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“Have I Really Done That Much?” – George Strait Says His Career Has Been “Unbelievable” During Kennedy Center Honors Ceremony
The undisputed King of country music.
Several weeks ago, the annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony took place in Washington, D.C., which recognized the King of Country Music in Mr. George Strait alongside cultural icons like KISS, Sylvester Stallone, Broadway actor Michael Crawford, and disco legend Gloria Gaynor.
As I’m sure you’ve heard, the building was recently renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, and while President Donald Trump didn’t participate in the Kennedy Center Honors during his first term, he has become much more involved with the organization in his second term, even appointing country artist Lee Greenwood to the board. President Trump appointed himself as chair, while revamping the organization by bringing in an entirely new (not woke) group to run the Kennedy Center.
Many of us probably mostly know of the Kennedy Center, formerly known as The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, because of the annual Kennedy Center Honors event that inducts a new group of artists and entertainers each year.
Located in Washington, D.C., it’s a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, and notable country acts who have been honored over the years include legends like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, George Jones and many more.
Of course, George Strait has the most hit singles with 60 #1’s over his decades-long career, and is largely recognized for pioneering the neotraditional country style in the 1980’s. He joined the Army in the early 70’s, and around that time, he auditioned to be in a band called the Country Kings, and I find the name in and of itself kind of ironic now…
Strait says he got through one gig and they let him go, saying he that he wasn’t “country enough” (hilarious), but it didn’t get him down too bad, and he got another opportunity not long after.
That new opportunity was a spot in a band called Rambling Country, which he performed in alongside other Army soldiers. He left the service in 1975, and resumed his studies at Southwest Texas State University, where he graduated with a degree in agriculture in 1979.
A couple years later, in 1981, Strait released “Unwound” as his major label debut single, which was written by Dean Dillon and Frank Dycus. It peaked at #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, becoming his first Top 10 hit and the start of an incredibly legendary career.
Strait came from humble beginnings, growing up the son of a teacher and was raised by his father, who also operated a 2,000 acre farm, and during an interview as part of the Kennedy Center Honors special that aired last night, the ever-humble Strait said he was “blown away” by the performances in honor of his music by Miranda Lambert and Brooks & Dunn, taking time to thank them for coming out there and being part of such a special evening.
He also took time to reflect on all he’s accomplished, saying his career has been “unbelievable,” saying he doesn’t know if he’s done enough to receive such an honor and that he never had a plan to get to this point in his life and career:
“It was amazing having those great artists come up, all the way here, for me. I just appreciate it so much, and I was blown away, I thought they did an amazing job.
My whole story, I think, is kind of unbelievable because even when I signed with the record company in 1981, I just wouldn’t have ever believed that I would be standing here right now at the Kennedy Center. Would have never dreamed it. My career has been unbelievable. Those dreams have come true.
When I get invited to something like this, I think about, well, have I really done that much? I don’t know. I mean, it’s just, things happened. It’s not that I have plan, I never had areal plan. I just tried to sing the best songs, make the best records I could, and do the best shows that I could.”
His humility is just part of what makes him so endearing, and you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who has accomplished as much as he has that is this down-to-earth and gracious.
There’s a reason he’s had the kind of success that he has and found himself with the nickname “The Kind,” because in addition to his incredible, once-in-a-generation talent, he’s never let the fame or accolades get to his head… quite the opposite, it sounds like, actually.
He’s simply the best, and I can’t think of anyone who deserves this honor more than George Strait. He certainly makes country look good, to put it lightly… long live The King.
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Miranda Lambert delivered a flawless rendition of “Run”:
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And Brooks & Dunn performed “Amarillo By Morning”:
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The post “Have I Really Done That Much?” – George Strait Says His Career Has Been “Unbelievable” During Kennedy Center Honors Ceremony first appeared on Whiskey Riff.