George Strait Tickets

You can join the George Strait Tour By Getting Tickets from www.Official-Tickets.com

Ask anybody in the music business and they will answer without thinking, “Hands down, George Strait is the coolest guy in country music.” Record producer Tony Brown gave me an example of the Cowboy’s cool.

“I was at the Kentucky Derby waiting to meet up with George and his wife, Norma,” Tony said. “The room was filled with big-time money businessmen, as well as actors and actresses from Hollywood, famous singers from all genres. In the door walked George and Norma, and every head turned and stared — everyone in the room. Nobody in that room attracted the attention like George Strait.” Tony laughed, “He’s got it.” Tony has produced all of Strait’s records since 1992, and they have a long string of nothing but success.

George’s annual tour began Jan. 10 with a wall-to-wall sellout in Austin, Texas. Since he’s cut back on touring, George is careful not to play the same cities each year. Like he did in the beginning in 1981 with “Unwound,” his first hit on MCA Records, George starts his concerts by merely walking to the stage. No fireworks, no elevators, no smoke screens. George simply walks from his bus into the venue, wearing his Resistol hat, Wrangler jeans, starched cowboy shirt, wide belt with a huge buckle and cowboy boots. He straps on his guitar and smiles at his audience, and as he sings his first song, the screams from the crowd almost lift the ceiling.

Born in Poteet, Texas, he has scored more No. 1 singles than any other artist in country music history. Among the fans, naming your favorite Strait hit has become a game. The 2007 award-winning “Give It Away” is such a killer song, but so is “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” from 1987. How could you not love “The Chair” from 1985 and last year’s wonderful No. 1, “Wrapped”? Like naming favorite children, “Ocean Front Property” and “The Fireman” are at the top of the list. Bill Lardie, my dear friend down in Amarillo, Texas, would never forgive me if I forgot to mention “Amarillo by Morning.”

With all those No. 1 singles and dozens of other hits and album tracks, it’s hard for me to name all of my favorites. But I love pure country music, so I therefore love every song the Strait man has ever sung. He’s in the Country Music Hall of Fame, his CD won 2007 CMA album of the year, and nobody will ever have to ask if he’s country enough to perform on the CMA or ACM awards. Let’s face it, when you say “George Strait,” you say country.

Past opening acts for George include Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, the Dixie Chicks and a bevy of others. This year, he chose Little Big Town and newcomer Sarah Johns. The members of Little Big Town were thrilled, and Kentucky native Sarah Johns was ecstatic.

When Sarah came to my kitchen to tape CMT’s Southern Fried Flicks, she told me her dream had always been to open shows for George Strait. Her dream came true that night in Austin, but 10 minutes before taking the stage, she was pulling on her knee-high boots when the zipper busted — from heel to knee. Luckily, she had another pair that looked like ugly on awful, but she wore those happily. Not to worry, though, since Texas makes boots, so Sarah bought a pair the next morning before the bus departed for Oklahoma City, Little Rock and the rest of America.