George Harvey Strait Sr., born on May 18, 1952, in Poteet, Texas, is an American country music icon widely regarded as the “King of Country.”
Raised in nearby Pearsall, Texas, on a 2,000-acre cattle ranch owned by his father, Strait grew up immersed in the rural lifestyle that would later define his authentic cowboy image.
His early life was shaped by ranch work alongside his family, but his passion for music emerged during his high school years, initially through rock and roll before shifting to country music.
Strait’s career spans over four decades, marked by his commitment to traditional country sounds, including western swing and honky-tonk, which he revitalized in the 1980s during a time when pop-influenced country dominated Nashville.
Siblings
George grew up with two siblings, an older brother, John “Buddy” Strait Jr., and a younger sister, Pency Strait.
Buddy, born on May 27, 1950, was an actor known for his role in Palo Pinto and shared George’s love for ranching, co-organizing the George Strait Team Roping Classic, an annual event reflecting their shared cowboy heritage.
Tragically, Buddy passed away in April 2009.
Pency, who moved away with their mother, has maintained a low profile, with little public information available about her life.
Career
Strait’s musical journey began in earnest during his high school years at Pearsall High School, where he played in a rock and roll garage band inspired by the Beatles.
His taste soon shifted to country music, influenced by legends like Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, George Jones, and Bob Wills.
After eloping with Norma in 1971, Strait enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as an infantryman in Hawaii.
There, he joined an Army-sponsored country band, Rambling Country, which performed off-base as Santee, marking his first serious foray into country music.
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Discharged in 1975, Strait enrolled at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University), earning a degree in agriculture while leading the Ace in the Hole Band, which he renamed after joining as a vocalist.
Despite initial rejections from Nashville, Strait’s persistence paid off when MCA Records signed him in 1981.
His debut single, “Unwound,” reached number six on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, launching a career that would redefine traditional country music.
Albums like Strait Country (1981), Strait from the Heart (1982), and Ocean Front Property (1987) established him as a neotraditionalist, blending honky-tonk and western swing with a modern sensibility.
Strait’s 1992 film debut in Pure Country, alongside its chart-topping soundtrack, expanded his reach, while his innovative 360-degree concert configuration and festival-style tours revolutionized live country performances.
By 2014, his final show of The Cowboy Rides Away Tour drew a record-breaking 104,793 fans, and in 2024, he set a new U.S. record for the largest ticketed concert by a single act, with 110,905 attendees at Kyle Field in Texas.
Strait’s discography includes over 60 number-one hits, a record across all genres, and he continues to perform selectively while managing his Texas ranch and hosting the George Strait Team Roping Classic.
Accolades
Strait holds the record for the most number-one singles (60) and number-one albums on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, alongside 33 platinum or multi-platinum albums, with over 120 million records sold worldwide.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) ranks him as the 12th best-selling album artist in the U.S., with over 70 million records sold domestically.
Strait has won 17 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, including three Entertainer of the Year titles (1989, 1990, 2013) and the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
He also secured a Grammy Award for Best Country Album for Troubadour (2008) and multiple Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, including Artist of the Decade for the 2000s.
In 2006, Strait was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, a testament to his role in preserving and advancing traditional country music.
His 1995 boxed set, Strait Out of the Box, sold over 5 million copies, one of the best-selling boxed sets in music history.
In 2024, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing his broader influence on entertainment.
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