At the 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, George Strait was celebrated with the prestigious Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
On Wednesday evening in downtown Nashville, Lainey Wilson, one of the event’s hosts, shared her admiration for George Strait by saying, “I’m so grateful and so honored to be on stage tonight to pay tribute to our king of country, the great George Strait.” Following her heartfelt introduction, she performed “Amarillo By Morning,” which kicked off a series of performances by other country music stars.
Jamey Johnson delivered a strong performance of “Give It Away,” which many on the internet have lauded him for. Adding to the tribute, Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum joined forces to sing “Troubadour” for both the live audience and viewers watching at home on ABC. To close out this musical homage, Chris Stapleton took the stage to perform “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” alongside George Strait, a song from the latter’s new album, Cowboys and Dreamers.
In his acceptance speech, George Strait spoke with deep gratitude and emotion. He began by sharing his thanks for Jesus, the Country Music Association, his manager, his band, and his loyal fans. He also took a moment to express his love and appreciation for his wife, Norma, saying, “It’s been an amazing 53 years.” As he reflected on his long career, he made the audience laugh with a light-hearted comment, saying, “I’m so glad I got ’em before you,” in reference to the artists who had performed his songs during the evening’s tribute.
Watch his full acceptance speech below.
Throughout his decades-long career, Strait has put out more than 30 records that have gone platinum or multi-platinum, which means they sold very well. He has received 16 Grammy Award nominations and holds a record number of CMA Awards with about 17 wins and 83 nominations. He has also earned a number of titles such as the “King of Country” due to his profound influence on the genre.
This year, he released his 31st studio album and set a new record for the biggest ticketed concert in U.S. history, drawing more than a hundred and ten thousand fans in College Station, Texas.