The King of Country Music, George Strait, has just released his new single, “Goin’, Goin’, Gone,” to radio. Written by Wyatt Earp (the songwriter) and Keith Gattis, the song celebrates unwinding and getting a little rowdy following a long workweek.

George says it’s one of his favorites on his Cold Beer Conversation album. “I love that song,” he says. “It would be a song like if I was in here drinking a cold beer with my buddies, I would want to hear that song played.”

He’ll certainly be playing the song when he hits Sin City December 2nd and 3rd, as well as February 17th and 18th.

LAS VEGAS, NV – SEPTEMBER 09: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Recording artist George Strait performs during one of his exclusive worldwide engagements, “Strait to Vegas” at T-Mobile Arena on September 9, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Essential Broadcast Media)

Early Friday afternoon, before the doors opened at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena for only its second pair of Strait to Vegas shows of 2016, George Strait stood in the nearly-empty arena thumbing his Merle Haggard Signature Telecaster, contemplating his set list for the night. As his Ace in the Hole Band ran through selections from the man the Dallas Morning News dubbed as “the most influential genre artist of the last 30 years,” BMI Icon Award winner and longtime collaborator and friend of Strait’s, Dean Dillon, sat in for the rehearsal, almost as if an extension of the tight-knit, 11-piece backing band for the King of Country. For those few witnesses in the soon-to-be-at-capacity, less-than-a-year-old arena, it was a sign of what was to come – a night where Strait’s smooth vocals spotlighted the poignant writing and influencers that have contributed to his storied career  – one that has amassed 60 No. 1 singles and counting. 

As the arena filled to capacity, the energy was palpable. With nearly five months since his last show, Strait’s fans were brimming with anticipation. Seemingly appropriate, he met their excitement and kicked off the night with “Here For A Good Time,” a song Strait penned with  Dillon and his son Bubba that became Strait’s first No. 1 as a songwriter.

“You have no idea how good your voices sound tonight,” Strait commented before taking a detour just a few songs in to pay tribute to one of his biggest influences, Merle Haggard, again enlisting the telecaster he teased in rehearsal. “I’m going to play a few songs from someone who was my musical hero and probably the reason I’m standing on this stage right now…” Strait shared before playing a medley of “Mama Tried,” “Workin’ Man Blues” and “My Life’s Been Grand.”

Next, Strait pulled up two wooden stools and invited the man with whom he shares 55 songs with, Dillon, up to the stage, only insisting he sit adjacent to him this time and share the spotlight and tales. The pair swapped memories – and praise for each other – while the crowd relished in their storied exchange.

“I’ll never forget. A buddy of mine pulled his car up on the sidewalk on Music Row one day playing George Strait [in the car stereo] and asked, ‘who does he sound like?’,” shared Dillon. “I said, ‘well, I think he’s got his own thing.’ We had this thing; we just wrote and was gonna pitch to Johnny Paycheck, but he was in jail, and so instead we pitched it to George. And that song was ‘Unwound,’” Dillon continued, candidly revealing the song’s origin while grinning. “I don’t get nervous [saying that] until I’m sitting up here with the King of Country Music.”

Strait was quick to return the admiration, “That’s nice of you to say that, but I’m a bit nervous up here with you! I’ve been really fortunate to write some songs with Dean, and hopefully we’ll do that some more,” he said while smiling at his friend. With that, they traded verses while performing “Honky Tonk Crazy” and “Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her” before Dillon left the stage to a standing ovation.

Strait retired the stools after those two songs with Dillon and went into the latter part of his 30+ song set before reinvigorating the crowd with a four-song encore that closed with his hit from 1984, “The Cowboy Rides Away.”

For an artist with so many celebrated successes and hits, it was clear from tonight’s show that Strait’s focus right now is on the craft, the songs and the stories. For the five-time Entertainer of the Year, it was a chance to celebrate his influences as well as look ahead to some things he’s yet to say. For the 17,000+ crowd, it was a night they won’t soon forget.

George Strait will present singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale with this year’s Americana Music Association’s Wagonmaster Award, a special lifetime achievement honor reserved for the most valuable contributors to the course and history of America’s only broad roots music format. George has recorded 14 songs written by Lauderdale, including “What Do You Say to That” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends.” The award, named for country music icon Porter Wagoner, will be presented on September 21st during the 15th Annual Honors & Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium.

Keith Urban is the presenting sponsor for The 30th Annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament at Nashville’s Old Natchez Country Club August 15th. The event will benefit United Cerebral Palsy Of Middle Tennessee.

Jon Pardi will appear on CMT’s Hot 20 beginning at 9am ET on Saturday (July 29th).

Lady Antebellum will be presented with the Music Heals Award by Musicians On Call August 9th in Nashville as part of the Half A Million Moments campaign. The event celebrates the organization’s milestone of performing for half a million patients, families and caregivers.

On this date (June 3rd) in 2006, Dierks Bentley‘s “Settle for a Slowdown” hit No. 1 on the country charts.

On this date (June 3rd) in 2009, George Strait‘s Troubadour album was certified platinum by the R.I.A.A. (Recording Industry Association of America).

On a balmy Friday night in April in Las Vegas, the heat only added to the excitement as George Strait packed the new T-Mobile Arena and captivated a record-setting 19,222 fans during the opening night of his Strait to Vegas exclusive concert series. With his Resistol cowboy hat on his head, his signature Wrangler shirt and denim with a well-worn acoustic guitar and the expert Ace in the Hole Band backing him up, Strait proved once again that he is the undeniable “King of Country Music” and consummate entertainer. As he churned through hit after hit, he lived up to the Las Vegas Review Journal‘s bolstering observation, “George Strait is someone you can legitimately say is in a league of his own.” George performed a second night on Saturday (April 23rd), as well.

“I’ve missed you guys and I’m looking forward to being here a few more nights this year,” Strait told the crowd early on in the night before performing for over two hours. In addition to playing a selection of his illustrious 60 career No. 1’s including “Give It All We’ve Got Tonight,” “Ocean Front Property,” “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” and more, Strait also took a moment to pay tribute to Merle Haggard who was not only an icon for Strait but also a friend. “We’ll never get to hear Merle play live again, but his music will live on forever,” Strait said before performing a medley consisting of “Mama Tried,” “Fightin’ Side of Me,” and “My Life’s Been Grand,” with Strait pausing at the end in remembrance.

GRAMMY, CMA and ACM Award-winning singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves opened the show.

Strait first announced his plans to perform a series of select shows at T-Mobile Arena last September, immediately selling out every date in the Strait to Vegas concert series for 2016 and 2017. Musgraves will join Strait as support for all 2016 dates.

Upcoming Strait to Vegas dates are as follows, with more likely to be added in 2017:

Friday, Sept. 9, 2016
Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016
Friday, Dec. 2, 2016
Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016
Friday, Feb. 17, 2017
Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017

For more information, visit www.straittovegas.com.

About George Strait
George Strait is the undeniable “King of Country Music.” His music career spans more than 30 years; includes 60 No. 1 singles, more than any other artist in any genre; and boasts 33 platinum or multi-platinum-selling albums, more than any country artist and third across all genres behind only The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Strait is the only act in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for over three decades and has sold nearly 70 million albums and earned more than 60 major entertainment industry awards.

Strait, whose name has become synonymous with “real country” since his 1981 debut, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006. He has since released five more albums, including the GRAMMY Award-winning Troubadour and his latest chart-topping release, Cold Beer Conversation. In 2014, he shattered the North American indoor concert attendance record by drawing 104,793 concertgoers to his The Cowboy Rides Away Tour finale at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Strait will perform six sold-out shows at the Las Vegas Arena in 2016 as part of his “Strait to Vegas” exclusive concert series, which has been extended into 2017 due to overwhelming demand.

Country Music has lost a legend. Merle Haggard, who turned 79 today, died Wednesday (April 6th) in California, surrounded by friends and family. The Country Music Hall of Famer had been in failing health for quite some time, diagnosed with double pneumonia in December, which led to the cancellation of several dates, including a two-night stand at the Ryman Auditorium.

Haggard had 40 No. 1 songs, including “Mama Tried,” “Workin’ Man Blues,” “Okie From Muskogee” and “The Fightin’ Side of Me” and wrote many classics, some of which had been recorded by folks such as Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Vince Gill, who is a lifelong fan of the iconic entertainer.

“I‘ve been a [Merle] Haggard nut my whole life,” says Vince Gill, who along with his pal Paul Franklin released Bakersfield album in 2013 (a collaborative tribute of Merle Haggard and Buck Owens songs). “And I’ve played country music, recorded country music my whole life, and I’ve tried to emulate what I loved about Merle Haggard on a lot of occasions.”

Many of country music’s brightest stars took to Twitter to offer their thoughts:

For Eric Church, he wrote and recorded “Pledge Allegiance to the Hag” for his Sinners Like Me album. The song also featured the subject of the song, Mr. Merle Haggard.

Eric Church ‏@ericchurch 
Rest in peace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00IEK9KdWgE …

Alan Jackson ‏@OfficialJackson 
“We lost one of the greatest singer/songwriters since Hank Williams. Inspiration to millions, great American, thank you Merle. I’ll miss you.”

Luke Bryan ‏@LukeBryanOnline 
“A true hero was lost today. Thank you for your contribution to not only country music but all music. @merlehaggard”

Keith Urban ‏@KeithUrban 
“One of the gr8 concert memories I have is seeing Merle and the Strangers at the Ryman in Nashville. We had a ‘live’ album of his when I was growing up and I felt like I’d fallin’ inside my Dad’s stereo speakers. One of my all time favorite voices – and a master songwriter. Blessings to your soulful spirit Merle & all of you family & loved ones.” – KU

Hillary Scott ‏@HillaryScottLA
“You are a cornerstone of country music @merlehaggard…u will be missed greatly. Praying for the Haggard family.”

KACEY MUSGRAVES ‏@KaceyMusgraves 
“I think I’ll just stay here and drink.”

Billy Currington ‏@billycurrington 
“rip @merlehaggard thank you for all the great music u blessed us with. we will play it forever.”

Dierks Bentley ‏@DierksBentley 
“Literally just fell to the floor. can’t believe we lost the hag. rip merle haggard.”

Toby Keith ‏@TobyKeithMusic 
“The greatest singer songwriter of my lifetime is gone. Thanks for the music and friendship. R.I.P. Hag. – T”

GaryAllan ‏@GaryAllan 
“Merle was my all-time hero. Today we lost one of the greatest songwriters of country music and I will always regret not recording with him. He was a legend and I was honored whenever we got the chance to share a stage with him. Thank you for the inspiration, the advice and for always being you. I, as well as the entire music community, will miss you Merle.”

Darius Rucker ‏@dariusrucker
“Heaven’s band just got better! RIP to the LEGENDARY @merlehaggard. Your music will never die!”

Jon Pardi ‏@JonPardi 
“Sad day today @merlehaggard has passed. RIP to a true songwriter, a pioneer of California Country, and country music.”

Kip Moore ‏@KipMooreMusic 
“RIP Merle…you paved the way for so many. You had what we all hope for…a voice that matters and survives the ever changing trends.”

Josh Turner ‏@joshturnermusic  5m5 minutes ago
“Pains me to say that country music icon @merlehaggard has passed away. So honored to have known him and shared the stage with him. Thanks Merle for all you’ve done for us!”

Mickey Guyton ‏@MickeyGuyton 
“RIP Merle Haggard. Heaven’s choir just got a heck of a lot better.”

For David Nail, seeing Merle in concert was a life-changing experience. “The night I saw Merle At the Golden Nugget, it was the single greatest combination of seeing an artist/venue/city together, that I’ve ever witnessed.  It was a spiritual experience.  I looked at my buddy multiple times in disbelief that we were actually there.  I teared up on a few songs.  I knew the greatness I was seeing/hearing.”

George Strait was a huge fan of Merle Haggard’s. He says, “When I was in the Army and stationed at Schofield barracks in Hawaii, you know Merle came there, and he played Conroy Bowl.  And I remember I was playing an NCO club that night, and before my little gig, I got to run over there and I kinda snuck in and saw Merle and it just blew me away. That’s what I wanted to be like, you know, I wanted to be like the Hag. And so, I can’t tell you how big of an influence he was on me, just huge.”

Strait also posted a reaction on his socials: “It’s a very sad day for all of us Hag fans. He was a true icon of the music world and it’s hard to believe we won’t be able to see him anymore. I honestly think that had it not been for him, I would not have chosen the path that I chose.” – G

George Strait made a surprise appearance/performance during this year’s SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas to celebrate the 65th birthday of Asleep at the Wheel‘s Ray Benson. The two singers traded vocals during several of Strait’s hits on a small stage set up in a tent. Check out the video below.

Luke Bryan was forced to cancel his show on Saturday (March 12th) during his Kill the Lights Tour in Bossier City, Louisiana, due to flooding in the area. It’s been rescheduled for May 18th.

Jon Pardi is taking part in March Madness by teaming up with The Big Time syndicated radio show with his own bracket. Check out who he picked here.

George Strait usually spends Christmas at his ranch in Texas, which includes his wife Norma, son Bubba and his family, along with grandson Harvey. He’s said the holiday has always centered around family.

“At Christmas time, we always kind of got together at my grandparents and had Christmas there, and it was a lot of fun because you’d see cousins that you hadn’t seen in a while,” says King George. “Those are the memories that I have, getting to spend a few days with them and opening presents and it was just a lot of fun back then.”

The Hall of Famer is making his way up the country charts with his latest single, “Cold Beer Conversation.”