What a day.
On this date in 1987, George Strait was at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with his 11th #1 hit “All My Ex’s Live In Texas.”
Written by Sanger “Whitey” Shafer and his fourth wife Lyndia, it was released in April of 1987 as the second single from George’s Ocean Front Property album.
Funny enough, Whitey and his third wife Darlene co-wrote another one of George’s hits, “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind” as well.
In The Billboard Book Of Number One Country Hits, Whitey noted that the song was really based on his real life experiences with ladies down in Texas:
“I was kinda writin’ my biography. I changed the names to protect the guilty. I do have some ex’s in Texas. Thank God they live down there.
It’s not really why I live in Tennessee, but it’s a good kicker for the song.”
Whatever you say, Whitey…
Of course, it’s gone on to be one of George’s most popular and recognizable songs, and an all-time country classic that fans all over the world still love to this day.
I mean, check out George performing it live back in 1990… somethin’ tells me The King has ex’s all over the dang country:
The studio version:
