The classic country musician’s new concert attendance record is another example that suggests a return to more traditional country stylings is underway.
On Saturday, June 15, 2024, singer and performer George Strait added another record to his long list of accolades. He performed for 110,905 concert attendees, making it the biggest ticketed show in American history. The performance, which took place in College Station, Texas at Texas A&M University’s Kyle Field, is indicative of an overall return among country music listeners to more traditional stylings. As more and more fans embrace classic country artists, George Strait remains one of the genre’s longtime musicians championing an authentic country sound.
King of Country
Cover for George Strait's 1982 album "Strait From the Heart" featuring his first hit song, "Fool Hearted Memory." Internet Archive. (Public Domain)
Ever since Mr. Strait scored his first number one hit in 1982 with “Fool Hearted Memory” from his sophomore album, “Strait from the Heart,” he’s been one of country music’s best-selling artists. His signature flat black cowboy hat is instantly recognizable. He’s a more updated version of some of the genre’s early, formidable singing cowboys like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Like Autry and Rogers, Mr. Strait’s influence is forever ingrained in the country music genre. His success has garnered him nicknames over the years, including “King of Country” and “King George.”
During the course of his long career, he’s amassed 60 number one hit singles, dozens of certified platinum albums, and many awards, including a Grammy for his 2008 album release, “Troubadour.” With a career spanning three decades and 30 different album releases, the country icon showed no signs of fatigue as he took the stage at Kyle Field in Texas to promote his upcoming album, “Cowboys and Dreamers.”
More than 110,000 people gathered for his concert over Father’s Day weekend, signifying that classic country music is experiencing another golden era. Their attendance meant the real-life cowboy-turned-troubadour added another feather to his cap. The large crowd broke a 47-year-old concert record. As Mr. Strait performed, he became the artist to hold the “new record for the largest U.S. ticketed show in history.”
Before June 15, 2024, the Grateful Dead held the record for 47 years, thanks to a widely attended show in New Jersey in 1977.
A Swinging Pendulum
George Strait performing at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2014. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
In 2023, a study showed, “around 150 million Americans listen to country music at least once a month.” According to another report, this equates to “around 45 percent of the whole country” that includes the genre in their mix of music. Country music’s popularity is on the rise. Listeners of all generations, from Baby Boomers to Millennials, are still turning to the genre’s foundational artists when streaming their favorites.
So far, 2024 data shows the more traditional country artists, like Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, rank as some of the year’s “most popular country artists.” Others in the top 10 on the list include Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, and John Denver.
The Country Music Hall of Fame describes Mr. Strait’s brand of music as “real country” and “Texas traditionalist.” Ever since his debut single, “Unwound,” in 1981, the country singer’s mission has been to represent country music’s traditional roots in contemporary times. In an interview with the Dallas Observer, Mr. Strait said:
“The country music scene is always changing, and the music is always changing. I’ve seen the pendulum swing this way and back this way. It’s very country, and then not so country. I think right now it’s kind of trending back to more traditional country music, which is what I like and I like to do.”
George Strait's 1981 album "Strait Country" featuring hit song "Unwound." Internet Archive. (Public Domain)
As an established artist today, he doesn’t have to get caught up in the “pendulum swing” of the music industry. But in his early days, he had to remain firm in the type of country music he wanted to create during a time of immense change in the industry:
“When I got signed at MCA records in 1981 … the thing was to get a crossover hit, and that would sell more records. They wanted a pop-sounding country song to get the pop music lovers and country music people to buy it. I never was into any of that. But I came around at the right time. Traditional country music kind of came back and there were a lot of artists who started doing it, like me, Alan Jackson, [and] Randy Travis.”
‘The Cowboy Rides Away Tour’
George Strait's latest album "Cowboys and Dreamers" was released on May 17, 2024. (Public Domain)
Traditional country has its roots in lyrically driven songs, acoustic instrumentation, and melodic stories that champion uniquely traditional American ideals. These ideals include celebrating the beauty of living in a small town, choosing farm life over city life, and recognizing the importance of the nuclear family.
As Mr. Strait continues his tour promoting his “Cowboys and Dreamers” album, he remains a key figure representing these ideals in classic cowboy-country fashion.
His most recent record-setting event earned him the honor of playing for the largest ticketed show in the history of the United States. But he also holds the title for “more than 20 attendance records at music venues across the U.S.”
Though he completed his “The Cowboy Rides Away” retirement tour in 2014, like so many artists, he couldn’t stay away for long from the job he loves. He was back in the saddle performing and recording not long after completing his farewell tour.
Years before his retirement tour in 2003, the country singer and rancher was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Like the singing cowboys who came before him, judging from his most recent record-breaking event, Mr. Strait shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
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Rebecca Day is an independent musician, freelance writer, and frontwoman of country group, The Crazy Daysies.
