George Strait - 10 Fun Facts

He holds the most No. 1 hits in country music history - With 60 No. 1 songs (on Billboard and other charts combined), Strait has more chart-toppers than any other country artist.
He almost quit music before he began – After high school, Strait joined the Army and was stationed in Hawaii. It wasn’t until he began singing in an Army-sponsored band that he discovered his love for performing.
His first hit was almost never released – Unwound (1981), his debut single, was originally written for Johnny Paycheck, who was in jail at the time. George stepped in and launched a legendary career.
He rarely gives interviews – Strait is famously media-shy, and despite his superstardom, he’s stayed out of tabloids and rarely grants press access. His mystique only adds to the legend.
He lost his daughter in a tragic accident – In 1986, Strait’s 13-year-old daughter, Jenifer, was killed in a car crash. He rarely speaks about it, but quietly set up the Jenifer Strait Foundation in her memory.
He earned a degree in agriculture – After the Army, Strait attended Texas State University (then Southwest Texas State) and graduated with a degree in agriculture before pursuing music full-time.
He acted in and produced a movie – Strait starred in Pure Country (1992), which was only a modest box office success, but its soundtrack became one of his best-selling albums.
He retired from touring with a sold-out stadium tour – His 2014 Cowboy Rides Away Tour was the highest-grossing country tour of all time at the time, ending with over 104,000 fans in Arlington, TX.
He’s known for never changing his look – While others in country music adopted trends, Strait stuck with starched jeans, button-downs, boots, and a cowboy hat. His nickname “King George” reflects that consistent image.
He’s quietly philanthropic – Through the Jenifer Strait Foundation, George has supported children's charities, education, veterans, and disaster relief without much public promotion.