favorite Collaborative Song	"Designated Drinker" (with Alan Jackson)
	CMT 40 Greatest Men of Country Song	Ranked No.&#;9[citation needed]	—
	Academy of Country Music	Special Achievement Award (in recognition of 50 No.&#;1 Songs)	—	[90]
	Special Award	National Medal of Arts	—
	Cheyenne Frontier Days	Hall of Fame	—	[92]
	Country Music Association	Musical Event of the Year	"Good News, Bad News" (with Lee Ann Womack)	[91]
	Honorary Doctoral Degree	Texas State University–San Marcos	—
	Country Music Hall of Fame	Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame	—
	Academy of Country Music	Single Record of the Year (artist)	"Give It Away"	[91]
	Academy of Territory Music	Single Record of the Year (producer)	"Give It Away"	[91]
	Academy of Country Harmony	Song of the Year (artist)	"Give It Away"	[91]
	Country Music Association	Song of the Year	"Give It Away" (awarded to songwriter Jamey Johnson)	[91]
	Country Music Association	Album of the Year	It Just Comes Natural (for artist and producer)	[91]
	Country Music Association	Single of the Year	"I Saw God Today"	[91]
	Country Harmony Association	Album of the Year	Troubadour	[91]
	Grammy Awards	Best Country Album	Troubadour
	Academy of Country Tune	Artist of the Decade	—	[90]
		Top Country Artist of the Past 25 Years	—	[93]
	Country Radio Broadcasters Inc.	Country Radio Broadcasters Career Achievement Award	—
	ASCAP	ASCAP Founders Award	—
	Billboard Touring Awards	Legend of Live Award	—
	Country Music Association	Entertainer of the Year	—	[91]
	Academy of Country Music	Entertainer of the Year	—	[90]
	Academy of Country Music	50th Anniversary Milestone Award Winner	—	[90]
	Academy of Country Song	Cliffie Stone Icon Award	—	[90]
	Billboard Music Awards	Top Territory Tour
	National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum	Western Heritage Awards	Lifetime Achievement Award	[94]
	Hollywood Walk of Fame	Inducted into Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of	[16]
	Country Music Association Awards	Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award	[95]

References

Citations