Country music superstar George Strait is calling it “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour.” And his central Arkansas show is - not surprisingly - sold out.
But fans without tickets have good reason to avoid despair: Strait is not retiring or even renouncing performing. His press materials explain, “This final formal tour is a celebration of his 30-plus year career and of his music yet to come.”
In other words, Strait will still write and record music and occasionally perform it, but will withdraw from the kind of mega-tour operations that have become standard for stars of his stature. Chances are, he’d be much more comfortable doing shows with little or no fanfare,if that’s even possible.
Back in the mid-1980s, Strait logged several headlining shows in a five-year period at Little Rock’s Barton Coliseum, as part of the annual Arkansas State Fair.
Years passed before he returned to central Arkansas again, a much bigger star than when he had previously played the State Fair circuit. He has since performed in North Little Rock’s Verizon Arena (formerly called Alltel Arena) in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
He recently set an all-time attendance record at Houston’s Livestock Show & Rodeo, performing at Reliant Center for a crowd of 80,020. His tour has so far sold out all 16 of 16 venues where he has performed.
Strait, 60, has had 59 No. 1 songs (starting with his debut single, “Unwound,” in 1981), has accumulated more than 60 major music industry awards and sold more than 68.5 million albums. He is the only musician to achieve at least one Top 10 hit each of the 30 years of his career.
When he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006, he was only the second artist to be so honored while still actively recording. (Eddy Arnold was the first, in 1966.)
With 33 albums certified platinum or multi-platinum, Strait trails only the late Elvis Presley in that category.
He’ll release his 40th studio album, Love Is Everything, May 14. The 13 new songs include his current (Top 15 and climbing) single, “Give It All We Got Tonight.” The album includes four songs he wrote or co-wrote with his son, Bubba Strait, and legendary country songwriter Dean Dillon.
Strait’s fans and fellow artists have started a “Sixty for Sixty” campaign, to encourage country radio stations to make the current single his 60th No. 1 hit before he turns 61 on May 18. Fans can send support on Facebook, or using the hashtag #60for60 via Twitter and Instagram.
Strait announced his plans for his final two-year tour at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn., saying, “This is going to be a very special, emotional tour for me. Everywhere we’re going holds fond memories and I’m looking forward to paying my respects.”
Midway through his set, Strait will take a moment to recognize a current or former member of the U.S. military who was wounded during service and present him with a key to a new home, provided through Military Warriors Support Foundation’s “Home 4 Wounded Heroes” program.
Opening act Martina McBride has sold more than 18 million albums and has had six No. 1 singles, the best-known of which are “Independence Day,” “This One’s for the Girls” and “A Broken Wing.” Two industry firms - Mediabase and Broadcast Data Systems - call her the “most played female artist on country radio for the past 11 years.”
George Strait
Opening act: Martina McBride
7 p.m. Friday, Verizon Arena, East Broadway and Interstate 30, North Little Rock
Tickets: Sold out, but some tickets could be released at the last minute
(800) 745-3000
ticketmaster.com
Weekend, Pages 34 on 04/11/2013