Introduction
“All My Ex’s Live in Texas” is one of George Strait’s signature hits and a standout in the canon of classic country music. Written by Sanger D. “Whitey” Shafer and his then-wife Lyndia Shafer, the song was recorded on September 23, 1986, and released in April 1987 as the second single from Strait’s Ocean Front Property album.
When “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on July 11, 1987, it became Strait’s eleventh chart-topping single — part of a streak of consecutive No. 1s that bolstered his reputation as a reliable hitmaker. The success of the song also earned Strait a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 1988 Grammys.
Lyrically, the song presents a playful, tongue-in-cheek narrative: the singer laments that all his former lovers remain in Texas, making it emotionally risky for him to return home. He resolves, therefore, to “hang his hat” in Tennessee instead. Among its characters are women in Texarkana, Abilene, Galveston, and Temple — colorful, humorous name-drops that enhance the storytelling.
Though Strait himself remained devoted to a long marriage with his high school sweetheart, his choice to interpret Shafer’s more mischievous, fictive narrator lent the song an ironic charm. Over time, “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” has become a touchstone of country nostalgia, celebrated for its catchy hook, Western swing–tinged instrumentation (steel guitar, fiddle), and witty lyricism.
Its enduring popularity is reflected in its ongoing presence in film, television, video games, and cover versions, solidifying its status as a cultural staple far beyond its original chart run.