History of George Strait in Timeline
George Strait is a highly celebrated American country music singer, songwriter, actor, music producer, and rancher. Known for his traditional country sound, he has achieved immense success throughout his career, becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Strait has released numerous chart-topping albums and singles, earning him the title 'King of Country.' His contributions to the genre have solidified his status as an icon and a major influence on subsequent generations of country musicians.
May 18, 1952: George Strait's Birth
On May 18, 1952, George Harvey Strait Sr. was born in Poteet, Texas. He would later become a very famous country singer.
1966: Eddy Arnold inducted to the hall of fame
In 1966, Eddy Arnold was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
December 4, 1971: Marriage to Norma Voss
On December 4, 1971, George Strait eloped with his high school sweetheart, Norma Voss, marrying in Mexico.
December 1971: Marriage to Norma
In December 1971, George Strait eloped with his high school sweetheart, Norma, in Mexico.
October 6, 1972: Birth of First Child
On October 6, 1972, George and Norma Strait had their first child, Jenifer, while George was stationed in Hawaii.
1973: "Amarillo by Morning" Original Release
In 1973, the song "Amarillo by Morning" was originally sung and written by Terry Stafford.
1975: Honorable Discharge from the Army
In 1975, George Strait was honorably discharged from the United States Army, having served as an infantryman and attained the rank of corporal.
1975: Enrollment at Southwest Texas State University
In 1975, after being discharged from the Army, George Strait enrolled at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos to pursue a degree in agriculture.
1977: The Grateful Dead Concert
In 1977, The Grateful Dead set a record with 107,019 fans at their show at Raceway Park in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey. That was the U.S. concert record for most fans at a single headlining act until George Strait broke that record in 2024.
February 1981: Signing with MCA Records
In February 1981, George Strait signed a recording contract with MCA Records after considering giving up on music, marking a turning point in his career.
December 5, 1981: Rolling Stones Concert at the New Orleans Superdome
On December 5, 1981, The Rolling Stones held a concert at the New Orleans Superdome which had 87,500 fans in attendance. This was the record for the "largest indoor concert ever," until George Strait broke it in 2014.
1981: Birth of son George Harvey Strait Jr.
In 1981, George Strait and his wife Norma welcomed their son, George Harvey Strait Jr., known as "Bubba".
1981: Release of "Unwound" and Debut Album
In 1981, George Strait released his first single, "Unwound", which became a hit, and it was included on his debut album "Strait Country".
1981: Debut Single "Unwound" Enters Top 10
In 1981, George Strait's debut single, "Unwound", peaked at number six on the Hot Country Singles chart, marking the beginning of his record of having at least one single in the top 10 of a Billboard chart for 30 consecutive years.
1981: First Major Label Single
In 1981, George Strait's first major label single "Unwound" became a minor hit, marking the beginning of his commercial success and introducing neotraditional country style.
1982: First Number One Country Radio Hit
In 1982, George Strait achieved his first number one country radio hit with "Fool Hearted Memory", solidifying his place in the mainstream country music scene.
1982: Bit Part in 'The Soldier'
In 1982, George Strait had a bit part in the film 'The Soldier'.
1982: Release of "Strait from the Heart"
In 1982, George Strait released his second album, "Strait from the Heart", which featured his first number-one single, "Fool Hearted Memory", and the popular song "Amarillo by Morning".
1983: Start of Number One Streak
In 1983, George Strait began a streak of five number one songs from his next two albums "Right or Wrong" and "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind".
1983: Inauguration of The George Strait Team Roping Classic
In 1983, George Strait began hosting The George Strait Team Roping Classic, a prestigious annual team-roping event originally held in Kingsville, Texas.
1983: First Appearance at Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
In 1983, George Strait made his first appearance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, marking the beginning of a long-standing tradition in his career.
1984: Continued Success with Number One Album
In 1984, George Strait continued his success with "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind" which won the CMA award.
1985: Establishment of Endowment Fund
In 1985, George Strait established an endowment fund for the Freeman Ranch to support agricultural development, land and wildlife management, and scholarships at Texas State University.
1985: CMA Award and Greatest Hits Compilation
In 1985, George Strait won the CMA award for top male vocalist and released his first greatest hits compilation, which included songs from his first three albums, and released "Something Special".
June 25, 1986: Death of daughter Jenifer
On June 25, 1986, George Strait's daughter, Jenifer, tragically died in an automobile accident in San Marcos at the age of 13. The family subsequently established the Jenifer Lyn Strait Foundation to support children's charities in the San Antonio area.
1986: Death of Daughter Jenifer
In 1986, George Strait and his family experienced the tragic death of his 13-year-old daughter, Jenifer, in a car accident, leading to a significant limitation of his contact with the media.
1986: Start of 11 Straight Number-One Hits
In 1986, George Strait began a streak of 11 straight number-one hits with "Nobody in His Right Mind Would've Left Her", despite the tragic loss of his daughter.
1986: CMA Vocalist of the Year and New Album
In 1986, George Strait repeated as the CMA vocalist of the year and released his fourth number-one album, #7.
1987: Release of Ocean Front Property
In 1987, George Strait released "Ocean Front Property", which became the first country album to debut at number one on the charts.
1988: Release of "If You Ain't Lovin' You Ain't Livin'"
In 1988, George Strait released the album "If You Ain't Lovin' You Ain't Livin'", which reached number one on country album charts.
1989: End of Number-One Hit Streak and CMA Entertainer of the Year
In 1989, George Strait ended his streak of 11 straight number-one hits with "Ace in the Hole" and won the CMA Entertainer of the Year award.
1989: CMA Entertainer of the Year
In 1989, George Strait was named CMA Entertainer of the Year, marking a significant achievement in his career.
1990: Release of Livin' It Up
In 1990, George Strait released his 10th studio album, "Livin' It Up", featuring two number-one hits, "Love Without End, Amen" and "I've Come to Expect It From You", which remained at number one for five weeks.
1990: CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year
In 1990, George Strait was named CMA Entertainer of the Year again and ACM Entertainer of the Year, recognizing his continued success and impact on country music.
1990: Consecutive CMA Entertainer of the Year Award
In 1990, George Strait won his second consecutive CMA Entertainer of the Year award.
1991: Release of Chill of an Early Fall
In 1991, George Strait released "Chill of an Early Fall", which received positive reviews and produced the number-one songs "If I Know Me" and "You Know Me Better Than That".
1992: Release of Holding My Own
In 1992, George Strait released the album "Holding My Own", which did not produce any number-one hits but included two top-five songs, including "So Much Like My Dad".
1992: Starring in Pure Country and Soundtrack Release
In 1992, George Strait starred in the film "Pure Country" and released the film's soundtrack, which became his most successful studio album and produced hits like "Heartland", "I Cross My Heart", and "When Did You Stop Loving Me".
1992: Strait Stars in 'Pure Country'
In 1992, George Strait starred in the film 'Pure Country'.
1993: Release of Easy Come, Easy Go
In 1993, George Strait released the album "Easy Come, Easy Go", which reached the top five on the Billboard 200 and featured hits like "I'd Like to Have That One Back", "The Man in Love with You", and the number-one title track.
1994: Release of Lead On Album
In 1994, George Strait released the album "Lead On", which charted at number one.
1995: Release of Strait Out of the Box
In 1995, George Strait released a four-disc box set career retrospective, "Strait Out of the Box", which included new songs and became the second-best selling box set ever.
1996: Release of Blue Clear Sky Album
In 1996, George Strait released the album "Blue Clear Sky", which charted at number one on its debut week.
1997: Release of Carrying Your Love with Me Album
In 1997, George Strait released the album "Carrying Your Love with Me", which peaked at number one on the Billboard 200.
1997: CMA's Top Male Vocalist Award and George Strait Country Music Festival
In 1997, George Strait was named as the CMA's Top Male Vocalist and started headlining the George Strait Country Music Festival, which included various artists.
1998: Release of One Step at a Time Album
In 1998, George Strait released the album "One Step at a Time", which charted at number one and added to his streak of successful albums.
1998: CMA's Top Male Vocalist Award
In 1998, George Strait was named as the CMA's Top Male Vocalist for the second year in a row, confirming his place as a top male singer in the country.
1998: George Strait Country Music Festival Tour
In 1998, the George Strait Country Music Festival tour was the ninth-biggest grossing tour of the year, despite playing a small number of dates.
1999: Release of Always Never the Same Album
In 1999, George Strait completed the decade with the album "Always Never the Same", which peaked at number two on country charts and reached number six on the Billboard 200.
2000: Release of self-titled album
In 2000, George Strait released a self-titled album. While it reached number one on the country album charts and number seven on the Billboard 200, it didn't produce any number-one singles and was the first of his studio albums not to be certified platinum. The singles "Go On" and "If You Can Do Anything Else" both reached the top five.
May 2001: Release of The Road Less Traveled
In May 2001, George Strait released "The Road Less Traveled". The album received mostly positive reviews, with Rolling Stone noting its experimental nature due to "vocal processing". The album produced three singles, including "She'll Leave You with a Smile" which became Strait's 50th chart-topping song and reached number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Living and Living Well", which also reached the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100.
2001: George Strait Country Music Festival
In 2001, George Strait headlined the George Strait Country Music Festival, which included various artists.
2002: Appearance in 'Grand Champion'
In 2002, George Strait appeared as himself in the film 'Grand Champion'.
2003: Release of For the Last Time: Live from the Astrodome
In 2003, George Strait released "For the Last Time: Live from the Astrodome", a recording of the final Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo held in the Astrodome. His performance set a new attendance record for the venue with 68,266 people, surpassing Selena's 1995 record of about 67,000.
2004: Rodeo attendance record and 50 Number Ones album
In 2004, George Strait set a new rodeo attendance record at Reliant Stadium with 68,679 spectators. He also released a greatest hits package called "50 Number Ones", which chronicled his number-one hits from all charts, starting with "Fool Hearted Memory" and ending with "She'll Leave You With a Smile". The album included a new track, "I Hate Everything", which became his 51st number one hit that year.
May 26, 2006: Honorary Doctoral Degree
On May 26, 2006, George Strait was presented with an honorary doctoral degree by Texas State University in San Marcos.
October 3, 2006: Release of It Just Comes Natural album
On October 3, 2006, George Strait celebrated his 30th year in the music industry with the release of his album "It Just Comes Natural". Recorded in Key West, Florida, the album featured 15 new songs and received positive reviews. The lead single, "Give It Away", reached number one, making songwriter "Whispering Bill" Anderson the first to have a number-one hit in five decades. The title track, "It Just Comes Natural," became his 42nd Billboard number one.
2006: Son's rodeo competition
In 2006, George Strait was able to watch his son, George Strait Jr., compete in team-roping at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo shortly before taking the stage for his own performance.
2006: Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame
In 2006, George Strait was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame and performed "Give it Away" at the 40th CMA Awards before accepting his replica Hall of Fame plaque.
2007: "Wrapped" reached number one and Arena Tour
In 2007, George Strait's song "Wrapped" reached number one on the Mediabase 24/7 country music charts, making it his 55th overall number-one single. Also from January through April of that year, he headlined a 23-date arena tour with Ronnie Milsap and Taylor Swift.
April 1, 2008: Release of Troubadour album
On April 1, 2008, George Strait released his album "Troubadour", which included 12 tracks, featuring duets with Patty Loveless and Dean Dillon. The lead single, "I Saw God Today", debuted at number 19 on the Radio and Records and Billboard charts, marking the highest debut for a Strait single and the fourth-highest in country music history. "Troubadour" debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200, selling over 160,000 copies in its first week.
October 2008: Named Artist of the Decade by ACM
In October 2008, the Academy of Country Music Awards named George Strait their Artist of the Decade for the 2000s.
April 10, 2009: Death of brother John Byron Strait
On April 10, 2009, George Strait's older brother, John Byron "Buddy" Strait, passed away at the age of 58.
April 2009: Academy of Country Music Artist of the Decade Award
In April 2009, George Strait was honored with the Academy of Country Music Artist of the Decade Award. Garth Brooks, the previous recipient, presented him with the award.
May 28, 2009: Release of "Living for the Night"
On May 28, 2009, George Strait released the single "Living for the Night", co-written with his son Bubba and Dean Dillon. The song was the lead single from his album Twang.
August 11, 2009: Release of album Twang
On August 11, 2009, George Strait released his album "Twang", which was later certified gold. By this time, he had surpassed Conway Twitty's record for the most number-one hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, with 44 number one singles compared to Twitty's 40.
2009: Most CMA Awards
As of 2009, George Strait holds the record for the most CMA awards.
2009: Grammy Award for Troubadour
In 2009, George Strait won his first Grammy Award for Best Country Album for his album "Troubadour".
2009: "River of Love" reached number one
In 2009, George Strait's "River of Love", the third single from his "Troubadour" album, became his 57th number-one song.
June 8, 2010: Named Top Country-Music Artist of the Past 25 Years
On June 8, 2010, George Strait was named the top country-music artist of the past 25 years according to Billboard.
2010: Billboard ranked Strait number one
In 2010, Billboard ranked George Strait number one in the top-25 country artists of the past 25 years.
2010: Spokesman for Wrangler National Patriot program
Since 2010, George Strait has served as a spokesman for the Wrangler National Patriot program, which raises awareness and funds for wounded and fallen military veterans and their families. He also appeared in commercials for Tractor Supply Company.
September 6, 2011: Release of Here for a Good Time album
On September 6, 2011, George Strait released the album "Here for a Good Time", which produced two number-one singles: "Here for a Good Time" and "Love's Gonna Make It Alright", bringing his total to 59 number-one singles. The third single from the album, "Drinkin' Man", was less successful, peaking at number 37.
February 2012: Became a grandfather
In February 2012, George Strait became a grandfather when George Strait Jr. and his wife Tamara had their first child, a son named George Harvey Strait III.
September 26, 2012: Retirement announcement
On September 26, 2012, George Strait announced his retirement from touring, stating that his Cowboy Rides Away Tour would be his last.
October 2012: Release of "Give It All We Got Tonight"
In October 2012, George Strait released the single "Give It All We Got Tonight", which was later included on his album Love Is Everything. The release of this song started a "60 for 60" campaign by Strait's label, aimed at making the song his 60th number-one hit while he was 60 years old.
January 18, 2013: Start of Cowboy Rides Away Tour
On January 18, 2013, George Strait began his Cowboy Rides Away Tour in Lubbock, Texas. Tickets for the arenas and stadiums on the tour sold out rapidly.
May 14, 2013: Release of Love Is Everything album
On May 14, 2013, George Strait released the album "Love Is Everything".
May 2013: "Give It All We Got Tonight" reached the top of the Mediabase charts
In May 2013, George Strait's song "Give It All We Got Tonight" reached the top of the Mediabase charts. However, the album's next single, "I Believe", peaked at number 50 on the U.S. Country Airplay chart, making it his first single to miss the top 40. Strait also won the 2013 CMA Entertainer of the Year award.
June 1, 2013: Last Concert of the First Half of Farewell Tour
On June 1, 2013, George Strait performed at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, for 70,000 fans in the last concert of the first half of his two-year farewell tour, and May 18 was announced as George Strait Day in Texas.
November 2013: Billboard Legend of Live honor
In November 2013, Billboard honored George Strait with its Legend of Live award during the 10th annual Billboard Touring Awards ceremony, recognizing his concert industry achievements based on Billboard's Boxscore chart and box-office performance. He is the first country artist to receive this award.
2013: CMA Entertainer of the Year
In 2013, George Strait was once again named CMA Entertainer of the Year, further cementing his legacy in country music.
January 9, 2014: Second leg of The Cowboy Rides Away Tour
On January 9, 2014, George Strait initiated the second leg of "The Cowboy Rides Away Tour", featuring opening acts such as Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Martina McBride, and many more.
June 7, 2014: End of the Cowboy Rides Away Tour
On June 7, 2014, George Strait concluded his Cowboy Rides Away Tour in Arlington, Texas, after two legs comprising 47 concerts. The tour concluded with a concert in Arlington, Texas.
August 29, 2014: CMT Concert Special: George Strait: The Cowboy Rides Away
On August 29, 2014, Country Music Television (CMT) broadcast a two-hour concert special titled "George Strait: The Cowboy Rides Away". The special featured one and a quarter hours of music from the concert and interviews.
September 16, 2014: Release of The Cowboy Rides Away: Live from AT&T Stadium
On September 16, 2014, George Strait released "The Cowboy Rides Away: Live from AT&T Stadium", a live album recorded from his final concert in Arlington.
October 11, 2014: Previous Record for Most Fans at Kyle Field
On October 11, 2014, a Texas A&M football game against Ole Miss attracted 110,633 fans to Kyle Field. This was the record until George Strait's concert broke it in 2024.
November 10, 2014: DVD/CD release of The Cowboy Rides Away: Live from AT&T Stadium
On November 10, 2014, the DVD/CDs of George Strait's "The Cowboy Rides Away: Live from AT&T Stadium" concert were released, including a deluxe edition with two CDs exclusively through Walmart.
2014: ACM Entertainer of the Year
In 2014, George Strait received the ACM Entertainer of the Year award, adding to his collection of accolades.
April 19, 2015: Guest appearance at the 2015 ACM Awards
On April 19, 2015, George Strait made a guest appearance at the 2015 ACM Awards, where he performed "All My Ex's Lives in Texas" and his new single "Let It Go".
2016: Performed on "Forever Country"
In 2016, George Strait was one of 30 artists selected to perform on "Forever Country," a mash-up of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again", and "I Will Always Love You" celebrating 50 years of the CMA Awards.
2018: Release of single "Codigo"
In 2018, George Strait released a single called "Codigo", named after a brand of tequila from a company in which he had invested.
2023: Ranked in Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked George Strait at number 156 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
June 15, 2024: Record for most fans at a U.S. concert by a single headlining act
On Saturday, June 15, 2024, George Strait broke the record for most fans at a U.S. concert by a single headlining act, with 110,905 fans attending his concert at Kyle Field at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. This event also set a new record for Texas A&M’s Kyle Field for most fans at a single event.
2024: Largest Ticketed Concert in U.S. History
In mid-2024, George 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.
July 2025: Central Texas Floods
In July 2025, Central Texas communities experienced floods, prompting George Strait to organize a relief concert later that month.
July 27, 2025: Relief concert in Boerne
On July 27, 2025, George Strait organized an intimate relief concert in Boerne to aid communities affected by the July 2025 Central Texas floods. The concert raised $6.25M.
September 27, 2025: Zach Bryan Breaks Concert Attendance Record
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, Zach Bryan performed a concert at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, breaking the record for largest attendance at a U.S. ticketed concert with a single headlining act. He played to an announced crowd of 112,408. It was the second concert in the 98-year history of the venue, but the first by a headlining act.
December 2025: Kennedy Center Honoree
In December 2025, George Strait will be presented with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Honoree for Lifetime Artistic Achievement at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
2025: Induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2025, George Strait was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
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