George Strait Sets New Record for Highest Attendance at Ticketed Event in US

Recording artist George Strait performs during the second night of his "Strait to Vegas" shows at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 23, 2016. Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media

Country music star George Strait set a new all-time attendance record for a ticketed performance in the United States when he packed the house at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, over the weekend.

During Mr. Strait’s only home-state performance of his current tour, more than 110,000 fans were in attendance at the stadium, a number that topped a nearly 47-year-old attendance record held by Grateful Dead. Fellow Texas natives Parker McCollum and Catie Offerman were the opening acts for the “King of Country” music star.

“Take us back to Texas! George set an amazing record at #KyleField this Saturday with 110,905 fans—the biggest single-ticketed concert in U.S. history! What was your favorite part of the show?” stated a post by the official George Strait account on X.

The previous record was marked in October 1977, when more than 107,000 fans attended a Grateful Dead concert at Raceway Park in New Jersey.

Mr. Strait set a second record the same night with the first-ever concert on Kyle Field, which had the highest attendance for any event held at the university’s stadium. The previous record was made when 110,633 football fans attended the matchup between Texas A&M and The University of Mississippi on Oct. 11, 2014.

Kyle Field has a seating capacity of 102,733, but additional floor seating was added for the concert to allow for the record-setting capacity.

The “I Cross My Heart” singer is no stranger to setting records, with 60 No. 1 hits—more than any other artist—over his more than 30-year career, according to Mr. Strait’s official website.

“The Texas troubadour is the only artist or act in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for over three decades and recently earned his 100th entry on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his latest single, ‘The Weight of the Badge,’” the website states.

Some well-known Texans attended Saturday’s concert, sharing photos of themselves alongside the country crooner.

“Took my daughter Caroline to @GeorgeStrait at Kyle Field @TAMU tonight. Great fun. Spectacular concert,” wrote Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on X after the event. The senator posted an image of Mr. Strait standing between him and his daughter.

Mr. Cruz was not the only politician in the house for the concert. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also attended.

“Unbelievable concert by the King, George Strait,” the Republican governor wrote on X, along with a photo of him shaking hands with the “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” singer. “Largest packed house for a concert in history.”

The 72-year-old singer is showing no signs of hanging up his guitar. He recently introduced two songs, “MIA in MIA” and “The Little Things,” both from his upcoming album, “Cowboys and Dreamers,” which is scheduled for release on Sept. 6.

It will be the Country Music Hall of Famer’s 31st album via MCA Records in Nashville. Mr. McCollum and Ms. Offerman are also signed with MCA Records.

“Cowboys and Dreamers” is a follow-up to “Honky Tonk Time Machine,” which was released in March 2019.

In May, Mr. Strait’s 1982 hit “Amarillo By Morning” ranked No. 10 on “Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time.” Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” from 1973 took the No. 1 spot on the magazine’s list.

Mr. Strait’s tour has four more dates, including the next concert on June 29 in Salt Lake City, before the current tour wraps. Other summer dates are scheduled for July 13 at Ford Field in Detroit and July 20 at Soldier Field in Chicago. The final concert of the tour is scheduled for Dec. 7 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.