Somewhere Down In Texas With ACM Artists Of The Decade GEORGE STRAIT

ACM Artist of the Decade George Strait takes his latest album to No. 1, proving he’s still at the top of his Twang.

By Lisa Lee

It’s early morning on George Strait’s roping ranch outside San Antonio, and the cloudy haze has yet to burn off the vast Texas sky. A Hollywood video crew has spent more than two hours setting up a truckload of lights, cameras and dollies, making the pristine stables look more like a movie set than the peaceful home of prize horses. With the stage elaborately set for a one-on-one interview, the star of the hour rolls up unannounced in his truck.

“How y’all doing?” he says, jumping out with a friendly grin. He’s alone, no entourage, eyes tucked under a worn baseball cap. At first, it’s hard to tell that the regular guy in his Wranglers and boots is a country legend. Then, he takes off his cap and slides on his black cowboy hat, and he magically transforms from regular guy into GEORGE STRAIT.

Whatever it is, Strait has had that same intangible charisma since he first arrived on the country charts with “Unwound” back in 1981. Country fans immediately identified with his music and message, both authentic and grounded in his Texas upbringing. There’s no denying his movie star looks – which were put on full display in the hit film Pure Country in 1992 – but it’s Strait’s music that continues to win over both fans and critics. His knack for picking hit songs has earned him 57 No. 1 hits (at press time) and jukebox staples like “The Chair,” “Amarillo By Morning” and “All My Exes Live In Texas.”

His 52^nd album, Twang, debuted atop both the Billboard Country Albums and Top 200 charts in August, and has already produced another Top 5 single, “Living for the Night.” Deviating from his usual path of cherry picking great songs from Nashville’s elite songwriters, Strait actually co-wrote the new song with his son, Bubba Strait, and legendary songwriter Dean Dillon. Strait says the success of the tune has him “fired up” to write more.

“My son’s desire to write really inspired me,” Strait said. “When I was putting this album together, I knew I wanted to put some original material on it. That’s something I haven’t done since my second album.”

Strait co-wrote three songs on Twang, an album that runs the gamut from barn burners (“Same Kind of Crazy” and “Hot Grease and Zydeco”) and soul searchers (“Where Have I Been All My Life” and “The Breath You Take”), to a Spanish-speaking Strait on the Mexican classic “El Rey.” From the tone of the record to the cheeky cover photo, you get a sense that Strait is still having a lot of fun.

LISA: Before you were doing music professionally, do you remember anything or anyone that you were particularly a fan of?

GEORGE: I’ve always been crazy about Merle Haggard, and he’s been a big influence on my career from early on. When I would pick a song I’m going ‘Do you think Merle would do that? I don’t know if he would do it.’ When I was in the Army and I was just kind of cutting my teeth on playing in the bars and stuff, Merle had come to the Schofield barracks where I was stationed. He was playing Conroy Bowl there. I had a gig at the NCO Club, which wasn’t very far from there. We’d take a break and I’d run over to Conroy Bowl to see Hag. I’m walking by this limp and the window is down and I look in, and I think I see Merle in there. I’m going ‘I just saw Merle Haggard!’

LISA: You’ve been performing now for a long time. When you’re out on the road and it’s a show date for you, what’s your favorite moment of the day?

GEORGE: Well those days are king of slow. You don’t really do a lot. You’re just kind of waiting around for the show to come, so my favorite time is walking on the stage and I guess walking off. Those are the two favorites.

LISA: Walking off?

GEORGE: Well yeah. I mean because you’re so pumped! You know you’ve given it your best shot and you got it all inside you and hopefully you got it out. [laughs]

LISA: And you know you get to do it again.

GEORGE: And you know you get to do it again, but I think that you’re almost just as pumped walking off stage as you are walking on. I know that sounds weird but it’s just people are clapping and going crazy and it’s just a good feeling.

LISA: You’ve lived here in Texas your whole life. Did you ever consider living anywhere else?

GEORGE: No I never did consider living anywhere else but Texas. I mean when I was in the Army I lived in Hawaii. I was stationed there for two years and then I stayed another six months after I got out playing music, but I couldn’t imagine living anywhere but here.

LISA: What is it you love about Texas? What is the magic or romance of Texas?

GEORGE: I’m not sure really. We’re awful proud of our state. It’s a big state and so it’s real diverse. I couldn’t tell you what the flag of another state looks like, but I bet everybody could tell me what the Texas flag looks like. I just love living here. All our friends are here, and all the things that I like to do are here, so I just can’t imagine ever leaving.

LISA: You’ve had a couple of big hits about Texas, including “Amarillo By Morning.” You were playing this song very early on in your career. How did you come across this one?

GEORGE: I started playing it out in the dancehalls, and it became like one of our most requested song. We’d do it two or three times a night sometimes. We were doing those four-hour gigs. When I got the opportunity to record it, I did and it was a hit for me. It’s just one of those songs I think people identify with me and so we do it every night.

LISA: What do you remember most about doing all those honky-tonks?

GEORGE: Well there’s so many of them in Texas. It seems like every little town, it might not be very big but they’ve got a big dancehall there, and we played most of them. Nobody is really paying that close attention to you, but you know you’re having a good time if they’re out there dancing. So that’s kind of how you gauge how you’re doing. And, really, we all needed the money! I won’t lie to you and say we didn’t cause we were starving back then, but that really wasn’t the reason we were out there doing it. It was just so much fun. We loved playing and doing the music that we loved.

LISA: Another one of those staples is “All My Exes Live In Texas.”

GEORGE: [Songwriter] Whitney Schafer played the song for me, and it was back when I first started working with jimmy Bowen and he started letting me co-produce my albums. I just loved it. I remember I changed one line in the song. “I remember that old Brazos River” was the way he wrote it I think. Since I grew up by the Frio River, I just changed it to the Frio River.

LISA: Do you have a lot of good memories of being on that river?

GEORGE: I do as a matter of fact. Frio River was real close to my hometown on Pearsall. It ran right through Garner Park, and Garner Park was huge. It was a big, fun place for us to go at that age. We’d go float the river and then go to the pavilion for the dance that night. They had the greatest jukebox there with all really good songs on it.

LISA: When you’re looking for songs, what strikes you usually first – the lyric or the melody?

GEORGE: I think that a good melody can maybe overshadow a bad lyric more than a good lyric could overshadow maybe a bad melody. So I think the melody is what catches my ear first. And then if the lyrics are there and I feel strongly about the song that it’s good for me, then that will do it.

LISA: When you’ve been playing the same songs for so long, how so you keep those songs fresh for yourself?

GEORGE: I feel like my band has a lot to do with that. They give me a lot of energy when I’m on stage. They’re all great players, and it’s not hard to do at all. Even though I have done them a million times, it’s as much fun doing them now as it was back when I started doing them.

LISA: You also love horses and love to ride. How much time do you actually get to spend in the saddle?

GEORGE: Well as much time as we want really, especially when we’re off. When we’re not doing other things we usually come out and rope. Whenever we ride we usually rope. We pin the steers and go over here and rope. When I haven’t ridden and roped in a while I miss it.

LISA: What is it about this lifestyle that suits you?

GEORGE: Well it’s the way I grew up I guess. My dad is a rancher and growing up he taught school and ranched and when his dad, my grandfather, passed away then he started taking care of the ranch and taking my brother and I along with him. So that’s pretty much the way we spent our summer and a lot of weekends growing up. So it’s just something that I always did and just kind of fell in love with it back then. I mean it’s hard to say what I’d be doing today if I wasn’t doing this, if this hadn’t happened for me, but it would probably be something to do with ranching.

LISA: Does it give you sort of a respite from the other crazy part of your like of being an entertainer?

GEORGE: Definitely. Because when I’m roping or out at the ranch I really don’t think about it. Unless I get a phone call from Nashville saying something is up, I really don’t think about it that much, unless I want to pick up a guitar and pluck around on it. I’m just out enjoying the country and doing what I need to do.

LISA: How have you and Norma managed to stay happily married in the entertainment business for 37 years?

GEORGE: I don’t know. I guess we must love each other or something [laughs]. We still have our difficult times, of course. I think every marriage does. But fortunately we have a lot more good times than we do bad times, and the bad times don’t last near as long as they used to anymore. So I think it gets easier and easier.

LISA: You guys were high school sweethearts, right?

GEORGE: Sort of, I mean we dated for a little while when I was I guess a senior and then I had gotten out of high school. She’s a couple of years younger than me. And we quit dating and then I went on to college. I don’t know. One day I just woke up and though “man, I’m missing the boat here.” And so we got back together and the rest is history.

LISA: It takes a special woman to make it through all the craziness of this business.

GEORGE: It takes a special woman to put up with somebody like me [laughs].

LISA: A lot of entertainers end up on a destructive path at some point. You’ve seemed really grounded and happy you whole career. What do you think the key is for you to have not gotten off on that path?

GEORGE: Yeah, you see that a lot. You do. But success in this business is so hard to come by. I feel like I’m so lucky, so why throw it away on something stupid? It’s ridiculous, and that’s the way I’ve always felt about it. I’m going to hang on to this cause I know how fortunate I am.

The “King of Country” is back! 17x CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee George Strait will kick off his arena tour early next year and this time, he’s bringing along one very special lady – Reba McEntire.

The superstar acts performed together for the first time in many years for a sold-out crowd at the Cowboy’s Stadium inaugural event in Dallas. Selling out in less than an hour, fans and critics proclaimed the show one hot ticket! The concert was hailed by the Dallas Morning News as “an extravaganza” that “showcased Strait at the pinnacle of his musical game” and Ft. Worth Star Telegram wrote “Reba McEntire’s performance was a breathtaking master’s class in effortless brilliance.”

With 57 number one hits, 33 multi-platinum albums and countless sold-out shows year after year, Strait who holds the record for the most CMA wins and a record 17 CMA Entertainer of the Year nominations, is known for giving fans exactly what they want and expect. This year will be no exception.

“I can’t wait to get back out there and perform some of my new favorites from Twang along with hits the fans already love,” says Strait. “And with my friend Reba, we will make it a really spectacular night.”

Strait’s recent release TWANG debuted at #1 on The Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. This is the fourth time in Strait’s career that a new release has debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the 13th time debuting at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart. It has become a critically acclaimed album and received rave reviews in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, People, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Houston Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, The Boston Globe, Billboard and many more.

Strait co-wrote three songs on TWANG including the debut single, “Living for the Night.” The current single and title track of the album sits at #22 on Billboard and Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart.

At last year’s CMA Awards, George became the artist with the most CMA Awards in history with Album of the Year for Troubadour and Single of the Year for “I Saw God Today.” He adds 4 nominations this year with nods for “Entertainer of the Year,” “Male Vocalist of the Year,” “Video of the Year” for “Troubadour” and “Vocal Event of the Year” for “Everything But Quits” with LeeAnn Womack.

His platinum-selling Troubadour was named “Best Country Album” at the 51st Grammy Awards and in April, Strait was the fifth artist ever to receive the Academy of Country Music's Artist of the Decade honor. Strait has won 19 Academy of Country Music Awards including "Entertainer of the Year."

With a career spanning more than 25 years, Strait has the most number one singles of any artist in history including Elvis (57 To Date). He has sold more than 67 million records and with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley.

One of the most successful female recording artists in history, Reba has sold over 55 million albums worldwide, earned 33 #1 singles and was recently recognized as the biggest female hit-maker in country music history by “Billboard,” “Mediabase” and “Country Aircheck.” She is the winner of 15 American Music Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, 9 People’s Choice Awards, 7 Country Music Awards and 2 GRAMMY Awards.

Reba’s new album, Keep On Loving You, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart – her first solo studio album to do so. With 11 #1 albums, Reba holds the record as the female artist with the most #1 albums in the history of the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The superstar also recently scored her third consecutive Top 10 single of 2009, as her new song “Consider Me Gone” jumped into the Top 10 this week on both the Billboard Country Singles and the USA Today/ Country Aircheck Chart powered by Mediabase) charts.

In November 2008, McEntire signed with The Valory Music Co. reuniting her with multimedia entertainer and industry leader Scott Borchetta, President & CEO of Big Machine Records and sister label The Valory Music Co.

2010 TOUR DATES

22-Jan

Baltimore, MD

1st Mariner

23-Jan

Greensboro, NC

Coliseum

29-Jan

Knoxville, TN

Thompson Boling

30-Jan

Charlottesville, VA

JPJ Arena

5-Feb

Phoenix, AZ

US Airways

6-Feb

Las Vegas, NV

MGM

18-Feb

St Louis, MO

Scottrade Center

19-Feb

Wichita, KS

Intrust Bank Arena

20-Feb

Tulsa, OK

BOK Arena

25-Feb

Atlanta, GA

Philips Arena

26-Feb

Orlando, FL

Amway Arena

4-Mar

Memphis, TN

FedEx Forum

5-Mar

New Orleans, LA

New Orleans Arena

6-Mar

Little Rock, AR

Verizon

26-Mar

Portland, OR

The Rose Garden

27-Mar

Tacoma, WA

Tacomadome

8-Apr

Omaha, NE

Qwest Center

9-Apr

Kansas City, MO

Sprint Center

10-Apr

Des Moines, IA

Wells Fargo Arena

This holiday season each Glade(R) Limited Edition fragrance purchase will earn you a free download of one of my holiday songs. Purchase Bayberry Spice, Homemade Gingerbread(TM), Hollyberry Wreath*, or Peppermint Crush (TM)* items for access to songs like George Strait's “Merry Christmas (Wherever You Are)” and “Old Time Christmas.” Visit glade.com/holiday by 1/10/10 for complete details and for complete offer terms and rules.

* Available only at select retailers. CLICK HERE  for retailers.

by Robert K. Oermann

It gives me infinite joy to report to you that this week, all 10 singles are bona fide country music—there’s not a schlocky pop note in the batch. What an embarrassment of riches we have here. The Trent Tomlinson, Gwen Sebastian and Manning-Dickson

songs are all superbly well written. Mark Chesnutt, George Strait, Brad Hines, Joe Nichols and Blake Shelton with Trace Adkins are all beckoning us to take a smiling twirl across a honky-tonk hardwood floor.

GEORGE STRAIT/Twang

Writer: Jim Lauderdale/Kendell Marvel/Jimmy Ritchey; Producer: Tony Brown & George Strait; Publisher: Wudang Mountain/Bug/Marvel Man/Songs of Windswept Pacific/Big/Vibe Room/Jimbalaya/BPJ, SESAC/BMI; MCA Nashville (CDX)

—George goes uptempo in this chugging salute to the joys of listening to a jukebox country song. I’m with him all the way.

After dominating the record charts and selling out concert venues for the better part of 30 years, thereby establishing yourself as the uncontested King of Country, what can you do for an encore? If you’re George Strait, you just keep doing what you’ve always done. All you need is a little Twang.

The latest in a seemingly endless line of immaculately crafted crowd-pleasers released by the 57 year old Texas born living legend, Twang—Strait’s 26^th studio album and an instant number one No. 1 smash hit—underscores what every fan already knows: The reign of King George will continue unabated as long as Strait keeps making records.

This time out, Strait is delighting fans and impressing critics with an ambitious diversity of songs and styles, ranging from the boot-scooting country classicism of the the title cut (co-written by Grammy winner Jim Lauderdale) to the loose-goose honky-tonk of “Some Kind of Crazy” (co-written, and originally recorded by, Delbert McClinton), from the outlaw balladry of “Arkansas Dave” (the first solo songwriting credit of Strait’s son, Bubba Strait to an en espanol perfecto rendition of the mariachi standard “El Rey.”

“All the songs are different,” strait agrees. On the other hand, “I think all my albums are different enough where I don’t ever feel I did this the last time. Sure, it’s country music. I’m not trying to change that. But each song that you do is different.”

Which may be the key to explaining why the hits just keep on coming for George Strait: his song-selecting saavy. Quite simply, he knows what he likes and what other folks like as well. “And that,” says veteran music row tunesmith Dean Dillon, “is one of he things that made him the King of Country. He has the innate ability to look at a song, get inside that song—and deliver it the way it was written in a way that you can relate to.”

Dillon vividly recalls a fateful afternoon back in 1981 when he and fellow songwriter Frank Dycus were kicking back after a productive morning of collaboration. “We’d walked out on the porch,” he says, “and pulled the tabs on a couple of beers, when Blake Melvis, who was George’s first producer, pulled up to the curb and rolled down the window and said “Hey! I got this kid from Texas, and I’m looking for some songs for him.”

That new kid was George Strait, then freshly signed to MCA Records and hard at work on his first album for the label. “Like just about everyone else in Nashville at the time,” Dillon says “I’d never heard of the guy. So I asked Blake, ‘Well, who’s he sound like?’ Because back then, everyone sounded like somebody. Everyone imitated Merk Haggard or George Jones or somebody. And Blake said, “Well, he really doesn’t sound like anybody else. He’s kind of got his own thing going on.”

Impressed and intrigued by Mervis’ description, Dillon and Dycus pitched their latest composition, a tune titled “Unwound,” even before they actually met Strait. It wasn’t until a few weeks later, when he visited the studio where Strait was recording, that Dillon fully realized what a smart move he and Dycus had made and what a lucky break it was for all parties involved.

At that first meeting, Dillon recalls “My first impression was—well I thought he was a cowboy for darn sure. And I though were an odd match: He was pretty quiet and I was this crazy old songwriter.”

Right from the start, Dillon thought Strait had a great voice. “But I also thought that he was going to have a rough way to go because during those days, I knew that nobody was going to pitch their top stuff to him because he was new.”

Dillon, however, heard opportunity knocking. “Yeah,” he admits. “I pitched him everything I had but the kitchen sink after I heard him record that first time.”

Dillon co-wrote six tracks (five of them with Dycus) for Strait Country, Strait’s platinum-selling debut album. Twenty-eight years and more than 50 songs later, he and Strait remain good friends and frequent collaborators. Indeed, Dillon was the tunesmith Strait summoned to join him and his son, Bubba, while father and son were working on songs for Twang. Dillon eagerly accepted the invitation but with no small amount of surprise, since his good buddy hadn’t tried his own hand at songwriting for decades.

“For a lot of years, I put songwriting on the back burner,” Strait says. “I’ve had so much luck and have been so successful finding material from other writers that I got really lazy about it. Writing, for me, is not easy. It requires a lot of time and can be pretty intense.”

On the other hand, the creative process can also be quite a bit of fun—provided that you have the right collaborators. “I really enjoyed being able to write with Dean and Bubba,” Strait says. “Dean has been a big part of my recording career and we’ve been friends for many years. And seeing my son writing on his own, and being able to write with him, was just the greatest thing.”

To hear Dillon describe it, the songwriting sessions at Strait’s South Texas ranch were no-sweat, low-pressure, highly productive experiences. For example, working on “Living for the Night”—the first No. 1 single from Twang—entailed nothing more strenuous than fleshing out a long-considered scenario. “George told me pretty much the story around the song that he’d had in his head for a while,” Dillon says, “And then he and Bubba and I just sat there for a while. I came up with a little melody, and we go to cranking on that. And a couple of house later we had a song…a pretty darn good one, actually.”

Another longtime collaborator with Strait, singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale worked on two tunes for Twang, including the title cut. His relationship with the King of Country dates back to 1991, when Strait selected two songs from Lauderdale’s album Planet of Love—“Where the Sidewalk Ends” and “King of Broken Hearts,”—for Pure Country, the 1992 film in which Strait portrayed a glitzy country music star who goes AWOL from a concert tour and returns to his hometown roots. Since then, Lauderdale—a two time Grammy Award winner for his glue-grass recordings—has worked profitably as a tunesmith for Patty Loveless, The Dixie Chicks, Donna the Buffalo, and repeatedly, Strait.

“I owe my career as a recording artist as well as a songwriter to George Strait,” Lauderdale says. Writing songs for him has really kept me afloat during the years. It’s allowed me the freedom to cut bluegrass records and traditional country records—and other things that are more off the wall. If it wasn’t for George Strait, I wouldn’t be able to do that.

After all these years, Lauderdale continues to be impressed by Strait’s talents as a singer, musician, and showman. “It’s not just because he’s successful,” Lauderdale says. “In this business, there are people who are successful, and sometimes super-successful, but they don’t have longevity. But George—I thin he’s still really evolving. He’s not just making the same record year after year. And I think this new record shows continued growth and evolution as a recording artist.”

Dillon readily agrees. “I know this for a fact: George is singing better now than he’s ever sung in his life,” the songwriter marvels. “And he transcends generations. I go to his concerts and there’s 40,000 people out there anywhere from 8 years old to 80. He is a constant deliverer of great music.”

The big difference now, Dillon believes, is the variety of that great music. “It seems to me that in the past 10 years, George has just knocked the fences down. I mean who would have thought that George Strait would have recorded a Spanish-language song? And who would have though that George Strait would have recorded a Delbert McClinton song like ‘Same Kind of Crazy’ like he does on Twang? But he did. And here’s the thing. He made them his own. He took the, studied them, recorded them, and made them his own.”

With characteristic modesty, Strait downplays the notion that he blazing trails or expanding horizons. As he sees it, he’s still doing what he’s always done, even when what he does takes other people by surprise. “Same Kind of Crazy,” for example, is included on Twang simply because “I just love the feel of that song,” he says. In fact, “we recorded it in on take in the studio. That hardly ever happens.”

So what does Strait thing is the secret to his success? “If I knew the answer to that,” he replies, “I could have a whole new career selling it. I’ve just tried to do what I do the best I can do it—from picking songs to making records to playing shows”

And while he says he can foresee a day when he rides off into the sunset to spend his golden years on a South Texas ranch, Strait isn’t quite ready to give up his crown. “It’s a little too late to be talking about long term goals for me,” he says. “Every year I get to do it now is another year I didn’t think I would have.”

And he’s determined to make every minute count. “I still feel as excited about it as I always have. I had a great tour this year and enjoyed every minute of it—and I’m looking forward to my upcoming tour next winter.”

Strait says he’s also looking forward to making many more records in the future. “It’s great to be able to do something you love for a living. And believe me, I’m loving it.”

George and His Son Team Up

By Alanna Conaway

George Strait’s latest chart-topping hit, “Living for the Night,” is a song that the Texan had thought about writing for a long time. “I toyed with the idea through the years, but I just got lazy about it, actually,” George says with a smile.

Then his son, George Jr. – Bubba – began taking an interest in songwriting. “That kind of gave me the bug to write,” explains George. “We started writing a few things together, and I just kind of got into it again.”

One afternoon, George and Bubba began writing some songs at his ranch in South Texas and decided to involve legendary songwriter Dean Dillon. “I called Dean and a few days later he flew in,” recalls George.

“They played me a couple of things they had been dabbling with before we even started writing,” Dean remembers. “They were definitely on the right track. George is no stranger to a great song. Obviously, if anybody knows what’s going to work, in my humble opinion, he would.”

“I knew that Dean was a great songwriter – it was me and Bubba that I was worried about,” George adds with laughter.

“I think they kind of surprised themselves,” adds Dean. “I really do. I don’t think they were quite sure of what they had with this song. So we dove in headfirst.”

Within only a couple of hours, the writers had completed a beautiful ballad titled “Living for the Night,” which George recorded for his 29^th studio album, Twang. The song was released as the album’s first single and became his fastest-rising single to date. Not only did George get to take pride in watching his latest single soar up the charts, but he was able to watch the thrill and excitement in Bubba’s eyes.

“He’s all fired up about writing now, but he’s smart enough to know that this doesn’t happen all the time,” says George. “I feel very fortunate, even for me, to have a song that’s doing so well on the radio now. It’s even more special that we were able to write it together.”

“Living for the Night” is one of the three tracks on Twang that George wrote with his son, and marks the first recorded appearance of George’s songwriting since 1982’s “I Can’t See Texas From Here.”

“It makes a papa proud to have my son contributing to the creation of this record,” adds George. “We had a great time writing with each other, and Dean adding his magic made it even more special. I’m going to continue to write from now on.”

Benefit for Clemmie Sue Maul to help her live while fighting her illness.

Join us for evening of friends and fun!

October 25, 2009

Bavarian Halle (212 W. Austin St., New Braunfels, TX)

2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Entertainment by Zack Walther and the Cronkites, and local favorites The Hugh

Fadal Band, Don Forres, Eric Langenhahn and Kirk Scott, and Girl Guitar Austin.

Silent Auction to include Fender Acoustic Guitar and Resistol Hat signed by George Strait, Stilettos signed by Lee Ann Womack, Items from Various Texas Musicians, Gift Cards for Various Restaurants, Salons, and Bed and Breakfast Locations and More

Hors D'oeuvres and Spirits

DONATION AT THE DOOR

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, 'WOW . . . What a ride!' "

George Strait
Twang

August 24, 2009

Like a well worn in pair of cowboy boots the country veteran brings a warm, comforting familiarity to his latest effort. He touches the nostalgic heart on the lilting highlight “Where Have I Been All My Life”.

George Strait
Twang
Country (MCA Nashville)

By Whitney Pastorek
August 14, 2009

Listening to George Strait put his hallowed voice through its paces on yet another album of immaculately recorded tracks, it's clear that Twang will inevitably top the country charts, yield approximately three hit singles, and sell upwards of a million copies — just like the ageless Texan's done nearly every year since 1981. Even though the Strait formula is now carved in granite — compact lyrics, good-natured tone, don't forget the fiddle — his hearty baritone calls the converted back every single time. As King George himself once sang: It just comes natural.

Why, then, is Strait's 26th studio album worth a casual fan's investigation? Because he continues to define (and refine) his genre, and he does it with such ease. Because he knows exactly how to stretch his Wrangler-clad legs without spooking the herd, most vividly here by kicking up his heels on Delbert McClinton's ''Same Kind of Crazy'' and flinging himself into a full-throated and faithful interpretation of mariachi standard ''El Rey'' en español. And because he's taken a hands-on approach for the first time since 1982, co-writing three of these tracks alongside his son, Bubba: the lackadaisical lead single ''Living for the Night,'' a lonesome two-step called ''Out of Sight Out of Mind,'' and the clever chorus twist of ''He's Got That Something Special.'' Do these self-penned songs explode like bottle rockets in the vast West Texas sky? No. They sound like George Strait songs, of course. But look, the dude's cut 57 No. 1 hits. Would you change your tune? B

DOWNLOAD THIS: “El Rey”

Fabulous New Releases
By Harry Chapman

Twang,
George Strait

Debut single “Living for the Night” has soared up the charts and is one of the fastest rising singles of Strait’s career. As a result, the release of his latest album, produced by Strait and Tony Brown and recorded at Shrimpboat Sound Studio in Key West, has been moved up. “Living for the Night” was written by Strait, his son Bubba and legendary songwriter Dean Dillon.

“It makes a papa proud to have my son contributing to the creation of this record,” Strait says. We had a great time writing with each other, and then Dean adding his magic made it even more special.”

The single also marks the first time Strait has penned a song since “I Can’t See Texas From Here,” from his 1982 debut, Strait Country. Strait co-wrote two additional songs on Twang, and son Bubba has another writing credit on the album, as well.

“I hope that people who buy this record,” Strait says, “have as much fun listening to it as I had making it.”

George Strait, Twang
4 ½ out of 5 Stars

August 31, 2009

A lot of adjectives have been applied to George Strait albums over the years, but “surprising” isn’t usually one of them. And yet here is Twang, which finds the legendary singer taking several chances with his tried-and-true formula and seeing his bets pay off handsomely.

First we have the fact that George has, for the first time since 1982, contributed to the writing of several songs. The best compliment that can be paid to all three is that they blend in perfectly with the usual gems from the superlative outside writers. Another unexpected development is the debut of George’s son, Bubba, as a songwriter. His solo composition, “Arkansas Dave” is the head-and-shoulders stand out here, a taunt narrative in the style of Johnny Cash’s 1960s cowboy parables. Closing out the album is a version of José Alfredo Jiménez’ “El Rey”, sung entirely in Spanish with a spirit of freewheeling derring-do that one rarely hears from such a reserved artist. It’s an apt finish to one of the most diverse and satisfying albums of George Straits’ career.

Aug 17, 2009

Twang
George Strait
3 1/2 out of 4 Stars

There’s something about George Strait that is like a well worn pair of cowboy boots: His delivery-natural, relaxed, lived-in—provides such comfort and support that it feels like he’s always been there with you. It’s a warm familiarity that the country veteran brings to this fine follow-up to the 2008’s Grammy- and CMA Award-winning Troubadour. When Strait sings, “Some years are clear and some a little blurry/ Man, how they fly by” on the lilting highlight “Where Have I Been All My Life”, he touches the nostalgic heart. Meanwhile, on the single “Living for the Night,” a bittersweet breakup ballad, he croons, “I’m living for the night/Everyday’s a lifetime with you”, making you feel all his pain.

Strait To The Top

By Keith Caulfield
August 29, 2009

George Strait’s new album, “Twang” tops Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart, giving him his fifth No.1 on the former tally and his 23rd chart topper on Top Country Albums. With 155,000 sold in its opening week, “Twang” extends Strait’s record as the artist with the most No.1s on Top Country Albums. Tied for second place are Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, with 15 each. Alan Jackson and Garth Brooks are next, each with 12. Strait’s first Top Country Albums No.1 was his 1983 release, “Right or Wrong” which hit the top for the first five weeks on the Feb. 18, 1984, chart. He’s also been on an incredible run- his last seven studio sets have all hit No. 1. His last release to miss the top was 1999’s “Always Never the Same”, which peaked at No.2.

George Strait, Twang
Producers: George Strait, Tony Brown
MCA Nashville
Release Date: August 11

By Ken Tucker
August 1, 2009

George Strait put out his first album, "Strait Country," in 1981. After 28 years, you'd think it would be tough coming up with new twists to captivate audiences. But apparently not for King George, whose latest album, "Twang," is among the finest collections of songs he's released. Recorded at Jimmy Buffett's Shrimpboat Studios in Key West, Fla., the new set has a few surprises, including a track recorded entirely in Spanish. Vicente Fernández's mariachi hit "El Rey" includes horns, which is a first on a Strait record for co-producer Tony Brown, who has worked with the country artist since 1992. Other rare moments on "Twang" include three songs co-written by Strait, who hasn't released a song he's penned since his debut. The first single, "Living for the Night," was co-written by Strait; his son, Bubba; and longtime contributor Dean Dillon. Strait and his son also collaborated on "Out of Sight Out of Mind." The song "Arkansas Dave"-written solely by Bubba-has a "Tennessee Flat Top Box" groove that would make Johnny Cash proud.

THE GREATEST EVER?
George Strait has had an amazing career, but is he the best country star of all time? Check out what the experts, and George’s fellow stars have to say.

By Bob Paxman

In the long, storied history of country music, every era can claim at least one star who achieved musical superiority while appealing to the average person. The list begins with the legendary Jimmie Rodgers in the early 1920s, through Hank Williams in the late 1940 and early 1950s, and on to Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and George Jones, among others, in the 1960s.

During the 1970s, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Willie Nelson and others came to the forefront and secured their hold on country fans while drawing in new legions of listeners. The modern era of country music in the last 30 years has produced acts like Alabama, Hank Williams Jr., Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson and Garth Brooks.

But can anyone say for certain that one artist takes greater precedence over another? It’s likely unfair to even say that one star over the course of country music history, deserves the title of “The Greatest Ever.”

If you were going to make the case, however, you couldn’t go wrong backing a strong contender for the “best ever” title – the man now commonly praised as “King George,” the redoubtable George Strait.

The numbers alone can do the talking for the cowboy Texan, George has scored more No. 1 singles than any other act in country history, with 44 Billboard No. 1 singles and 57 counting all charts. He has also picked up a record 22 Country Music Association Awards.

In 2006, George received one of country music’s crown jewels when he was inducted into the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame. But that monumental event – often the finishing touch for a country star’s career – has simply been a well-deserved milestone for George, as he continues to rack up a string of hits and collect industry awards.

On the flip side of measuring great country careers, one could argue that Garth Brooks has tallied more album sales than George while Vince Gill and many others have nabbed more Grammy Awards. Eddy Arnold and George Jones, even Loretta Lynn, own far longer chart careers. Plus, Country Music Hall of famers like Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Bill Monroe are also members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, indicative of the wide cultural impact that they wielded. Now, find out what a couple of country music experts and George’s peers have to say as they weigh in on just how great he is. Plus, take a look at how George’s career stacks up against the legends of the past, as well as today’s country superstars.

THE STARS RAVE
Stars young and old hold firm in their belief that George is No. 1 on the playing field and in their hearts. Many got their first taste of show business and the traveling life when they toured with George early in their careers.

Earlier this year, George was honored with his own TV special acknowledging him as the ACM Artist of the Decade, the George Strait ACM Artist of the Decade All-Star Concert. Several acts appearing on the special shared their thoughts about George with cmt.com.

Blake Shelton is currently on tour with George and makes no bones about George’s legacy.

I don’t know how it is across the rest of the country,” Blake recently told cmt.com, “but growing up in Oklahoma, George Strait was not just the king of country music, he was the king of the world! His image, his name, his music – everything was larger than life."

Alan Jackson notes that George is one of his all-time favorites. “He was one of the singers who made me want to move to Nashville,” Alan said. And before his rendition of George’s classic “The Fireman” for the TV special, Alan added, “Congratulations on this decade thing, but I think they’re a few decades late getting to you. When they asked me to prepare a song for this thing... I went back to this one song immediately because I sang this thing a million nights in a smoky bar – just wishing I was George Strait.”

Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry acknowledges the influence George has exerted on him and his duo partner, Troy Gentry. “He’s got so many killer, unbelievable songs,” Eddie says. “Listening to his albums over and over and over, it’s helped us pick songs to go on our albums. You can always go, ‘Do you think George Strait would sing something like this?’ I think it’s helped us a lot, and how many people he’s influenced is unbelievable.”

Miranda Lambert recalls, “I got to go on tour with George when I was brand-new, and I learned so much. I love George not only for his amazing music and everything he’s accomplished, but seeing the people who surround him and who have been with him for so many years says a lot about his character.”

HOW THE EXPERTS SEE IT
Country Weekly asked two expert country music writers and historians to weigh in on the “Greatest of All Time” question. Michael McCall, a writer/editor at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, and veteran journalist Hazel Smith, who contributes to cmt.com and Country Weekly, viewed the issue through a historical perspective.

Michael: When you talk about the greatest country artists of all time, it can be hard to compare different eras. Country music’s history is so rich and extensive, and it gets real subjective when you start ranking importance, especially when you consider the impact and the work of Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Bill Monroe, Bob Wills, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Patsy Cline and on and on.

Does George Strait belong in that group? Definitely. The incredible span of his career, the enduring quality of so many of his hits, the impact he had not just on country music, but on American culture, puts him on the short list of artists whose career stands among the all-time greats. Like the others, he’s elevated country music while capturing the hearts of millions of fans. He certainly has earned his place alongside country music’s all- time greats.

Hazel: I’m not going to say George Strait is the best country singer that’s ever been, but I don’t know anybody who is better. He’s head and shoulders above most. Hey, when a man’s had more No. 1 songs that anyone in any genre, you just naturally know who is best.

The man is ready to sing just like he did when it all started with [1981’s] “Unwound.” He’ll be clean, shy and [he’ll] never hit a bad note.”

Michael: That’s another remarkable thing about Strait. He continues to have No. 1 hits and win awards after being elected to the Hall of Fame.

When you say career impact, numbers aren’t always the best register. Bill Monroe didn’t have No. 1 records but his impact on music was incredible. The same thing with Hank Williams – he had such a massive influence on the culture beyond country music. The “best of all time” is just such a subjective question. You can’t look at any one qualifier.

THE COWBOY STILL RIDES
What set George apart from other artists throughout history is one impossible-to-overlook fact – he’s never had even a mild lapse in his career. From his 1981 debut “Unwound” to the present, George has consistently produced hits year after year that don’t just make the chart but top them in many cases.

Compare that to his closest singles competitor, Conway Twitty, who once held the record for the most No. 1 hits. Conway stayed on the charts and had a string of Top 5 and Top 10 hits, along with other chart successes, right up to his untimely death in 1993. But his last No. 1 had come in 1986 with “Desperado Love.”

PROUD PAPA

How George Strait’s life is now richer because of the enthusiasm and talent of his son, George Jr. – and the inspiration of his wife, Norma.

George Strait hadn’t set pen to paper and written a song – at least one that he’d go on to record – since 1982, when “I Can’t See Texas From Here” appeared on his Strait From the Heart album. He’d though about it, toyed with ideas, but never followed through. After all, when you have your pick of the best songs from country’s greatest tunesmiths...why fix it if it ain’t broken?

Well, because even the smoothest-running engine can benefit from a little tweaking, that’s why. That’s what happened when George “Bubba” Strait Jr. began showing interest in songwriting – leading his dad to revive his own long-dormant writing skills. Like most things the legendarily laid-back George does, the process began organically.

“It seems like we were just talking about it one day and decided we’d give it a shot,” George recalls. “He’s always been interested in music and songs. I think that just came naturally from being around it so much. A few days later we started working on a couple of things which aren’t on this record, but I guess that’s what gave us the bug.”

Among the first songs the Strait men wrote together was one called “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” – a title suggested by George’s wife, Norma. “Bubba wrote most of it himself,” George modestly notes. Once the two were really cranking, they invited one of George’s favorite songwriters to the family’s South Texas ranch to get in on the action. Dean Dillon has written or co-written a number of hits for the superstar, dating back to his very first top 10, “Unwound.” Among the songs the three tackled together was one called “Living for the Night,” based on an idea George had been carrying around for several years.

“I’m not sure what made me think of it,” he says, “but anyway, I kept it in the back of my mind thinking that someday I would get in the songwriting mood again and write it. When I got together with Dean and Bubba I decided it was time to do it. I’m really proud of how it turned out and couldn’t have picked two better co-writers.”

Now “Living for the Night” is the first hit from George’s latest album, Twang. “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” also appears on the new CD, as does “He’s Got That Something Special,” another song written by George and Bubba with Dean. “It makes a papa proud to have my son contributing to the creation of this record,” declares George. “We had a great time writing with each other, and then Dean adding his magic made it even more special.”

One of the album’s standout cuts, though, was penned by Bubba alone. “It blew me away,” George reveals of his first listen to Bubba’s “Arkansas Dave,” a fictional yarn based on real-life Wild West outlaw Dave Rudabaugh. “I told him right there that I was going to cut it, and I think he was surprised. I’m very proud of him. It’s a great song.”

And this may not be the last we hear of Bubba Strait as a songwriter. “He’s all fired up about writing,” George recently told Storme Warren on Sirius XM satellite radio. “Why not? But he’s smart enough to know what this doesn’t happen all the time.” That is to say, Bubba’s well aware that a private audience with one of country’s all time greats is something any songwriter outside the Strait residence would envy.

Certainly, George is eager for his favorite songwriters to keep offering those potential hits. “I’m just looking for the best songs,” he says. “Whether it be a song by me or my son, it’s [still] got to be the best one to make the best record. So I hope they don’t quit sending me songs...I just continue to look for different material – great material, as good as I can find. And try to go in there and do as good a job as I can do making it a record. That’s all you can expect, that’s all you can do.” And while he’s excited about the prospect of continuing to develop his songwriting, George acknowledges that he’s not sure how long this current burst of creativity will last.

No matter what, George notes that it’s a special thrill to see “Living for the Night” climb the charts. “I feel very fortunate to have been part of a song that’s doing so well on the radio now,” he says. “It’s even more special that Bubba, Dean and I were able to write it together.”

George’s pride in Bubba is abundantly evident. He has seen his son grow up to become an accomplished professional roper, a graduate of Texas A&M and now a burgeoning songwriter. Rodeo fans attending the annual George Strait Tem Roping Classic in San Antonio have often seen father and son rope together in the competition, just one public hint of their private bond. They’ll again be roping in this year’s event, set for March 12-13, at the San Antonio Rose Palace. Check out gstrc.com for all the details.

“I can’t believe my son’s 28 and grown up,” confesses George. “I’ve always been able to spend a lot of time with him and taken him with me when I can. I’m real proud of him.”

Twang may feature a few new names in the songwriting credits, but it was recorded at a place that’s quickly become a staple for George: pal Jimmy Buffett’s Shrimp Boat Sound studio in Key West, Fla. “It’s very laid-back,” George explains. “I think the ocean air is good for my voice. We work hard while we’re in the studio, but then when we take our breaks we walk outside and look around and it’s Key West! I mean, it’s great. As long as it keeps working out like it has I’ll continue to go down there.”

Among the songs George decided to record there was “El Rey,” a Spanish-language mariachi number written by the late Mexican singer and songwriter Jose Alfredo Jimenez. “I’ve loved mariachi music for years, and although I’m not fluent in Spanish, I’ve been trying to get better,” George explains. “’El Rey’ has been a favorite song of mine for years, and I request it every chance I get. So I decided to give it a shot.” It’s just a little extra proof that after 28 years of country stardom, more than 67 million albums sold and a seemingly endless number of accolades and awards – including his 2006 induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame – George is still pushing himself and seeing his carefully measured bets pay off both artistically and commercially.

“It’s definitely been a great year,” George acknowledges, recounting a few of his highlights of 2009: being named the Academy of Country Music’s Artist of the Decade, winning a Grammy for last year’s Troubadour album, having the privilege of being the first artist to perform at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and, of course, his successful forays into songwriting with his beloved son. So the question, as always: Can he top himself?

“It’s been a very exciting album and how I’ll top it...I don’t know even if I could,” he says with the characteristic reserve that’s masks a quite confidence. “But maybe something will come up. We’ll just have to see.”

Found in Translation

One of the most striking cuts on George’s new Twang album is its closing number, a full-throated romp through the Spanish-language mariachi standard “El Rey.” “What a blast that was,” George says of the recording. “I had a version by the great [Mexican singer and actor] Vicente Fernandez. I played it for the guys, and we worked it out. I think it turned out great, and I hope the real mariachis like it. That will be the real test.

Aptly enough for a guy who fans regularly call “the king of country,” the title of “El Rey” translates as “The King.” Written by Jose Alfredo Jimenez, the song is about a fellow who boasts that even without money or love he’s the master of his own destiny: I have no throne nor queen / Nor anyone who understands me / But I continue being king.

Producer Tony Brown recetly told journalist Ken Ed Tucker that he has suggested that George make El Rey the title of the album. “I can call myself a troubadour,” George demurred with a smile, “but I can’t call myself ‘the king.’”

This year, music fans will enjoy an early holiday gift with the October 6 release of Now That’s What I Call A Country Christmas. This music-packed stocking stuffer comes on the heels of the multi-platinum NOW Christmas series of double CDs, and the chart-topping success of NOW That’s What I Call Country Volumes 1 and 2.

For the first time, this double-disc set includes 29 of the most beloved holiday favorites from country greats like Elvis and Johnny Cash, alongside current country stars like Kenny Chesney and George Strait, making this the perfect holiday gift for the entire family.

NOW That’s What I Call A Country Christmas is the newest of the world’s best selling multi-artist album series, NOW That's What I Call Music! The Now series is collectively responsible for sales of 73 million albums in the U.S. over the last 10 years. Every album in the series has reached the Billboard Top 10, and is the only non-soundtrack, multi-artist collection to reach #1 Billboard status on the Billboard Top 200 Album Sales Chart.

NOW That’s What I Call A Country Christmas Track Listing

DISC ONE

Darius Rucker Winter Wonderland

Brad Paisley Away in the Manger

Julianne Hough Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

George Strait Joy to the World

Lady Antebellum It's Cold Outside

Brooks and Dunn I'll Be Home for Christmas

Luke Bryan Run Run Rudolph

Josh Turner The First Noel

Kellie Pickler Santa Baby

Trace Adkins It's Christmas

Little Big Town Go Tell it on the Mountain

Lee Ann Womack The Man With the Bag

Taylor Swift Christmases When You Were Mine

Kenny Chesney Silver Bells

DISC TWO

Gene Autry Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Elvis/Martina McBride Blue Christmas

Merle Haggard Jingle Bells

Vince Gill O Little Town of Bethlehem

Alison Krauss Shimmy Down the Chimney

Reba McEntire Up On the Housetop

Glen Campbell O Holy Night

Tanya Tucker What Child Is This

Alabama Christmas In Dixie

Brenda Lee Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

Kenny Rogers Kentucky Home Made Christmas

Dolly Parton Hard Candy Christmas

Amy Grant A Christmas to Remember

Johnny Cash Silent Night

Burl Ives Holly Jolly Christmas

FIRST ROUND OF PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED FOR "THE 43rd ANNUAL CMA AWARDS"
Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban to Perform on "Country Music's Biggest Night"

NASHVILLE - The star-packed lineup for "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" launches with the announcement today that nominees Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban will perform. "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," hosted by Paisley and Underwood, airs live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 11 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Brooks & Dunn are nominated this year for Vocal Duo (which they have won a record 14 times) and Musical Event with McEntire for "Cowgirls Don't Cry."

Chesney, the reigning Entertainer of the Year (with four total wins in this category), has three nominations, including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; and Musical Event with Mac McAnally for "Down the Road."

McEntire has two nominations, including Female Vocalist (which she won four consecutive years during 1984-1987) and Musical Event with Brooks & Dunn for "Cowgirls Don't Cry."

Paisley, the reigning Male Vocalist (2007 and 2008), is this year's top-nominated artist with seven nominations, including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for American Saturday Night; Single and Song for "Then" (which he co-wrote with Chris DuBois and Ashley Gorley); and Musical Event and Music Video for "Start a Band" with Urban.

Rucker, who released his debut solo Country album in 2008, received his first two CMA nominations this year for New Artist and Male Vocalist.

Country Music Hall of Fame member Strait received four nominations including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Music Video for "Troubadour" and Musical Event for "Everything But Quits" with Lee Ann Womack (a category they won in 2005 with "Good News, Bad News"). With 79 career nominations, Strait is now tied with Alan Jackson as the most nominated artist in CMA Awards history.

Sugarland, the reigning Vocal Duo (2007 and 2008), has two nominations including Vocal Duo and Album for Love on the Inside. Sugarland members Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles could each receive a second trophy for producing Love on the Inside with Byron Gallimore.

Swift, who won the Horizon Award in 2007, received four nominations this year with Entertainer; Female; Album for Fearless; and Music Video for "Love Story." She could receive a second trophy for producing Fearless with Nathan Chapman. At age 19, Swift is the youngest artist ever to be nominated for Entertainer. Prior to this nomination, Wynonna was the youngest at age 22 when The Judds were first nominated in that category in 1986. Swift is also the first solo female artist to be nominated for Entertainer since 2000 when Faith Hill was nominated. The last solo female artist to win the category was Shania Twain in 1999.

Underwood, the reigning Female Vocalist for three consecutive years (2006-2008), has two nominations including Female Vocalist and Musical Event for "I Told You So" with Randy Travis. Should Underwood win the Female Vocalist category again this year, she would tie Martina McBride and McEntire as the top winners in the category with four wins each.

Urban received five nominations this year, with Entertainer (which he won in 2005); Male Vocalist (which he won three consecutive years in 2004-2006); Album for Defying Gravity; and Musical Event and Music Video for "Start a Band" with Paisley. Urban could receive a second trophy for producing Defying Gravity with Dann Huff.

Tickets for the 2009 CMA Awards can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Sommet Center box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, in Nashville). Ticket prices begin at $110 for Upper Level. All ticket prices include sales tax but exclude applicable service/handling fees.

"The 43rd Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2009 CMA Awards. Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music.

The King and The Dean

When George and son Bubba began writing together, they reached out to Dean Dillon, one of the elder Strait’s favorite songwriters, to join them in their efforts – and among the resulting tunes was George’s latest hit, “Living for the Night.” Dean has written or co-written more hits for George than any other writer, and now he, too, is passing along his passion to another generation: his daughter, Jessie Jo Dillon, co-wrote the Twang track “The Breath You Take” with her dad and his fellow hit tunesmith Casey Beathard. Here are a few of the hits Dean Dillon has written or co-written for George through the years.

“Unwound,” No. 6, 1981
“Marina del Rey,” No. 6, 1982
“The Chair,” No. 1, 1985
“Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her,” No. 1, 1986
“It Ain’t Cool to Be Crazy About You,” No.1, 1986
“Ocean Front Property,” No. 1, 1987
“Famous Last Words of a Fool,” No. 1, 1988
“I’ve Come to Expect It From You,” No. 1, 1990
“If I Know Me,” No. 1, 1991
“Easy Come, Easy Go,” No. 1, 1993
“Lead On,” No. 7, 1995
“The Best Day,” No.1, 2000
“She Let Herself Go,” No. 1, 2005

GEORGE STRAIT
Twang
MCA Nashville

By Howard Cohen

One day country radio programmers could realize that George Strait, at 57, doesn't fit their perceived demographic.

Strait stands alone. His new album, Twang, already has a Top 10 single with the saloon ballad, Living for the Night, a contemplative, if routine, tune the singer cowrote with his son, Bubba. Strait hasn't written any of his hits since 1981.

That isn't the only fresh twist to Twang. The album, recorded at Jimmy Buffett's Shrimpboat Sound Studio in Key West, boasts Strait's first mariachi performance sung entirely in Spanish and with a full horn section. El Rey, popularized by ranchera icon Vicente Fernández, translates to ``The King'' -- Strait's nickname in Nashville.

The King's in fine voice with another consistent collection of mature ballads and frisky honky tonkers. Twang feels even stronger than last year's Troubadour, the Country Music Association's Album of the Year.

Twang's highlight, Arkansas Dave, has the loping beat, acoustic framework and twist-ending tale of an old gunslinger reminiscent of a Kenny Rogers or Johnny Cash hit from the 1970s. In his straightforward manner Strait is as convincing on a story song like Arkansas Dave, written solely by his son, as he is sincere on wise ballads like Where Have I Been All My Life, a track that notches the passage of time without lapsing into modern country's penchant for sappy sentimentality.

Maybe this type of quality control is what allows Strait to buck the odds that say his kind has no place on shallow mainstream radio.

What If Twang Is George Strait's Legacy?

By Alison Bonaguro
August 11th, 2009

George Strait's latest album, Twang, came out today (Aug. 11). I mean, who didn't know that, right? But there's also this rare interview with him circulating the Internet, and it's just about as good as the album itself.

In it, he says, "I have no idea what my legacy will be. I'll just have to let somebody else decide that." Well, I've decided. What George Strait should leave behind is just twang. Not just the album, but the very sound that represents the kind of country music he's been making for three decades. Because like he says, "If twang is not what I do, then I don't know what is."

This album has all kinds of music, according to Strait. Zydeco, mariachi, up-tempo. And I have to agree there's some kind of song for everyone on here. He sounds like himself on slow-groove ballad tunes like "The Breath You Take," "Where Have I Been All My Life" and "Living for the Night." Vocally and instrumentally. But here's some sass here, too, like on the title track and on "Hot Grease and Zydeco," which could easily become a club mix song if he allowed it. Which I doubt he would, but still.

He recorded the album down in Key West, Fla., and thinks maybe the ocean air is good for his voice. That could be. Or maybe his voice was just born to twang like this to give us that feeling that a little hillbilly's bending on some guitar strings, some pedal steel's whining like a whistle of an old freight train and that foot stomping honky-tonkin' feeling's going through my veins. That's a legacy George Strait would be happy to leave behind.

Strait, Chesnutt top weekend shows

By John Goodspeed

The weekend's top three shows span three decades of country-music history.

And the cool thing is all three are still making history, starting with George Strait, who began singing hits in the early 1980s.

Then there are Mark Chesnutt, a steady hit singer since 1990, and the Eli Young Band, part of a new breed of Texas country artists.

•Strait, who racked up four more CMA nominations earlier this month to tie Alan Jackson's record of 79, will headline the inaugural event at 8 Friday night at the Cedar Park Center northwest of Austin.

Lee Ann Womack will open. Womack and Strait seem destined to sing a duet or two. One of his new CMA nominations is for musical event of the year for a duet on her “Everything But Quits.” They won that category with a duet on “Good News, Bad News” in 2005.

Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster, but the show may be sold out by the time you read this.

•Chesnutt cut his teeth in honky-tonks around his hometown of Beaumont — just like George Jones. And as a torchbearer of traditional country, he has even won Jones' praises. Chesnutt, who has 14 No. 1 singles and 23 Top 10s, continued that tradition with last year's album, “Rollin' With the Flow.” He performs Friday night at Cowboys Dancehall.

•Last week marked a year since the Eli Young Band released “Jet Black & Jealous,” its third album and first on a major label. It debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard country chart.

Since then, it's scored a first Top 10 hit with “Always the Love Songs” and toured with the likes of Alan Jackson and Jason Aldean and appeared on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”

The Denton quartet, which specializes in melodic country/pop rock with intelligent lyrics, will perform Saturday night at the River Road Ice House.

George Strait mixes genres in surprising new CD 'Twang'

By Mario Tarradell

Artist: George Strait
Album: Twang
Grade: B+
Label: MCA Nashville

On his 26th studio album, country music king George Strait could have delivered another one of his classy, authentic and predictable batch of songs. Nobody would have complained, because Strait on auto-pilot is better than just about any freshly scrubbed pop singer posing as a country crooner.

But Twang ably presents a veteran artist willing to shake himself out of complacency. For starters, the disc includes three tunes Strait co-wrote, his first songwriting credits since 1982. All three are penned with his son, George "Bubba" Strait Jr. They include the elegant single, "Living for the Night," and the two-stepper, "He's Got That Something Special." "Arkansas Dave," a galloping story song crafted by Strait Jr., sounds like something Johnny Cash would have written, with its tale of murder and thievery.

Nothing, however, prepares you for Strait's take on "El Rey," the legendary ranchera penned by José Alfredo Jiménez and popularized by Vicente Fernández. Not only does the Texan roll his Rs, but he manages to inject the unbridled potency necessary to convincingly sing a ranchera – in Spanish, to boot.

Elsewhere, Twang goes from roadhouse rave-ups (Delbert McClinton's "Same Kind of Crazy") to stately country ballads ("Beautiful Day for Goodbye"). After nearly three decades of influential country music, Strait has nothing to prove. How cool that Twang sounds as if he does.

George Strait offers up some 'Twang'

By Shelly Fabian
August 12, 2009

Country superstar George Strait has released the 38th album of his career, and proves that he's still got a few tricks up his sleeve.

George Strait definitely knows what he's doing when it comes to his career. He's had a career-topping 57 number ones to his name, has sold over 67 million albums, and is releasing his 38th album, entitled simply Twang. It definitely suits his style, which is pure, traditional country music that still appeals to fans of contemporary country as well. But, while he could probably just go on auto-pilot and still put out a great album, he chose to spice things up with his latest release. Twang has the standard honky tonkers like the title cut, and ballads, like the first single, "Living for the Night," and "Beautiful Day for Goodbye," but then adds some spicey cajun fare with "Hot Grease and Zydeco," and even a traditional Mexican folk song, "El Rey," sung completely in Spanish, to create an eclectic and truly enjoyable album.

Another new addition is the fact that Strait has put pen to paper to co-write three of the tracks on Twang -- "Living for the Night," "He's Got That Something Special" and "Out of Sight Out of Mind." He wrote these with son Bubba and songwriter extraordinaire, Dean Dillon, who has penned quite a few of Strait's biggest hits over the years. Strait has only recorded one other song that he'd had a hand in writing in his entire career, which has spanned over two decades. His first recorded composition was from his debut album, Strait Country, contained "I Can't See Texas from Here." Bubba was also the sole writer of the wonderfully classic Western-styled song that sounds like it could have been recorded by Marty Robbins, "Arkansas Dave."

"My son's desire to write really inspired me," Strait says in a press release. "After writing a few songs with Bubba, I had the idea to call and see if Dean Dillon wanted to come to my ranch and write with us. He did, we had a great time, and we were able to come up with a few songs."

"Where Have I Been All My Life" is a reflective story song, where the narrator realizes that life is passing him by in a hurry, and nowadays, he finds himself agreeing more with his father, and learning about forgiveness being just as much for himself as for the other person.

"I Gotta Get to You" sounds like classic 90s Strait, while "The Breath You Take" is an emotional ballad about not letting life pass you by. "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" is a traditional steel-soaked weeper that will have folks two-stepping along in dancehalls across the country.

My choices for future singles would be: "Gotta Get to You," "Twang" and "The Breath You Take." I'm rating this album 4 1/2 stars out of 5.

PLAYING IT STRAIT George drops another solid crowd-pleaser

By Whitney Pastorek
Release Date: Aug 11, 2009

Listening to George Strait put his hallowed voice through its paces on yet another album of immaculately recorded tracks, it's clear that Twang will inevitably top the country charts, yield approximately three hit singles, and sell upwards of a million copies — just like the ageless Texan's done nearly every year since 1981. Even though the Strait formula is now carved in granite — compact lyrics, good-natured tone, don't forget the fiddle — his hearty baritone calls the converted back every single time. As King George himself once sang: It just comes natural.

Why, then, is Strait's 26th studio album worth a casual fan's investigation? Because he continues to define (and refine) his genre, and he does it with such ease. Because he knows exactly how to stretch his Wrangler-clad legs without spooking the herd, most vividly here by kicking up his heels on Delbert McClinton's ''Same Kind of Crazy'' and flinging himself into a full-throated and faithful interpretation of mariachi standard ''El Rey'' en español. And because he's taken a hands-on approach for the first time since 1982, co-writing three of these tracks alongside his son, Bubba: the lackadaisical lead single ''Living for the Night,'' a lonesome two-step called ''Out of Sight Out of Mind,'' and the clever chorus twist of ''He's Got That Something Special.'' Do these self-penned songs explode like bottle rockets in the vast West Texas sky? No. They sound like George Strait songs, of course. But look, the dude's cut 57 No. 1 hits. Would you change your tune? B

Download This: Listen to the song El Rey

Strait With a Chaser: Country Legend Serves Up Satisfying 'Twang' With Surprises

George Strait dusts off his songwriting chops on his new CD.

By Julie Thanki
August 11, 2009

George Strait, the Academy of Country Music's artist of the decade, is back with "Twang," his 26th studio album, a collection as solid as anything the reliable south Texan has ever released.

A masterful interpreter of songs, Strait picks up the pen for only the second time in his career. The result is the heart-rending "Living for the Night," a collaboration with son Bubba and Dean Dillon (who's written several Strait hits). With sharp, poignant lyrics such as "Every night I venture out/Into those neon arms that hold me tight," "Living" is a gorgeous portrait of a grieving man and one of 2009's strongest singles.

Bubba further proves himself as the solo writer of the Marty Robbinsesque cowboy song/murder ballad "Arkansas Dave," by far the best cut of the album. Unfortunately, it's immediately followed by the worst track of the album, "The Breath You Take," which centers on a hackneyed sentiment best left to the MySpace pages of teenagers: "Life's not the breath you take, but the moments that take your breath away." Strait makes it listenable, just barely.

A very pleasant surprise is the cover of traditional Mexican folk song "El Rey," which Strait sings in Spanish. Although Mexican and Tejano influences aren't new to country music, it'll be interesting to see how the homogenous format of country radio -- which hasn't had a Hispanic star since the late-'90s heyday of Raul Malo's Mavericks and Rick Trevino -- will react to such an adventurous move from its elder statesman.

"Pure Country," his one and only feature film, is getting the Broadway treatment with young country singer Joe Nichols in the starring role. Thankfully, though, Strait continues to keep both feet firmly planted in tradition, no matter what language he's singing in.

DOWNLOAD THESE: "Arkansas Dave," "El Rey," "Living for the Night"