george strait on tour

George Strait Announces 2024 Stadium Tour Dates

George Strait is hitting the road in 2024 for a limited number of stadium tour dates featuring Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town as opening acts!  Here’s the press release we got about the tour:

Setting venue attendance records across seven stadium shows this summer, country music icon  George Strait  and eight-time GRAMMY winner  Chris Stapleton  continue the excitement into 2024 with nine new dates. Also returning alongside the King of Country and Stapleton for the extended run of one-off stadium dates are special guests and GRAMMY Award-winning band  Little Big Town .

In addition to summer shows in Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Ames, Charlotte, East Rutherford, Salt Lake City, Detroit and Chicago, Strait will also supersize his longstanding Strait to Vegas  show with a December date at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to mark the 37th installment of the engagement.

Tickets to most shows go on sale next Friday, Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. local time via  GeorgeStrait.com , with tickets to the Jacksonville show on sale Friday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. local time. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Friday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m. local time.

Of the few opportunities to see Strait perform live, Pollstar  opines, “Strait remains the most worthy inheritor of Merle Haggard or Willie Nelson ‘s mantle of country icon through the meaningful fluidity with which he moves through country’s various sub-strains with the same ease and enjoyment that marked both men’s Country Music Hall of Fame careers.”

“I’ve always said we have the best fans in the world, and to see so many of them show up for these shows just makes us want to keep bringing them more,” shares Strait. “I’ve also missed performing in Las Vegas during NFR, so I’m happy to see that show come together in 2024. See you soon!”

George Strait w/ Chris Stapleton & special guests Little Big Town 2024 Stadium Shows: May 4, 2024                Indianapolis, Ind.  ||  Lucas Oil Stadium May 11, 2024              Jacksonville, Fla.  ||  EverBank Stadium May 25, 2024              Ames, Iowa  ||  Jack Trice Stadium June 1, 2024                Charlotte, N.C.  ||  Bank of America Stadium June 8, 2024                East Rutherford, N.J.  ||  MetLife Stadium June 29, 2024              Salt Lake City, Utah  ||  Rice Eccles Stadium July 13, 2024              Detroit, Mich.  ||  Ford Field July 20, 2024              Chicago, Ill.  ||  Soldier Field Dec. 7, 2024                Las Vegas, Nev.  ||  Allegiant Stadium

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Bonjour. M. Strait. Je suis sure que tu va me reconnaître oui Diane. Il y a quelque temps tu est venu me voir sur ma page facebook et tu ma demander à me parler sur hangout et ont n,ont communique ensembles et un jours bien sure avec t,est belles parole je suis tomber amoureuse de toi et toi aussi tu ma dit que tu aime et après tu ma faits pleins promesses et tu ma donner ta parole à moi que tu serait avec moi et après tu ma dit que tu me ferait venir a toi et je serait avec toi à t,est spectacles et voilà ma surprise tu me demande de l,argent pour être avec toi, quand tu me dit que tu veux que je sois ton epouse et je crus en toi, mais je ne donne pas argent si je suis t'on épouse je ne payer rien et tu est mieux me faire venir a toi parce-que je te jure devant Dieu que touts les journals du texas et des Etat-unie et du Canada font touts connait de mon histoire et si des journalistes veux venir me voir il n,y a pas problèmes et je vais leurs montrer touts les messages que j,ai gardés mon amour, je suis vraiment très tres serieuse mon amour, je veux etre a toi et avec toi mon amour, de ton bebe DIANE AU CANADA

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Having the chance to see a country legend like George Strait was something that I knew that I could not miss. As with most country singers he came onto the stage with a black cowboy hat on and holding his guitar. All of us were screaming as he started to play his guitar on the first song 'Run'.

His voice was a deep country voice that matched the album exactly and the atmosphere of the venue was set up perfectly for George. He was in the middle of the venue and there were LCD screens that surrounded the venue that had him zoomed in on there. The lights were constantly on George and highlighting his playing. George, besides the cowboy hat, looked very professional by wearing his button down shirt. He also would wave to members in the crowd that were in the front row.

I waved to him during his second song and he noticed me and waved back even though we do not know each other personally. George was also looking all around the crowd and waving at us too acknowledging us as he played. After he would say parts of his songs and stop singing we would all cheer for him as we were thankful to hear his voice.

Allô a toi George. Je te remercie de voir faits temps promesses et donne ta parole de me dit que je serait avec toi a t,est concerts et t,est belles paroles pour me faire tomber amoureuse de toi je t,est crue tu m'a dit que tu m,aime d,amour comme moi j,si été stupide imbecile conne d,avoir penser que homme comme toi serait amoureux d,une femme ordinaire comme moi,et je sais très bien que jamais tu viendrait me rejoindre chez-moi au Canada et j,aime je ne serait avec toi a t,est concerts je ne sais pas si ses des arnaqueurs ou bien toi vraiment la seule chose que je peux te dire oui je t,aime d,amour et oui j,aimerais être avec toi a t,est concerts et aussi tu m'a dit que tu est divorcer de Norma. Tu m'a dit que ses moi qui va partager ta vie alors j,espère j,espère toujours j,espère toujours être avec toi a t,est concerts et être avec toi pour toujours. Je te de toutes informations en Français si te plaît Diane

At diane-ladouceur...... You got served.. Haha.. Yes that was a scammer.. George is not leaving his wife..

George you are the best country song artist ever to have been..

Youre 19 years older than I. But I have been listening to you for as long as I can remember.

I love you and your band

Keep it up y'all..

Very disappointed. I don't understand why someone who has 60 number ones only plays 5 or 6 songs that people know. Why do these guys think people want to spend good money to hear songs they've never heard before or covers of other artists. Play the good songs and sing the others with your band on your own time.

Never a dull moment when George Strait is in the house. George did amazing job at entertaining all of the many fans for his show. With George singing at microphones in each corner of stage. Asleep at the wheel did great as opening act for George

Was a total GREAT CONCERT NEVER ANY KIND OF DISAPPOINTMENT. WE SAT IN THE UPPER LEVEL BUT THE BIG SCREEN DID GREAT. Loved that George performed in each corner of the stage.

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George Strait tour dates and tickets 2024-2025 near you

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George Strait is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 2 concerts across 1 country in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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• Huntsville, AL, US
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Songs and stories of dean dillon, allegiant stadium | las vegas, nv, latest setlist, george strait on july 20, 2024.

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George Strait on Riding Into Stadiums Again in 2023: ‘It Just Felt Right’ (Exclusive)

Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town will join the legend on six shows starting next May.

By Melinda Newman

Melinda Newman

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In 2012, Strait announced that he wasn’t “retiring,” but that “the old road-warrior days are just going to be over” after more than 30 years of touring . In 2016, he began an affiliation with Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, which saw him playing several times a year at the venue (the Las Vegas dates will be on hiatus for 2023 except for Dec. 2-3). He has sprinkled his calendar with a handful of arena, festival and stadium dates each year, but next year marks his biggest stadium commitment in nearly a decade. 

Each year, Strait and Messina Group CEO Louis Messina, who has been promoting Strait’s concerts for around 30 years, and Messina Group senior vp Bridget Bauer talk about what’s next, Messina says. “There’s something about him and Chris together that’s magical. They love playing with each other,” Messina continues. “I said, ‘We should do something a little different than we’ve been doing.’ We’ve been doing one or two stadiums every year, but we said, ‘This is  all  we should do.’ Having him and Chris together and Little Big Town up there, it’s a pretty, pretty amazing show.”

Stadium tickets will be available through an American Express pre-sale Oct. 26 and start at $59. The general public on-sale begins Nov. 4. 

The ability to still sell out stadiums five decades into his career fills Strait, 70, with gratitude. “It’s amazing,” he says. “I’ve got the best fans in the world and I’m glad they still come out to hear us play. My whole career has been amazing as far as that goes. I’ve been blessed to be with a great record company, MCA, and although they don’t play me much anymore, country radio was really good to me for a lot of years and I really appreciate those years.”

And Strait has been great for country radio. With iconic songs like “Amarillo by Morning,” “The Chair,” “The Fireman” and “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” his 61 top 10s on Billboard ’s Country Airplay chart are the most of any artist, as are his 100 total entries on the chart. On Hot Country Songs , his 44 No. 1s also set a record, as do his 86 top 10s. 

With so many smashes, Strait’s shows are usually wall-to-wall hits, and while he tries to change the set list up, “there are certain songs that I feel we have to do – I don’t want anything thrown at me!” he jokes. “I’m kidding, of course, but I just know when I go to see a certain artist it’s usually because of certain songs. If I don’t hear them, I’m disappointed.”

While many artists find it hard to build a connection with their fans in a huge stadium, Strait says he’s just the opposite, and incredibly, still gets butterflies before he hits the stage. “For me it’s very personal. I can feel every person out there. It’s a huge vibe. Huge,” he says. “I’m always very nervous days or even weeks before. The day of, I’m not very good to be around, I don’t think. It all goes away though as soon as I walk onstage.”

Strait has known Stapleton and Little Big Town for years. The lineup played a stadium show in Minneapolis in November 2021 (in a concert rescheduled from the pandemic) and in Kansas City this past July, but Strait says the dates were less of a test run for the 2023 stadium shows than they were simply playing with his friends: “They’re both super talented artists. I love working with both.”

During the Kansas City date, Stapleton’s wife, Morgane, asked the pair when they were going to do a duet together. “They go, ‘We’re going to figure something out,’” Messina says, though he adds, “George and Chris aren’t the most talkative people in the world when it comes to giving an answer. Though at least when you have Morgane pushing the envelope a little bit, that sure makes it easier instead of me asking. I know they love working with each other.”

Strait’s last release was 2019’s  Honky Tonk Time Machine,  which was his 27th album to debut at No. 1 on Billboard ’s Top Country Albums chart, the most of any artist. While he says he can’t promise that he’ll have new music by the time the first stadium date rolls around in May, “we could possibly have something new by then. It’s been a while for me and I’m definitely getting the itch.”

Though the first date isn’t until May, Strait is getting the itch to get back onstage as well, as he quotes his own lyrics from a 2011 song to describe his long love affair with his audience. “By the time showtime arrives every night, I’m usually tired of waiting and champing at the bit to go,” he says. “’When I walk through those curtains and see those smiling faces, my feet don’t touch the ground again till I walk back out and get on that bus that got me here’ — that’s from a song I wrote called ‘I’ll Always Remember You.’ It’s a true statement.”

Strait doesn’t rule out a similar run in 2024. “Whether or not we do it again the following year depends on how we all feel it went when we’re finished with these shows,” he says. “Chris and I haven’t talked about 2024 at this point.” Messina adds that a tour with shows 20 weekends in a row isn’t going to repeat, but a short outing could happen again. “It depends upon how he likes it or doesn’t like it,” he says. “The good thing about George Strait is we can do anything that he wants to do.”

George Strait 2023 tour dates:

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George Strait Announces Six-Stop Stadium Tour with Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town

George Strait will go on a 2023 stadium tour with Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town, stopping in only six cities across the U.S.

Photo: George Strait

When George Strait tells you to get ready for a good time, he means it. Strait announced today that he is going on a six-stop stadium tour next year, and he’s taking Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town with him.

The tour will only stop in Arizona, Milwaukee, Washington, Colorado, Tennessee and Florida. Tickets go on sale to the general public on November 4, but fans can sign up for presale access here .

Related: Get Presale Access to Old Dominion’s Tour

In 2014, Strait finished his two-year run of The Cowboy Rides Away Tour. “I don’t do that many shows anymore, so if we can do a stadium where we can play for more people, that works for me,” he explained to  Billboard about his 2023 plans.

His last full-length release — Honky Tonk Time Machine in 2019 — debuted at No. 1 on Billboard ’s Top Country Albums chart. It was his 27th album to do so, the most of any artist.

“I’ve got the best fans in the world and I’m glad they still come out to hear us play,” Strait told Billboard . “My whole career has been amazing as far as that goes.”

George Strait 2023 Stadium Tour Dates

May 6, 2023 – Glendale, AZ – State Farm Stadium

June 3, 2023 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Field

June 17, 2023 – Seattle, WA – Lumen Field

June 24, 2023 – Denver, CO – Empower Field at Mile High

July 29, 2023 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium

August 5, 2023 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium

The undeniable “King of Country Music,” George Strait’s musical career spans more than three decades, over 60 number-one singles and 33 platinum records. He has sold more than 70 million albums and earned more than 60 major entertainment industry awards, including a GRAMMY Award for  Troubadour. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006. Hear George Strait’s music regularly on Prime Country (Ch. 58) .

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Chris Stapleton and George Strait Are Touring Stadiums Next Summer

By Joseph Hudak

Joseph Hudak

George Strait just can’t shake the road. After retiring from regular touring in 2014, the Texas country music singer has played festival dates, one-off shows, and his successful Las Vegas residency Strait to Vegas . In 2023, he’ll add more to his itinerary when he joins Chris Stapleton for a string of stadium dates around the country. Little Big Town will open each show.

The dates are scattered throughout the summer, with at least one show in each month of the season, beginning May 6 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Three shows in June take Strait and Stapleton to Milwaukee, Seattle, and Denver, while the pair hit Nashville’s Nissan Stadium in July. The final date is currently scheduled for Tampa, Florida, in August.

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Tickets for the Strait and Stapleton stadium dates go on sale Nov. 4.

Tour dates: May 6 — Glendale, AZ @ State Farm Stadium June 3 — Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Field June 17 — Seattle, WA @ Lumen Field June 24 — Denver, CO @ Empower Field at Mile High Stadium July 28 — Nashville, TN @ Nissan Stadium July 29 — Nashville, TN @ Nissan Stadium Aug. 5 — Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium

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George Strait breaks record for largest ticketed concert in US with nearly 111K in attendance

Everything is bigger in Texas. Just ask George Strait .

The country music icon made history with his concert at Kyle Field in College Station on Saturday night, playing to a record-breaking 110,905 fans . The show set the U.S. record for a ticketed concert, previously held by The Grateful Dead with its 1977 concert at Raceway Park in New Jersey.

"We got some Aggies out there? Oh yeah!" Strait said at the concert, per Chron , referencing the Texas A&M University team. "I’m ashamed to say this, but this is my first time to ever be in Kyle Field. Damn! Just invite me back!"

George Strait on the road: Every song country icon played on his 2023 tour

The concert also broke the record for the most attended single event at Kyle Field, even beating the Aggies football team. The record for a football game was set on Oct. 11, 2014, with 110,663 fans in attendance for a Texas A&M 35-20 loss to SEC West rival Ole Miss. Strait also broke his own Texas record on June 7, 2014, when he performed for 104,793 at Arlington's AT&T Stadium.

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Strait's current tour has four remaining dates. The next concert is set for June 29 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

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Among the attendees at Saturday's concert were new Texas A&M football coach Mike Elko and Sen. Ted Cruz . Elko shared a photo of his seats from the venue when asked whether he was taking in a show of another kind: Texas A&M baseball's College World Series opener vs. Florida in Omaha, Nebraska. The game was heavily delayed by weather, causing a conflict for the Aggies coach.

"Enjoying The King at Kyle Field," Elko wrote. "But I’ll be there supporting @AggieBaseball when we’re done."

Every song George Strait played on his 2023 tour: Get the setlist:

GLENDALE, Ariz. – State Farm Stadium near Phoenix is the first of only seven stadiums the man they call the King of Country plans to play in 2023 with special guest Chris Stapleton , who joined him on three songs, including a cover of Townes Van Zandt's "Pancho and Lefty."

And George Strait rose to the occasion with a set that took us from his 1981 breakthrough hit "Unwound" to selections from his latest " Honky Tonk Time Machine. " Along the way, he dusted off a decent number of the songs he's taken to the top of Billboard's country singles chart — he had plenty to choose from, as he's topped the chart more times than any artist in the history of the genre — from "The Chair" to "All My Ex's Live in Texas" and "Check Yes or No."

Here's a look at every song he played at his tour launch.

Review: George Strait hinted at riding away and Chris Stapleton 'Outlawed' at Arizona concert

George Strait set list

"Deep in the Heart of Texas"

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"I Got a Car"

"The Fireman"

"How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls"

"Here for a Good Time"

"I Can Still Make Cheyenne"

"Check Yes or No"

"Drinkin’ Man"

"Waymore’s Blues"

"The Weight of the Badge"

"Ocean Front Property" 

"Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her"

"When the Credits Roll"

"Misery and Gin"

"Pancho and Lefty"

"You Don’t Know What You’re Missing"

"Love’s Gonna Make It Alright" 

"I Saw God"

"Every Little Honky Tonk Bar"

"The Chair"

"Give it Away"

"Amarillo By Morning"

"I’ll Always Remember You"

"Troubadour"

"All My Ex’s Live in Texas" 

"You Wreck Me"

"Take Me to Texas"

"The Cowboy Rides Away"

George Strait hinted at riding away and Chris Stapleton 'Outlawed' at Arizona concert

An unassuming presence dressed in his signature cowboy hat, Wranglers and boots with a button-down shirt, George Strait has never been the type of entertainer to approach a concert with the feverish intensity a guy like Garth Brooks might invest in playing to the back rows of a stadium.   

Strait's more the type to stand there and focus his efforts on drawing the audience into the lyrical heart of the matter with the strength of his delivery, occasionally punctuating what he's singing with a smile that hasn’t lost its charm with age.

That’s how he got to be the King of Country Music, sending 44 songs to the top on Billboard’s country singles chart, the most of any artist in the history of the genre.

And on Saturday night, at the launch of his 2023 stadium tour in Glendale, Arizona, he took us on a ride through the eras , although it wasn't a hit, but a monologue reflecting on his final curtain call that made the biggest emotional impact.

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Playing the classics, from 'All My Ex's Live in Texas' to 'Amarillo by Morning'

There wasn’t time to dust off every No. 1 he’s ever had at State Farm Stadium, the first of only seven stadiums he plans to play in 2023 with special guest Chris Stapleton.

But fans were treated to a staggering assortment of his most iconic hits, from “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” to “Check Yes or No,” "Amarillo by Morning" and “The Chair,” in a 32-song set that ended, as it had to, with “The Cowboy Rides Away,” one of several songs that couldn’t help but feel a bit more poignant as delivered by a performer about to turn 71.

The emotional resonance of “Troubadour,” a reflective ballad that opens with “I still feel 25 most of the time,” was further underscored by photos of the artist as a young man splashed across the screen behind him.

His vocals have held up remarkably well, although there were times when they did get overpowered by the playing of his band, especially when he dipped into his lower register. But that was more a function of the mix.

Strait was backed by his Ace in the Hole Band, a trusty collection of talented players who set the tone for his performance with “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” a tip of the hat to Strait’s beloved home state and the subject of a number of the concert’s finest moments, from “Amarillo By Morning” (his personal favorite) to “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” and “Take Me to Texas.”

They reached back to his 1981 debut, “Strait Country,” for a set-closing rendition of his breakthrough hit, “Unwound,” and brought us up to date with three selections from “Honky Tonk Time Machine," his latest effort.

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Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Tom Petty tunes were a welcome surprise

They also slipped in tributes to his heroes Waylon Jennings (“Waymore’s Blues”) and Merle Haggard (“Misery and Gin”) and somehow landed on perhaps the most garage-rock entry in Tom Petty's massive catalog, “You Wreck Me,” which they bashed out with requisite swagger and a smoking hot guitar lead.

Toward the end of his performance, Strait took a break from the music and had retired Lt. General Leroy Sisco come out to present a mortgage-free home to a military veteran, retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John R. Stapleton, a Strait tradition going back at least a decade.

Midway through the concert, he was joined by Stapleton on a cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “Pancho and Lefty” (as famously covered by Waylon & Willie) and two Stapleton songs Strait recorded (“You Don’t Know What You’re Missing” and “Love’s Gonna Make it Alright”).

It was an unexpected treat in a set with no shortage of highlights, from “The Fireman” to “Here For a Good Time" and “Ocean Front Property" — inspiring the massive singalongs you'd expect —and he dedicated "I'll Always Remember You" to the fans.

Is George Strait saying goodbye?

That last one may have been the emotional centerpiece of Strait's entire 32-song set, especially the monologue.

"I don't know how many more years I've got left to do this, but I figure a few," he said in that unhurried, conversational delivery.

"I do want you to know, though, that when I do walk off this stage for the last time and I'm all settled in, away from all this, you won't be far away. I'll still hear your screams and cheers in my mind. And I'll always remember you."

It was one of several moments in the more reflective back half of his set that had to leave a person wondering if this could be where the cowboy rides away, as Strait sang on his final song.

The man's already done a two-year farewell tour. It didn't stick. But if this is the last we see of Strait in Arizona, you can't say he didn't leave us wanting more.

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Chris Stapleton remains his own distinctive brand of maverick

Stapleton’s own set more than lived up to the hype that greeted his arrival on the scene with “Traveller.” He’s the spiritual heir to the Outlaw Country movement of the ‘70s. He even has a song called “Outlaw State of Mind.” And his touring band includes a longtime Willie Nelson sideman, Mickey Raphael, on harmonica.

He tipped his signature hat to Southern Rock with a soulful reading of the genre’s most iconic anthem, “Free Bird,” forgoing the epic guitar jam to segue straight from “and this bird you cannot change” into an anthem of own device, “The Devil Named Music.” 

And by that point, it was more than clear that Stapleton is destined to remain his own distinctive brand of maverick.

Highlights ranged from the Townshendesque speed-strumming brilliance and primal garage-rocking essence of an electrifying “Second One to Know” to the tortured soul of his vocals on several awe-inspiring ballads, from “Cold” and “I Was Wrong” to the song that’s destined to remain his calling card, “Tennessee Whiskey.”

Little Big Town got the party started

Little Big Town got the party started with a hit-filled  set whose highlights ranged from gospel-fueled originals that seemed hellbent on taking us all to the little white church in the lyrics to a deeply soulful reading of the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses.” 

Their stylistic range came shining through when the rowdiness of “Stay All Night” gave way to the vulnerability Karen Fairchild brought to “Girl Crush.”

And Kimberly Schlapman put world events in their proper perspective when she said, “Across the pond, they’re coronating a new king. But right now, we are in the King’s house. Yes! King George is here.”

George Strait 2023 setlist

"Deep in the Heart of Texas"

"I Got a Car"

"The Fireman"

"How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls"

"Here for a Good Time"

"I Can Still Make Cheyenne"

"Check Yes or No"

"Drinkin’ Man"

"Waymore’s Blues"

"The Weight of the Badge"

"Ocean Front Property" 

"Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her"

"When the Credits Roll"

"Misery and Gin"

"Pancho and Lefty"

"You Don’t Know What You’re Missing"

"Love’s Gonna Make It Alright" 

"I Saw God Today"

"Every Little Honky Tonk Bar"

"The Chair"

"Give it Away"

"Amarillo By Morning"

"I’ll Always Remember You"

"Troubadour"

"All My Ex’s Live in Texas" 

"You Wreck Me"

"Take Me to Texas"

"The Cowboy Rides Away"

Reach the reporter at  [email protected]  or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter  @ EdMasley .

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

George Strait, Chris Stapleton in concert at EverBank Stadium. Here's what you should know

The echoes from two Luke Combs concerts will barely have time to fade before another big country crowd heads to Jacksonville's EverBank Stadium, this time for a triple bill of George Strait , Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town on Saturday, May 11.

Strait is about as big a star as you'll find anywhere in country music, and Stapleton isn't far behind. In fact, all three acts have headlined shows at venues in the Jacksonville area.

Strait is a "neotraditional" country star, sort of a throwback to the days when country music leaned heavily on pedal-steel guitars and fiddles. He's sold something like 120 million albums and has a record-setting 60 number-one hits. He's in the Country Music Hall of Fame, was named Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music and has won more Country Music Association awards than anyone. Only Elvis Presley and the Beatles have released more gold or platinum albums.

Here's what you need to know about the show.

Where is George Strait playing in Jacksonville?

The concert is at EverBank Stadium , home of the Jacksonville Jaguars .

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Who is opening for George Strait in Jacksonville?

First up is Little Big Town, a quartet that's toured with Strait in the past and has been named Vocal Group of the Year several times each by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Awards. The band has played Jacksonville shows at Freebird Live , Metropolitan Park, the arena, the St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Daily's Place, plus they did a 2012 show at Mayport Naval Station before a Georgetown-Florida basketball game aboard an aircraft carrier and played at Florida Country Superfest in the stadium in 2013.

Chris Stapleton is a Kentucky native who wrote hit songs for Strait, Kenny Chesney and Luke Bryan before busting out on his own with his quadruple-platinum debut album, "Traveler." He's won ten Grammy Awards and is the reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year and Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year. Four of his five studio albums have gone platinum or better and all five topped the country charts. He's played at least three times at Jacksonville's arena and once at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

Fitting in: What to look for (and how to fit in) at a country music concert

How much are George Strait tickets in Jacksonville? 

Tickets are available through the stadium's website, everbankstadium.com , ranging from $125-$650.

Has George Strait ever played a concert in Jacksonville? 

Strait has been coming to Jacksonville since at least 1988. He played at the old Jacksonville Coliseum in '88, '94 and '95, headlined a huge country show at what was then called Alltel Stadium in 2000 and played the arena in '11 . He was scheduled to play at the arena in 2008 but came down with the flu backstage and had to reschedule for the following year; Little Big Town was the opening act for that show and played anyway.

Didn't George Strait retire from touring years ago?

Strait made quite a big deal about retiring from the road, even going on a Cowboy Rides Away Tour in 2014 and releasing a live album from the final show. He was back on the road a few years later, sort of, playing almost exclusively at the arena in Las Vegas from 2016-21. He now plays "limited engagements" that are a week or two apart.

More big concerts in 2024: 24 big shows coming to Jacksonville in 2024: Strait, Willie, McGraw, NKOTB

What other stadiums is George Strait playing on this tour? 

The tour includes stops at the home stadiums of the Indianapolis Colts, Iowa State Cyclones, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants/Jets, Utah Utes, Texas A&M Aggies, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders.  

Where can I park for the George Strait concerts? 

Parking options range from $49-$107.50. There are thousands of spots in lots and garages in the nearby downtown area.

Getting there: How to get to events at EverBank Stadium

 What time do parking lots open for the George Strait concert? 

How many people will be at the george strait concert .

Officials are expecting around 40,000-45,000 fans. 

What time does the stadium open for the George Strait concert? 

Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

Can I jump into the EverBank Stadium swimming pools if I get overheated during the George Strait concert? 

No, the “spas” on the north end of the stadium will not be open during the concerts. The entire north end of the stadium, which is behind the stage, will be closed to the public. The seats in Daily’s Place, the amphitheater attached to the southern end of the stadium, will be used as a cooling-off area for fans.

Desperately seeking shade: Where fans can find the coolest spots at TIAA Bank Field

Can I leave the stadium and come back in? 

No. There is no re-entry allowed. 

What time does the first act come on stage? 

Little Big Town is scheduled to take the stage at 5:45 p.m., Chris Stapleton is scheduled to start at 7:15 p.m. Strait starts his show at 9:15 p.m.

Will the George Strait concert be rescheduled if it rains? 

Acts may be postponed due to lightning, but the shows are rain or shine. The stage will be covered, but the fans won’t be. 

What can I bring with me to the George Strait concert? 

Policies will be mostly the same as at a Jaguars game. You can bring in one factory-sealed water bottle that is 16.9 ounces or less. All bags brought into the stadium must be clear and no larger than 12-by-6-by-12 inches. Backpacks of any kind (even clear) are prohibited, and no outside food or beverages are permitted. 

Can I bring a camera to the George Strait concert? 

Not if it has a detachable lens, but you can shoot all the photos you want with your smartphone. Go-Pros, HD video cameras and drones are also prohibited. 

Can I hold up my phone and record the whole George Strait concert? 

There’s no rule against that, but the people sitting behind you will hate you for it.  

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"GEORGE STRAIT: THE KING AT KYLE FIELD" SET FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas troubadour George Strait has announced the only performance in his home state this year with a concert set for Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field. The King of Country Music will be joined by special guests Parker McCollum and Catie Offerman. Tickets to the Kyle Field performance go on sale to the general public Thursday, March 28, at 10 a.m. CT via TheKingAtKyle.com. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning March 22 at 10 a.m. CT through March 27 at 10 p.m. CT.

The news follows the recent announcement that Strait will once again team up with Chris Stapleton to perform one-off stadium dates this year with stops at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Chicago’s Soldier Field, Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium and more. Joining the King of Country and Stapleton for those nine dates are special guests Little Big Town. Since his record-breaking Cowboy Rides Away Tour in 2014, Strait has performed for limited engagements outside of his 36-and-counting Strait to Vegas shows at T-Mobile Arena, including headlining both weekends of the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2021 plus his 31st appearance at the Houston Rodeo in 2022. With an unmatched 60 singles hitting the top of the charts—more than any other artist in any genre—during the span of his 30+ year career, Strait has collected 33 Platinum or multi-Platinum-selling albums, more than any other Country artist and ranking third across all genres behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. 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.” He has sold nearly 70 million albums and earned more than 60 major entertainment industry awards, including induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

Strait’s 2024 Concert Calendar:

*Just Announced – On Sale Thursday, March 28 at 10 am CT 

About George Strait George Strait is the unambiguous King of Country Music, having sold more than 105 million albums and counting while earning more than 60 major entertainment industry awards as well as countless nominations and becoming the only act in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for over three decades. With 33 different Platinum or multi-Platinum albums, he’s earned the third-most certifications of any artist in any genre, following only The Beatles and Elvis Presley, and with a total of 60, Strait has more No. 1 songs than any other artist in history (including Elvis). The Texas troubadour released 2019’s best-selling Country album, Honky Tonk Time Machine , on MCA Nashville, produced by Strait and Chuck Ainlay, the album quickly became Strait’s record-extending 27th No. 1 Billboard Country album. Comprised of 12 original titles plus Strait’s version of the Johnny Paycheck classic “Old Violin,” Honky Tonk Time Machine marks an incredible 30th career studio album from the Country Music Hall of Fame member, who earned his 100th entry on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his single “The Weight of the Badge” from the project. For more information, visit GeorgeStrait.com. About Parker McCollum Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Parker McCollum released his latest album Never Enough , a statement album that cements his status as one of country music’s undeniable new stars, on May 12, 2023 via MCA Nashville. The album features his current chart-climbing single and fan-favorite track, "Burn It Down," as well as its Platinum-selling lead single, "Handle On You." McCollum has been named an ‘Artist to Watch’ by Rolling Stone , Billboard , SiriusXM, CMT, RIAA and more with American Songwriter noting, “The Texas native teeters on the edge of next-level superstardom.” MusicRow listed McCollum as their 2021 Breakout Artist of the Year and Apple also included him as one of their all-genre "Up Next Artists" Class of 2021. A dedicated road warrior, McCollum made his debut at the famed Grand Ole Opry in 2021 and regularly sells out some of the most iconic venues across the country. In March 2022, McCollum made his debut at RODEOHOUSTON to a sold-out crowd with over 73,000 tickets sold, returning to perform at the Opening Day celebration in 2023. He also made a longtime dream come true last year with his first-ever Austin City Limits performance, kicking off their 2023 season. In 2022, McCollum earned his first ACM Award for New Male Artist of the Year, took home “Breakthrough Video of the Year” (a fully fan-voted honor) at the 2022 CMT Music Awards and scored two back-to-back CMA Awards nominations (2022 & 2023) for New Artist of the Year. In 2024, McCollum will be on the road for his 41-date Burn It Down Tour - headlining arenas and amphitheaters in major markets across the U.S. About Catie Offerman Catie Offerman may be a new name to country music fans, but she's already gaining a reputation as one of the genre's most skilled players and promising modern traditionalists and Nashville's music community is responding. Originally from New Braunfels, Texas, Offerman grew up on a horse ranch. Home schooled by her father in the tack room of their barn, she gravitated towards music at a young age. Offerman started playing piano at the age of four which eventually led her to pursue other instruments such as violin, accordion and more. When she was 11, Offerman’s accordion teacher asked her to join their polka band where they traveled across Texas performing. Offerman graduated from Berklee College of Music at the age of 19 and signed her publishing deal with Universal Music Group Publishing about five years later. Offerman was featured in The Highwomen's "Redesigning Women" video, inked her record deal with Universal Music Group in 2020. She was named Pandora’s Ones to Watch for 2023, included in CMT’s “Next Up” class of 2023 as well as being named CMT Next Women of Country. Offerman has spent most of 2023 on the road touring with Parker McCollum, Ian Munsick and Tyler Hubbard. She’s performed at C2C Festival in London as well as dates with George Strait. In 2024 she heads back out on the road with labelmate Parker McCollum on his “Burn It Down” tour. For more information go to www.catieofferman.com .

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GEORGE STRAIT’S LONGTIME MANAGER, CHAMPION AND FRIEND, PASSES AWAY AT AGE 80

"GEORGE STRAIT: THE KING AT KYLE FIELD" SET FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024

GEORGE STRAIT AND CHRIS STAPLETON EXTEND RUN OF STADIUM SHOWS, NEW DATES ADDED FOR 2024

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George Strait sets a new record for the largest ticketed concert in U.S. history

Joe Hernandez

George Strait performs at the Coal Miner's Daughter: A Celebration Of The Life & Music Of Loretta Lynn at the Grand Ole Opry on Oct. 30, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Jason Kempin/Getty Images hide caption

Country singer George Strait just smashed another record in his chart-topping musical career.

On Saturday, the Texas native played the largest ticketed concert in U.S. history before a crowd of 110,905 fans, according to Billboard .

The performance at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field in College Station beat out the previous record held by the Grateful Dead , which jammed before 107,019 attendees during a 1977 show at Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J.

Though Strait nabbed the record for the largest ticketed musical performance, there have been bigger crowds at some music festivals and free concerts held in the U.S., such as the 1986 performance by the New York Philharmonic in Central Park that drew an estimated 800,000 people .

And according to American Songwriter , perhaps the largest audience for a concert in history goes to the reputed 3.5 million fans who crammed onto Brazil’s Copacabana Beach in 1994 to hear Rod Stewart perform.

Strait is no stranger to setting records. The singer has the most No. 1 singles of any artist in any genre and is the only artist to boast a Top 10 hit every year for three decades, Billboard reported.

According to Strait’s website, the country music star also holds more than 20 attendance records at music venues across the U.S.

Strait, whose new album Cowboys and Dreamers drops in September, will perform in Salt Lake City later this month, followed by concerts in Detroit and Chicago in July.

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George Strait

Strait will supersize his longstanding strait to vegas show when the tour makes a stop in las vegas to mark the 37th installment of the engagement at allegiant stadium on saturday, december 7, 2024..

• Date December 7 , 2024

Event Starts 5:45 PM

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Event Details

Setting venue attendance records across seven stadium shows this summer, country music icon George Strait and eight-time GRAMMY winner Chris Stapleton continue the excitement into 2024 with nine new dates including Las Vegas. Also returning alongside the King of Country and Stapleton for the extended run of one-off stadium dates are special guests and GRAMMY Award-winning band Little Big Town .

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Upcoming Events

Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic

Usc and lsu, two of the nation’s powerhouse football programs, will headline the vegas kickoff classic at allegiant stadium in 2024., allegiant stadium, event starts 4:30 pm.

UNLV Rebels vs. Utah Tech

Unlv will open its home slate on september 7 by welcoming utah tech to town for the first time., event starts 12:00 pm.

P!NK Summer Carnival

Pnk's summer carnival returns to allegiant stadium in las vegas on friday, september 13, 2024, event starts 6:00 pm.

Raiders vs. Panthers - Week 3

The raiders host the carolina panthers for the home opener in allegiant stadium., event starts 1:05 pm, unlv rebels vs. fresno state, mountain west play begins with fresno state at unlv on september 28..

Raiders vs. Browns - Week 4

The raiders host their second straight home game, featuring the browns, who will make their first ever trip to allegiant stadium., event starts 1:25 pm, unlv rebels vs. syracuse, first-ever meeting with storied program syracuse at allegiant stadium, which will also mark the first time the rebels host an opponent from the acc..

Raiders vs. Steelers - Week 6

The week 6 matchup marks the fourth straight season that the raiders and steelers will face off against each other. , unlv rebels vs. boise state, another postseason rematch is next up as boise state will come to allegiant stadium on october 26..

Raiders vs. Chiefs - Week 8

The raiders host the defending super bowl champion kansas city chiefs in week 8..

Billy Joel & Sting

Billy joel and sting are headed to allegiant stadium for a one-night-only performance on saturday, nov. 9, 2024., event starts 7:00 pm, unlv rebels vs. san diego state, san diego state is back on the schedule november 16 in las vegas after the rebels and aztecs did not play each other last season for the first time since 1998..

Raiders vs. Broncos - Week 12

Following a road trip to miami, the raiders are back at home to face their afc west rivals, the denver broncos., unlv rebels vs. unr, the historic 50th battle for the fremont cannon vs. unr will be staged at allegiant stadium on november 30 in the teams’ regular-season finale..

Raiders vs. Falcons - Week 15

The raiders host the falcons under the bright lights of allegiant stadium for monday night football., event starts 5:30 pm.

Raiders vs. Jaguars - Week 16

A week 16 clash when the jacksonville jaguars come to town..

2024 Las Vegas Bowl

The srs distribution las vegas bowl will be played friday, dec. 27, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. pt (10:30 p.m. et) at allegiant stadium and televised by espn., event starts 7:30 pm.

Raiders vs. Chargers - Week 18

The raiders finish out the season against head coach jim harbaugh and the los angeles chargers..

Rugby League Las Vegas

It’s official rugby league returns to allegiant stadium in 2025. be there to witness all the action live in the sports and entertainment capital of the world on saturday, march 1st., event starts 1:30 pm, latest news.

Rugby League Las Vegas 2025 at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, March 1, 2025

2024 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl to be played at Allegiant Stadium on December 27

Allegiant Stadium to host WrestleMania 41 Saturday, April 19 & Sunday, April 20, 2025

We found the cheapest tickets for all 10 George Strait concerts in 2024

It’s almost time to get your boot scoot on again.

On Saturday, May 4, George Strait is launching his ten-concert 2024 tour that he announced last September with special guests Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.

From there, the King of Country heads to NFL stadiums all over North America including a stop at East Rutherford, NJ’s MetLife Stadium on Saturday, June 8.

And if you want to see the 71-year-old hitmaker live, now’s the time to pounce.

As of now, seats are available for all ten mega gigs.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find was $83 before fees on Vivid Seats.

Tickets start anywhere from $84 to $328 before fees for other shows.

Wondering how much it will run you to sing “All My Ex’s Live In Texas,” “Check Yes Or No,” “Amarillo By Morning” and so many more No. 1’s with Country’s King?

Keep scrolling straight on down, Strait fans.

We’ve got everything you need to know and more about George Strait’s 2024 Stadium Tour below.

All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation.

A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here:

(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout .)

Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. 

They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.

Stapleton  also has a tour of his own this year.

All summer long, he’ll be taking his long-running  ‘All-American Road Show’  to venues all over North America.

If you want to see the burly, bearded Grammy-winning singer live, you can  grab tickets for all of his shows here .

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Strait typically delivers the hits straight down the line at all of his shows.

Based on what he played live last year, here’s what you can likely expect when you see him these next few months.

01.) “Deep in the Heart of Texas” (Perry Como song)

02.) “Here for a Good Time”

03.) “Ocean Front Property”

04.) “Check Yes or No”

05.) “I Can Still Make Cheyenne”

06.) “Wrapped” (Bruce Robison cover)

07.) “Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her”

08.) “I Got a Car”

09.) “I Saw God Today”

10.) “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar”

11.) “How ’bout Them Cowgirls”

12.) “Drinkin’ Man”

13.) “You Don’t Know What You’re Missing”

14.) “That’s What Breaking Hearts Do”

15.) “Give It Away”

16.) “Codigo”

17.) “Waymore Blues” (Waylon Jennings cover)

18.) “The Weight of the Badge

19.) “The Fireman”

20.) “The Chair”

21.) “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright”

22.) “Amarillo by Morning”

24.) “Come on Joe”

25.) “It Just Comes Natural”

26.) “I’ll Always Remember You”

27.) “Troubadour”

28.) “Unwound”

29.) “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”

30.) “You Wreck Me” (Tom Petty cover)

31.) “Take Me to Texas”

32.) “The Cowboy Rides Away”

The above comes courtesy of  Set List FM .

Country music fans, this is your year.

Here are just five huge country tours you’ll want to bust your cowboy hat and boots out these next few months.

• Brooks and Dunn

• Clint Black

• Tim McGraw

• Kenny Chesney

•  Dwight Yoakam

Want to see who else is touring? Check out our list of the  50 biggest country concerts in 2024 here to find out.

Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase.

Trending: Music Lovers Crown George Strait Classic in Debate of Best Country Song of All Time

Chris Piner

Updated: 

When it comes to country music, the genre holds more than enough hit songs surrounding love, heartbreak, partying, and the importance of simple living. While the genre went through numerous changes over the years, fans welcomed a new generation of singers like Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, and Hardy. But that doesn’t mean fans forgot about classic singers like George Strait . Known as the “King of Country Music”, the singer recently proved his status in country music when fans listed his classic song as the greatest country song ever made.

Videos by American Songwriter

While the question has been offered in the past, Outkick ’s David Hookstead decided to see what fans had to say. Watching fans offer their suggestions, some pointed to songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” by Toby Keith. Others suggested the greatest country song went to John Denver for “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” And some were sure to place Garth Brooks among the ranks for “Friends in Low Place.” But while songs fought to make the list, it was Strait ’s “Amarillo By Morning” that took the No.1 spot. 

What's the greatest country music song ever made? — David Hookstead (@dhookstead) August 14, 2024

Written by Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser, “Amarillo By Morning” focused on a rodeo cowboy who hoped to travel from San Antonio to Amarillo for a county fair. Released in the 1980s, the song gained high praise from fans as Strait produced yet another hit song. 

[RELATED: How the “King of Country Music” George Strait Learned To Be Country]

Fans Can’t Get Enough Of George Strait

With the music video uploaded to YouTube over a decade ago, the video gained over 41 million views. And with the song No. 1 on the list, the comments seemed to share the same belief. “I am a retired cross country truck driver.  In over 40 years on the road, I must have listened to this a thousand times.  This is one of the greatest songs in history, in “all” of music.  A true music masterpiece.” One comment added, “Growing up on Navajo nation my mom always played George for us. Will always have a special place in my heart.”

While the list featured the favorite songs of country music, the genre holds too many classics to fit on a single list. With stars like Reba McEntire and Hank Williams Jr. top talents, the country music list could easily expand past the Top 10.

(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

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5 Country Artists & The Songs They Can’t Stand Anymore

Most artists dream of having a song that fans connect with but on rare occasion, an artist puts out a song that winds up turning into the bane of their existence.

Some super popular songs that artists ended up regretting were Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful”, Lorde’s “Royals”, and Oasis’ “Wonderwall”, but country music has a few of its own.

For fans that aren’t super tied into the industry, it’s understandable to be frustrated if you go to a show and the artist doesn’t play one or more of their most well-known tracks, but if you take a step back and think about it, it starts to make more sense.

Can you imagine singing the exact same song, night after night, for years on end? Everyone understands when someone says their job is boring because they do the same thing over and over again but for some reason we don’t view music in the same lens. Sure, you can say “Well, if it wasn’t for that song you may have never had the success you did” and that’s true, but we should respect the human aspect of our favorite artists as well.

Anyway, I’ll hop off my soapbox.

Here’s 5 songs that country artists regretted writing or releasing.

“You Can Have The Crown” – Sturgill Simpson

Even while he was recording it in the studio, Sturgill had a feeling he’d regret putting this one on  High Top Mountain.  During a performance from years ago, he spoke about how this one came to be and how the original intent was to satirize the “laundry list songs” coming out of Nashville at the time:

“There was this onslaught coming out of Music Row of what they call ‘laundry list songs.’ That’s where all these Music Row writers sit down in cubicles together and they try to write a hit song. There’s no underlying emotional value to it whatsoever. They had these laundry list songs basically consisting of two or three verses basically telling you how country they are which is about the most pointless thing I could ever think of. 

I decided, just to take the piss, I’m going to write a laundry list song. So, I tried to squeeze in every token cliché I could think of that was still realistically applicable to my life. I was proud of myself. 

We ended up going into the studio that day, unfortunately. … I didn’t really have any other songs I was sitting on that I was particularly excited about. So, I played it for Dave (Cobb) and he was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s great.’ And we cut it. 

Later that night, sitting in the control room, I heard the playback and I thought, I’ll never forget, I was like ‘Well, there it is. There’s the song I’m going to wish I never wrote. Sure as sh*t, that’s the one everybody wants to hear.”

Not going to lie, I still like this one but won’t expect to hear Johnny Blue Skies play it if I get the chance to see him on tour.

“Sleeping On The Blacktop” – Colter Wall (Original 16 Brewery Sessions)

This one might really hurt the feelings of a lot of us Colter Wall fans…

Many of us first came to love Colter for his iconic Original 16 Brewery Sessions where he played “Sleepin’ On The Blacktop”, “Kate McCannon”, and “The Devil Wears A Suit And Tie”, but unfortunately, he doesn’t feel the same way about his performances.

He addressed them directly in a series of since deleted Tweets back in October of 2020:

“I’m glad folks still enjoy those brewery sessions from 2015. I can’t watch them without cringing. The vocals are very forced. I’m grateful for what their popularity has done for me, but I hope folks are able to accept that I simply don’t play/sing that way anymore.”

“Don’t get me started on the kick drum…”

“As per live shows, I always make a point to play at least a few songs from every record I’ve put out, along with the new stuff. I know a lot of folks prefer to older tunes. Honestly, just glad anyone likes any of them!”

This regret is different because he’s not necessarily saying the songs themselves are bad, just the way he was playing them. I will say that he didn’t play “Sleeping On The Blacktop” when I caught a show a few years back and his recent music is very much whimsical western ditties, so it seems the days of murder ballad Colter are long gone.

“February 28, 2016” – Koe Wetzel

Say it ain’t so, Koe…

This is a classic example of growing out of a song. While no one is accusing Koe Wetzel of not partying anymore, it’s understandable that a song he wrote in his early 20’s just doesn’t relate to his life now at 31.

On  Rodeo Time Podcast , Koe said to Dale Brisby:

“To be honest with you, I’m so ready for that f***ing song to just be done… after I wrote it, I was like yeah. First four years, people were still digging it. But we still play it at shows and it’s like, what most people come to hear. The one song people come to hear.

And I’m like, f**k, bro. I’ll tell the guys all the time, ‘We’re going to scratch ‘February 28th’ tonight. They’re like ‘No, you can’t do that.’ But that damn song…

I mean, it’s a real song but now that I’m 31 and just kinda slowing it down a little bit more, I’m like, can we not play this song tonight, please.”

I’m seeing Koe this weekend and hope I get to scream about some Taco Bell. Fingers crossed this isn’t when he pulls the plug…

“Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” – Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson

One of the all-time classics of the genre and the song that Waylon Jennings disliked the most.

Written by Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons, they pitched it to Waylon because his “name’s in it” and apparently that was good enough, though he noted in his 1996 book  Waylon: An Autobiography :

“ I knew it was a hit song, even though I didn’t like it, and still don’t.”

His drummer Richie Albright recalls another line Waylon said about the song:

“ Just remind me when I’m picking singles from now on that I got to sing that motherf*cker every night.”

“Ocean Front Property” – Dean Dillon/George Strait

Okay, the King himself has never spoken disparagingly about this song but the guy who actually wrote it sure has.

Dean Dillon is one of the unsung songwriting heroes of country music. Some of the most iconic songs in genre history came (at least in part) from his mind, including “Miami, My Amy”, “The Chair”, and “Tennessee Whiskey”, but there’s another song that fans have long loved that he himself hated.

“Ocean Front Property” became the title track for George Strait’s 1986 album and soared to number one on the charts, but even the day the song was written, Dillon wasn’t a fan.

He told the story while playing at the Flora-Bama a few years back.

Dillon was in Nashville demoing a few songs for Strait and while he was in the booth laying down vocals for “The Chair” he noticed his co-writers Hank Cochran and Royce Porter were no where to be found:

“I was singing vocals on The Chair, I was in the vocal booth, headset on. I looked through the glass and I noticed Hank and Royce (Porter) were gone. I asked the engineer… “Where are they?” He said “Well, they’re over here in this other room writing a song I think.”

“I said, ‘Well not on my damn session they’re not, not without me.’”

So I laid the headphones down and I walk over there and swing that door open, and Hank acts like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar. He goes “Dean! Listen to this idea Royce has got.” And they played me a little bit of it and he goes what do you think? I said “Man, that’s terrible.”

And then he goes, “Well, you want in on it or not?” And I knew better… I said “Alright, I’ll help you finish it.” 

So we wrote the chorus and the last couple verses and we got done with it and he goes “Now what do you think?” And I said “I hate it still” 

And the reason I did, people, is I was a serious songwriter. I did not want to be labeled a funny songwriter. I just did not care for that at all.  So to this day, I still don’t care particularly for this song. But it made a sh*t pot load of money…”

Can’t argue with results I guess…

There’s rumors of other artists not liking some of their biggest songs, Kip Moore with “Something Bout A Truck”, Tyler Childers with “Feathered Indians,” and Eric Church with “Love Your Love The Most” come to mind immediately, but I’m sure there are plenty more.

If I was to guess, there’s way more of these stories out there than we know and maybe in time the truth will come out.

With that being said, be sure to appreciate all the music your favorite artists put out. They spend just as much time on the album cuts as the singles and deserve to have that effort be rewarded.

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