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George Strait Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award: A Tribute to Cowboy Roots and a Father’s Legacy
In a heartfelt and humorous moment, country music legend George Strait took the stage to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum—an honor deeply rooted in the values and life he’s long carried in his heart.
With his beloved wife Norma by his side—marking nearly 50 years of marriage—and joined by his son Bubba, daughter-in-law Tamara, and friend Roy Cooper, George stood in humble gratitude. But beneath the jokes and laughter was a sincere reflection on the man who shaped him most: his father.
“My dad is beaming right now,” George said with emotion. “He taught me the ways of the cowboy life.” Growing up in Big Wells, Texas—a tiny town where George’s father worked as both a teacher and a rancher—the values of hard work, integrity, and care for the land were instilled early. As a single father, raising George and his brother wasn’t easy, but it was filled with purpose.
George recalled those early lessons: “You do what needs to be done… you take care of your land, and it takes care of you.” These principles guided not only his personal life but his music career, echoing through every note and lyric.
In a lighthearted story, he remembered how industry folks once told him to ditch the cowboy hat—and even change his name to “Kane Cooper.” Thankfully, George stayed true to himself. “Can you imagine if I had done that?” he laughed. “Me and ol’ Roy would’ve been brothers!”
In closing, George dedicated the award to his father—a man who lived the cowboy code every day. This honor, more than a recognition of musical success, was a celebration of heritage, family, and authenticity. And George Strait, as always, wore it with quiet pride.
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The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum honored George Strait with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Western Heritage Awards Saturday night in Oklahoma City. He dedicated the award to his late father John Byron Strait, a teacher and rancher who raised George and his brother alone. He recounted his early career when he was told to lose his cowboy hat. “Can you imagine if I would’ve done that?” It was also suggested he change his name to “Cain Cooper”. Fortunately, George Strait is still his name and you’ll always see him with a cowboy hat.