GEORGE STRAIT: ACM ARTIST OF THE DECADE ALL-STAR CONCERT BRINGS IN ALL-STAR RATINGS ON MAY 27th
It was the event of a lifetime for the Artist of the Decade on Wednesday, May 27th when George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade All-Star Concert aired, reeling in high ratings that lead the CBS network to the top spot in television viewership for the night.
Stars turned out in force for the TV taping April 6th in Las Vegas to honor Strait as the Academy of Country Music’s Artist of the Decade. Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the tribute featured country’s biggest names singing their favorite Strait hits. Included on the bill are Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Sugarland, Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, John Rich, Lee Ann Womack, Jamey Johnson, Jack Ingram, Montgomery Gentry, Taylor Swift, Jamie Foxx, Alan Jackson, LeAnn Rimes, Dierks Bentley and Martina McBride.
During the two-hour special, Strait himself took the stage and played a two of his classic singles as his fellow artists in the crowd sang along. Garth Brooks, named Artist of the Decade for the 1990s, presented Strait his trophy. He joins only four other artists who have received this distinction: Marty Robbins, Loretta Lynn, Alabama and Brooks.
With a record-breaking career that spans nearly 25 years, George Strait has more than earned his distinction as the "King of Country Music.” A cowboy singer who walks the walk and talks the talk, Strait has endeared himself to country music fans everywhere as the real deal. His knack for picking great songs has helped him amass 57 No. 1 hits and countless other beloved classics, among them “Amarillo By Morning,” “The Chair,” “I Cross My Heart,” “I Saw God Today” and the ACM Song of the Year “Give It Away.”
With the Artist of the Decade award, Strait has now won 20 Academy of Country Music Awards including Entertainer of the Year for 1989. He also holds the record for the most No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. He has sold more than 68 million records, garnering him 32 different platinum or multi-platinum albums resulting in the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Strait’s current album, Troubadour, is certified gold and his career only continues to grow.
Proceeds from the live concert benefited ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music. The two-hour CBS special was produced by dick clark productions.