WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Great Men Back Then: George Strait

Episode Date: February 8, 2024

George Strait is one of the most successful singers in American history. Listen to learn more about his success, his childhood, and his family. 

You are listening to Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. I'm Lawrence Scott, and this is Great Men Back Then, the show where we talk about great people in American history. Today, we will be talking about George Strait, the King of Country Music. I'm a real by morning up from San Antonio. Everything that I got is just what I've got on. Born on May 18, 1952, Strait is credited for pioneering the country music that we all know and most people love today. He currently holds the record for most number one songs on all charts by an artist in any genre of music. Strait was named CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 2013, and ACM Entertainer of the Year in 1990 and 2014.

He has been nominated for more CMA and ACM awards and has more wins in both categories than any other artist. He also holds the record for the largest indoor concert in North America, whenever 104,793 people gathered at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, when he performed his final concert for the Cowboy Rides Away Tour. Although extremely successful and loved by many, people, Straight did not have the easiest childhood. He was born and raised in Texas, where his father was a junior high school mathematics teacher and the owner of a 2,000-acre cattle ranch. He spent all of his weekends and summer as a child working on the ranch with his father and his older brother, John,

who went by the name of Buddy. When Straight was in fourth grade, his father and mother decided to get a divorce, and so his mother then moved away with his sister, Pensey, but then straight and his older brother stayed with his father. He began his musical career when he was in high school, and he started to perform in a rock and roll band known as the Stoics. He was soon influenced by singers such as Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, and Frank Sinatra. Straight married his high school sweetheart right after high school graduation, which was in 1971, and in that same year, he enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman. It was only one year later in 1972, while he was still stationed in Hawaii, the couple welcomed their first child, Jennifer. He would remain in the service until

1975 and he eventually attained the rank of a corporal. After being honorably discharged from the army, he decided to become a student at Texas State University where he eventually received a degree in agriculture. In 1986, a tragic thing occurred in Straits' life. His firstborn, Jennifer, was killed in a car accident in San Marcos, Texas. The family set up the Jennifer Lynn Strait Foundation, which donates money to children's charities in San Antonio. This was obviously a traumatic and devastating thing for Straight and his family to go through. And the fact that he was able to suffer the loss of his daughter and yet still be so successful and bring so many people around the world joy, I believe speaks to his greatness.

Jennifer was not the only child that Strait and his wife had. They also had a son, George Strait, Jr. He graduated from Texas A&M, and he competed as a professional rodeo Cowboys Association team roping competitor. George Strait Sr. became a grandfather in February of 2012 whenever his son, George Jr., had a son. And what did they name him? Well, maybe you could have guessed it. But his grandson's name is George Strait, the third. It is because George Strait is one of the most successful singers in America and because he was able to hold on to his faith after the tragic incident of losing his daughter and still being a faithful man to his family that I argue George Strait is a great man.

Thank you for listening to Great Men Back Then. I'm Lawrence Scott on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. up from San Antonio. Everything that I got is just what I've got on.