How George Strait’s Father Helped Shape His Journey to Becoming the ‘King of Country’
on Aug 14, 2024
George Strait may be known as the “King of Country,” but his journey to that title wasn’t solo. In fact, he has a very special person to thank for teaching him the country ways.
Growing up on a ranch in a small Texas town, country life was always a part of George Strait’s existence from birth. However, it was his father, John Byron Strait, who truly taught him how to embrace and live that lifestyle.
In 2021, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum honored Strait with the Lifetime Achievement Award. During his acceptance speech, Strait took a moment to pay tribute to his father, acknowledging the valuable lessons he learned that helped shape him into the person he is today.
“My dad’s the one that taught me the ways of the cowboy life,” Strait shared with the audience during the ceremony. “He was a cowboy.”
Strait has always admired his father. John was a math teacher at the local junior high school and also managed a cattle ranch during the summers. After George and his older brother Buddy’s mother left them, John raised the boys as a single father.
“That was a tough job for him as a single dad, but he did alright,” Strait added during his speech.
The country culture that Strait’s father instilled in him has stayed with him throughout his life. He has even passed these values on to his own family and continues to remember and honor them as he grows older.
“All of the things that I learned from him…the ranch and what cowboys do and how they work, you know, there’s certain things you do. You do what needs to be done, you do stuff to improve your land, and you take care of it to take care of you—[these] were the things that he tried to teach me back then. I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I tried to take that Western heritage with me in my life and my career and pass it on to my family.”
Unfortunately, George Strait’s father passed away at the age of 91 on June 4, 2013.
Although an official cause of death was never revealed, George Strait confirmed the news of his father’s passing in a statement.
“We are grateful for the time over the last few weeks we were able to spend with Daddy before he passed away,” the singer said. “I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support during this difficult time as we mourn our family’s loss.”
Needless to say, the lessons Strait’s father taught him growing up will be carried for the rest of his own life.
Watch George Strait’s speech honoring his father in the video below.
