The Western way of life is a good one and I think people just want to experience that in some way. The Outlaw Josey Wales is one of my all-time favorites. It started to change around 1981 though, and I was lucky enough to get signed during that time. The songs obviously got heard by more people and sold more records, so record labels loved it and pushed it. There was even a TV show called Pop! Goes the Country. Crossing over, for those that might not know, means having a country record that is also getting played on the pop stations. Strait: Yeah, the pendulum continues to swing, doesn’t it? When I got signed in 1981, country music was coming out of a crossover craze. What’s your take on why Western culture continues to draw new generations? But there have been crossover cultural moments at many points over the years – you’ve certainly experienced them time and again. I have not thought about a movie though.Ĭ&I: We always chuckle a little when we hear about the “yee-haw agenda” – the latest rise in mainstream popularity of country music, western movies and TV shows, cowboy and cowgirl style. George Strait: I have given serious thought to a documentary, although I tend to procrastinate these days so right now a thought is all it is. Read on:Ĭowboys & Indians: Have you ever given any thought to writing a memoir or making a movie about your own life and career? He also let slip that he’s beginning to plan his next album. Here’s the exciting part – he still longs to take the stage and plans to do so in a string of stadium concerts this spring and fall. Our recent chat with Strait touches on his life at home and what brings him joy these days. The music itself is worthy of such devotion, but the man behind it also has a lot of wisdom to impart. He is and will always be a fixture in his fans’ lives. Strait may never toot his own horn, but he absolutely shares the same rarefied status as his musical heroes. Those guys are still relevant and always will be in my book.” I wanted to still be relevant when I got older. “I just always knew that I wanted a career like Merle Haggard or George Jones. That might not be the key to longevity – but who can honestly even say what might be? “I always felt like I knew what worked for me and what didn’t. “Staying focused and believing that what you’re doing is good is important you have to believe in yourself,” Strait says. So, the first question we had for Strait when he was gracious enough to allow us a new interview was this: What’s the secret to longevity? We expected a thoughtful response, and that’s what we got. He’s welcomed a second grandchild to the family and stayed active in his outdoor pursuits including riding, roping, hunting, fishing, and golf. In the last decade, the Texas legend has expanded his recorded catalog, performed in-demand annual concerts at Wrangler NFR and in other arenas, and launched his Código 1530 premium Tequila brand. Thankfully, the end of touring didn’t mean the end, period. To further speak to his longevity, it’s been 10 years since Strait’s historic Cowboy Rides Away Tour had legions of fans crying into their beers. It certainly applies when thinking of how enthusiastically C&I readers have responded to Strait over time – he’s graced five covers since the magazine’s birth 30 years ago (when Pure Country was giving the singer a much-deserved Hollywood boost). The old “needs no introduction” trope comes to mind when thinking of George Strait, the consistently brilliant troubadour who has been comfortable at the top of country music’s heap for the better part of four decades. Catching up with country music's king about life at home, new recordings, and his longing to play live again.
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