Career Overview

Album Sales

George has sold more than 67 million records and counting. With 32 different platinum or multi-platinum albums, he’s earned the second most certifications of any artist in any genre, following only Elvis Presley.

Singles

With a total of 57, George Strait has more #1 songs than any other artist in history (including Elvis).

AWARDS

Throughout his career, George Strait has received more than 60 major entertainment industry awards and countless nominations. He has been a nominee for the CMA Entertainer of the Year 17 times and a nominee for the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year 24 times.

Grammy Awards

• Best Country Album – Troubadour: 2009

Grammy Award Nominations

• Best Country Album – Twang - 2010
• Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – “Everything But Quits” with Lee Ann Womack - 2010
• Best Male Country Vocal Performance – “Living For The Night” - 2010
• Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – “House of Cash” with Patty Loveless: 2009
• Best Country Collaboration with Vocals – “Shiftwork” with Kenny Chesney: 2009
• Best Male Country Vocal Performance – “Troubadour”: 2009
• Best Country Song – “I Saw God Today”(Awarded to the songwriter): 2009
• Best Country Album – Troubadour: 2009
• Best Country Album- It Just Comes Natural: 2007
• Best Male Country Vocal Performance- “Give It Away”: 2007
• Best Male Country Performance- “The Seashores of Old Mexico”: 2006
• Country Collaboration with Vocals- “Hey Good Lookin”: 2005
• Country Collaboration with Vocals- “Murder on Music Row”: 2001
• Best Male Country Vocal Performance- “Carrying Your Love With Me”: 1997
• Country Album- Carrying Your Love With Me: 1997
• Country Album- Tribute To The Music Of Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys: 1994
• Best Male Country Vocal Performance- “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”: 1988

CMA Awards

The Country Music Association inducted George Strait as one of the newest members of the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007. Formal induction took place during The 40th Annual CMA Awards, which broadcast live on the ABC Television Network, Monday, Nov. 6 from the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn.

George Strait currently holds the record for most CMA wins with 22. He has had 79 Country Music Association nominations. He was the CMA Vocalist of the Year five times and the only artist in history to be so honored in two different decades.

• CMA Musical Event of the Year: 2005
• CMA Vocal Event of the Year: 2000
• CMA Entertainer of the Year: 1990, 1989
• CMA Male Vocalist of the year: 1998, 1997, 1996, 1986, 1985
• CMA Album of the Year: 2008, 2007, 1997, 1996, 1985
• CMA Single of the Year: 2008, 1996

ACM Awards

He currently holds two all-time records for the ACM Awards with 19 wins and 81 nominations over the course of his career.

ACM Awards

• ACM Artist of the Decade Award: 2009
• ACM Gene Weed Award for Special Achievement: 2002
• ACM Entertainer of the Year: 1990
• ACM Tex Ritter Award: 1993
• ACM Top Male Vocalist: 1997, 1996, 1989, 1988, 1985, 1984
• ACM Album of the Year: 1997, 1996, 1985
• ACM Single of the Year: 2007, 1995
• ACM Song of the Year: 2007

American Music Awards

• AMA Top Male Country Vocalist: 1991, 1998
• AMA Favorite Country Album: 1997, 1998, 1991

Billboard Awards

• Billboard’s Top Overall Artist: 1986
• Billboard’s Top Male Artist: 1996, 1986
• Billboard’s Country Artist of the Year: 1996, 1987
• Billboard’s Male Vocalist of the Year: 1984
• Billboard’s Top Singles Artist: 1996, 1987
• Billboard’s Male Singles Artist of the Year: 1983
• Billboard’s New Male Album Artist of the Year: 1981
• Billboard’s # 1 Most Played Artist in All Genres: 1997
• Billboard’s Hot Country Singles and Tracks Artist: 1996, 1995

TNN Music Awards

• Country Weekly/TNN Music Awards Favorite Collaborative Song: 2002
• Country Weekly/TNN Music Awards Entertainer of the Year: 2001, 2000
• Country Weekly/TNN Music Awards Collaborative Event of the Year: 2001
• Country Weekly/TNN Music Awards Song of the Year: 2001
• Country Weekly/TNN Music Awards Favorite Entertainer: 2000
• Country Weekly/TNN Music Awards Impact Artist of the Year: 2001, 2000
• Country Weekly/TNN Music Awards Male Artist of the Year: 2000
• Country Weekly/TNN Music Awards Album of the Year: 2000
• Country Weekly/TNN Music Awards Single of the Year: 2000
• TNN / Music City News Awards Single of the Year: 2001, 1996
• TNN/Music City News Awards Male Vocalist of the Year: 1986
• TNN/Music City News Awards Album of the Year: 1997, 1996
• TNN/Music City News Awards Video of the Year: 1996

Country Weekly Awards

• Country Weekly Golden Pick Award Favorite Entertainer: 1999, 1998
• Country Weekly Golden Pick Award Favorite Male Artist: 1999, 1998
• Country Weekly Golden Pick Award Favorite Video Entertainer: 1999, 1997
• Country Weekly Golden Pick Award Favorite Line Dance Song: 1999
• Country Weekly Golden Pick Award Favorite Song: 1999, 1996
• Country Weekly Golden Pick Award Favorite Album: 1998, 1997
• Country Weekly Golden Pick Award Favorite Video: 1997

Inspirational Country Music Awards Nominations

• Mainstream Inspirational Country Song:” I Saw God Today”
• Mainstream Country Artist
• Video: I Saw God Today

Dove Awards Nominations

• Country Recorded Song for “I Saw God Today”: 2009

Other Awards

• Nashville Scene’s 9th Annual Country Music Critics Poll named:
  • Troubadour the #8 Album of the Year
  • “Troubadour” the #5 Single of the Year
  • George the #4 Male Vocalist of the Year
  • George the #8 Artist of the Year
• Troubadour – included in Chicago Sun Times Top 10 Albums: 2008
• Troubadour - #12 Country Album of the Year according to Billboard: 2008
• Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame: 2007
• Inducted into Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame: 2003
• National Medal of Arts: 2003
• RIAA 25th Platinum Album Award: 200
• 0 Buyer Association Award International Entertainment: 1999
• American Music Awards Favorite Country Album: 1998
• Radio & Records Best Male Vocalist: 1998, 1997
• Radio & Records Best Album: 1997
• Radio & Records Top Country Artist: 1996
• Radio & Records Best Single: 1996
• Radio & Records Country Performer of the Year: 1990
• British CMA Male Vocalist of the Year: 1998
• British CMA International Male Vocalist: 1997
• American Music Awards Favorite Country Award: 1997
• Dutch CMA Favorite Album of the Year: 1996
• ASCAP Voice of Music Award: 1995
• Tex Ritter Award: 1993
• SRO Touring Artist of the Year: 1990
• Connie B. Gay Award: 1989
• Southwest Texas State University Achievement Medal: 1984

Tour

• This year, George Strait continues selling out venues in record time. Tickets to Strait’s show at the Bank of Oklahoma (BOK) Center sold over 18,000 tickets in less than an hour, marking the first time in the history of the venue that many tickets were sold for a single event.
• In 2009, ACM Artist of the Decade George Strait sold out one of the largest entertainment venues in the world, the Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium, in less than an hour. Strait was joined by entertainment superstar Reba, singer/songwriter Blake Shelton and Texas traditionalist Lee Ann Womack.
• The indisputable King of Country did what comes naturally, by continuing his concert attendance streak of years past by selling out arenas and shattering venue records across the country at multiple stops along his 2008 tour. Joining him were newcomers Little Big Town and Sarah Johns.
• In 2006, George celebrated his 25th year as an MCA Records artist with a 25-city tour of the U.S. and Canada, with opening acts Miranda Lambert and Tracy Lawrence. During the arena tour, George continued his streak of selling out and setting attendance records. He broke his own record at Little Rock’s Alltel Arena for drawing the largest crowd in the history of the arena (set by Strait on Feb. 25, 2004). The same week as the Little Rock show, other sold-out shows included 15,200 fans at Omaha’s Qwest Center and 18,500 at Oklahoma City’s Ford Center.
• His sold-out 2006 appearance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was his 19th appearance at the event since 1984. Every one of them has been a sell-out. He holds the single-day attendance record for his 2001 performance in front of 68,266.
• George Strait holds more than 20 attendance records at venues from coast to coast.
• The George Strait Country Music Festival is the most successful country stadium tour of all-time. Running from 1998 to 2001, the stadium tour featured such superstar opening acts as Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn, Lee Ann Womack, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley and others, all of whom credit the tour as helping their careers and teaching them about staging a major national tour.

Did You Know?

• George has been on the cover of Country Weekly magazine 47 times…more than any other Artist. His most recent cover, making it 48 & counting, hit stands April 21, 2008.
• George received an honorary doctorate degree by Texas State University, May 26, 2006. Strait graduated from the university in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture.
• The Ace in the Hole band formed in 1975. Original members include mainstays Terry Hale (bass), Mike Daily (steel guitar) and Tommy Foote (then drummer, now road manager). Rondal Huckaby (keyboards), Benny McArthur (guitar/fiddle), Gene Elders (fiddle), Rick McRae (guitar), and Mike Kennedy (drums) all joined in the early ‘80s and have been with the band for 20-to-25 years. Rounding out the band is John Michael Whitby (strings), Joe Manuel (acoustic guitar), Marty Slayton (harmony vocals) and Thom Flora (harmony vocals).
• Since 1972, George Strait has hosted the George Strait Team Roping Classic in San Antonio each year. He also competes with his son Bubba in the GSTRC as well as other roping events throughout the country. 2007 was the GSTRC’s 25th Anniversary.
• “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire” and “Jeopardy” have used George Strait trivia as the basis of multiple questions.
• George Strait recorded a duet with Frank Sinatra in 1994.
• George Strait wrapped up the shooting of the movie "Pure Country" on June 22nd, 1992. The movie took 40 12-hour days to shoot.
• George Strait went behind the bars to play the Huntsville Prison Rodeo in 1985.
• George enlisted in the Army in 1971. He served as a payroll clerk in Hawaii and sang in an Army band. He was discharged in 1975.
• George Strait graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1979 with a degree in agriculture.