George Strait
George Strait | |
|---|---|
Strait in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | George Harvey Strait Sr. |
| Born | May 18, 1952 Poteet, Texas, U.S. |
| Origin | Pearsall, Texas[1] |
| Genres |
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| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Works |
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| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels |
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| Member of | Ace in the Hole Band |
| Spouse |
Norma Strait (m. 1971) |
| Website | www |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1971–1975 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks |
| Signature | |
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 best-selling music artists of all time.[3] He holds the RIAA record for most certified albums by any artist, 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 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.[5]
He is credited for pioneering the neotraditional country style in the 1980s,[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 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,[7][8] including a record 44 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. He has been nominated for 16 Grammy Awards, winning his first and only award for Best Country Album in 2009 with his album Troubadour.[9]
Strait's career in country music began performing with his band Ace in the Hole in Texas honky-tonks in the 1970s, recording tracks for the Houston-based independent record label D Records.[2] 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.[10]
Strait's commercial success began when his first major label single "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 CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 2013, and 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 has been known for his touring career beginning when he designed a 360-degree configuration and introduced festival style tours.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13][14] He additionally was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the same year for its class of 2025.[15]
- ^ Bego 2001, p. 7.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
erlewineartwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Live at Texas Stadium". georgestrait.com. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ Dicaire, David (August 18, 2008). The New Generation of Country Music Stars. McFarland, Incorporated. ISBN 9780786437870. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
UDiscoverMusicwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
radio-60was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "George Strait". Grammy Awards. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- ^ Lambourne, Aidan. "Even Before He Was A Country Star, George Strait Was A Cowboy — See The Job He Had Before Making It Big". Wide Open Country. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
billboard-waddellwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
dmn-tippingwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "George Strait Breaks Attendance Record With Largest Concert Ever Held in the U.S." Billboard. June 16, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ "George Strait sets record for biggest ticketed concert in U.S. history". The Seattle Times. June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ Simmerman, Alexis (June 26, 2024). "STATE Country music's George Strait to be inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved September 18, 2024.