George Strait

George Strait
A photo of George Strait holding a guitar
Strait performing in 2014
Background information
Birth nameGeorge Harvey Strait Sr.
Born (1952-05-18) May 18, 1952 (age 72)
Poteet, Texas, U.S.
OriginPearsall, Texas[1]
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
  • record producer
  • rancher
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Discography
Years active1976–present
Labels
Member ofAce in the Hole Band
Spouse
Norma Strait
​
(m. 1971)​
Websitewww.georgestrait.com
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1971–1975
Rank Corporal
Unit25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks

George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer.

Strait has sold more than 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 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 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.[7][8][9][10] He currently holds the record for the most number one songs on all charts by an artist, 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 1970s, recording tracks for the Dallas-based independent record label D Records.[2] Strait's success began when his first single "Unwound" was a hit in 1981, helping introduce the neotraditional movement 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 for the album Troubadour. 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.

By 2009, he broke Conway Twitty's previous record for the most number-one hits on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart when his 44 number one singles surpassed Twitty's 40.[12] Strait has amassed 60 number-one hits.[13] "Give It All We Got Tonight" was number one in 2013,[14] breaking a record also previously set by Twitty. Strait holds the record for most number one songs on all charts by an artist in any genre of music."[7][11]

Strait has been known for his touring career beginning when he designed a 360-degree configuration and introduced festival style tours. For example, the Strait Tours earned $99 million in three years.[15] His final concert for The Cowboy Rides Away Tour at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in June 2014, drew 104,793 people. It set a new record for the largest indoor concert in North America.[16]

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.[17][18] He additionally was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the same year for its class of 2025.[19]

  1. ^ Bego 2001, p. 7.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference erlewineart was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Live at Texas Stadium". georgestrait.com. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  4. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  5. ^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  6. ^ Dicaire, David (August 18, 2008). The New Generation of Country Music Stars. McFarland, Incorporated. ISBN 9780786437870. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "George Strait". UDiscoverMusic. March 8, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  8. ^ DeDekker, Jeff (September 14, 2011). "George Strait is the king of country music". National Post. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  9. ^ Garcia, Ricky (May 18, 2022). "George Strait turns 70: Facts you may not know about the 'King of Country'". KXAN-TV. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Villalva, Brittney R. (September 27, 2012). "George Strait Farewell Tour Announced". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference radio-60 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference billboard-2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Country Aircheck Weekly May 20th, 2013 Issue 346" (PDF). Country Aircheck Weekly. May 20, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  14. ^ Mansfield, Brian (May 20, 2013). "George Strait gets 60th No. 1 hit". USA Today. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference billboard-waddell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference dmn-tipping was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ "George Strait Breaks Attendance Record With Largest Concert Ever Held in the U.S." Billboard. June 16, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  18. ^ "George Strait sets record for biggest ticketed concert in U.S. history". The Seattle Times. June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  19. ^ 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.