George Strait… a living legend.
Eric Church shared a hilariously awesome George Strait story with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe on his “At Home” podcast last year, and it’s one for the ages.
Back on George’s farewell tour in 2014, Eric was opening a show for him in Omaha, Nebraska.
Of course, Eric is a massive George Strait fan and even told Zane he would not only put him on the Mount Rushmore of country music greats, but he very well may be the greatest to ever do it in the genre:
“There’s an argument that you’re talking greatest artist of all time, in country, you’re talking about that.”
He goes on to talk about his time touring with The King, and that’s where it gets really good.
“We played Texas stadium. That was his last show. But, my favorite thing is we came up on his bus, the first show I played was an acoustic show I did in front of his show in Omaha, Nebraska, and we go up on his bus after the show. I took my wife.”
I mean, hanging out on George Strait’s tour bus? If that isn’t already the dream.
But wait, it gets even better.
“We’re up there and George is, you know, he’s The King. And he just played in the round for all these people.
He’s up there, and we’re talking about music and I mention James Brown. And he goes ‘I love James Brown!’ I said ‘oh, good.’ So George has got his boots off, he’s in gold toe black socks, like dress socks.
And I said ‘let’s play some James Brown, come on.’ So he puts on some James Brown. And next thing I know, George Strait is tearing down in the middle of the bus, my wife’s tearing down with him, they’re all dancin’.”
You have to love it.
I mean, what else would we expect from The King?
“I’m watching George Strait dance in gold toe socks to James Brown. It’s one of the coolest damn things I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve never seen anything like that. It is cool as shit.
So I’m watching this guy do this, goin’ ‘it doesn’t get better than this. This is the best I’ve seen.’ So, he’s tearing it up, man. George Strait and James Brown. Beat that.”
Well, George, James and Katherine (Eric’s wife)… what I wouldn’t give to see that.
Hear Eric tell the story himself:
Cue “Cowboy’s Like Us” from the 2014 CMA Awards:
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George Strait Covers Of Brooks & Dunn’s “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”
Hot DAMN.
Back in 2010, the Academy of Country Music brought some of country’s biggest stars together to honor one of the most iconic duos in country music history… the great Brooks & Dunn.
Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, even Taylor Swift… tons of artists were there to pay tribute to Kix and Ronnie.
But there was another artist there, even more legendary than Brooks & Dunn… the great George Strait.
Donning a bright white suit jacket, and even his glasses, George walked onto that stage like an angel walks through Heaven. Glowing, floating… with a certain holy reverence about him.
And after some kind words about Kix and Ronnie, King George went to work on an electric cover of the 1991 classic, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.”
And he blew the damn roof off.
How about that baby-faced Luke Bryan in the crowd too? Time flies…
George Strait Nearly Breaks His Own RodeoHouston Attendance Record
Looks like King George brought the house down at RodeoHouston.
Of course, what’s the world’s biggest rodeo without George Strait himself?
The country legend drew a crowd of 79,452 fans, almost topping his 2019 appearance, where he set an NRG Stadium record of 80,108 fans.
For this year’s show, he played an astounding 29 songs over a course of two-plus hours, according to Houston Culture Map.
Although he drew nearly an identical crowd at his 2019 show, which featured Texas country legends Robert Earn Keen and Lyle Lovett, he decided to bring in a young face to join him on stage this year as an opener, and it was Ashley McBryde.
She performed her hits like “Martha Devine,” “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega,” “Voodoo Doll,” “Whiskey + Country Music,” as well as a kickass rendition of the Allman Brothers’ “Midnight Rider.”
After a 20 minute intermission, it was time for Strait to hit the stage.
He strutted on stage reppin’ a red and white plaid dress shirt, a black cowboy hat, blue jeans, and brown cowboy boots.
He kicked things off with his Pure Country movie hit song, “Heartland,” and the crowd was on their feet, roaring.
Needless to say, it was quite the memorable night for the man.
