GAC News & Notes » George Strait http://blog.gactv.com The latest headlines from the world of country music! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:01:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 George Strait is a Grandfather! http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2012/02/07/george-strait-is-a-grandfather/ http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2012/02/07/george-strait-is-a-grandfather/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:58:06 +0000 Wendy Newcomer http://blog.gactv.com/?p=27332 George Strait

George Strait photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Congratulations to George Strait, who became a grandfather last week! George’s son Bubba and his wife Tamara welcomed their first child on Thursday, February 2. No word yet on if it was a boy or girl, but in this interview with GAC’s Storme Warren, George did tell Storme what the family thought it would be:

Watch more of Storme’s interview with George >>

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]]> http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2012/02/07/george-strait-is-a-grandfather/feed/ 0 Billboard‘s Top 50 Country Artists of 2011 http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/12/19/billboards-top-50-country-artists-of-2011/ http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/12/19/billboards-top-50-country-artists-of-2011/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:23:09 +0000 Sarah Wyland http://blog.gactv.com/?p=26063

Taylor Swift photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

Billboard.com has released their list of the Top Country Artists of 2011. Artists are ranked based on album sales, song downloads and airplay, touring revenue, Social 50 chart action, ringtone sales and streaming data provided by Nielsen BDS. Congratulations to Taylor Swift for being named the Top Country Artist of 2011! What do you think of this ranking? Who’d top YOUR Top 50 list? Leave us a comment below!

  1. Taylor Swift
  2. Jason Aldean
  3. Lady Antebellum
  4. Zac Brown Band
  5. Blake Shelton
  6. The Band Perry
  7. Rascal Flatts
  8. Kenny Chesney
  9. Brad Paisley
  10. Luke Bryan
  11. Keith Urban
  12. Miranda Lambert
  13. Sugarland
  14. Eric Church
  15. Scotty McCreery
  16. Toby Keith
  17. Thompson Square
  18. Chris Young
  19. Billy Currington
  20. Tim McGraw
  21. Sara Evans
  22. Darius Rucker
  23. George Strait
  24. Carrie Underwood
  25. Jerrod Niemann
  26. Jake Owen
  27. Eli Young Band
  28. Justin Moore
  29. Trace Adkins
  30. Rodney Atkins
  31. Brantley Gilbert
  32. Ronnie Dunn
  33. Alan Jackson
  34. Reba McEntire
  35. Dierks Bentley
  36. Lauren Alaina
  37. Easton Corbin
  38. Josh Turner
  39. Craig Campbell
  40. Martina McBride
  41. Joe Nichols
  42. Sunny Sweeney
  43. the JaneDear girls
  44. Steel Magnolia
  45. Steve Holy
  46. David Nail
  47. Jamey Johnson
  48. Randy Travis
  49. Ashton Shepherd
  50. Uncle Kracker

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]]> http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/12/19/billboards-top-50-country-artists-of-2011/feed/ 0 Top 50 Country Songs of 2011 http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/12/17/top-50-country-songs-of-2011/ http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/12/17/top-50-country-songs-of-2011/#comments Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:30:44 +0000 Sarah Wyland http://blog.gactv.com/?p=26028

Eli Young Band photo courtesy of Universal Records South.

Billboard.com has released their year-end Top Country Songs chart for 2011. Here are the 50 most popular country songs of the year based on radio airplay audience impressions as measured by Nielsen BDS. Congratulations to Eli Young Band for having the No. 1 song of the year with “Crazy Girl!” Of note, the song was co-written by Lee Brice who recorded “Love Like Crazy,” the Top Song of 2010.

  1. “Crazy Girl” – Eli Young Band
  2. “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” – Jake Owen
  3. “Take A Back Road” – Rodney Atkins
  4. “Tomorrow” – Chris Young
  5. “You Lie” – The Band Perry
  6. “Am I The Only One” – Dierks Bentley
  7. “You and Tequila” – Kenny Chesney
  8. “Honey Bee” – Blake Shelton
  9. “Just Fishin’” – Trace Adkins
  10. “Let Me Down Easy” – Billy Currington
  11. “Here For A Good Time” – George Strait
  12. “Knee Deep” – Zac Brown Band
  13. “Just A Kiss” – Lady Antebellum
  14. “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” – Justin Moore
  15. “Made In America” – Toby Keith
  16. “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” – Luke Bryan
  17. “Heart Like Mine” – Miranda Lambert
  18. “God Gave Me You” – Blake Shelton
  19. “Don’t You Wanna Stay” – Jason Aldean w/Kelly Clarkson
  20. “What Do You Want” – Jerrod Niemann
  21. “A Little Big Stronger” – Sara Evans
  22. “Long Hot Summer” – Keith Urban
  23. “This” – Darius Rucker
  24. “Mean” – Taylor Swift
  25. “Dirt Road Anthem” – Jason Aldean
  26. “Remind Me” – Brad Paisley w/Carrie Underwood
  27. “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” – Thompson Square
  28. “I Won’t Let Go” – Rascal Flatts
  29. “Without You” – Keith Urban
  30. “Country Must Be Country Wide” – Brantley Gilbert
  31. “Somewhere With You” – Kenny Chesney
  32. “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” – Blake Shelton
  33. “Someone Else Calling You Baby” – Luke Bryan
  34. “This Is Country Music” – Brad Paisley
  35. “Voices” – Chris Young
  36. “I Got You” – Thompson Square
  37. “Sparks Fly” – Taylor Swift
  38. “Back To December” – Taylor Swift
  39. “Colder Weather” – Zac Brown Band
  40. “Hello World” – Lady Antebellum
  41. “Old Alabama” – Brad Paisley
  42. “Put You In A Song” – Keith Urban
  43. “Felt Good On My Lips” – Tim McGraw
  44. “Bleed Red” – Ronnie Dunn
  45. “Baggage Claim” – Miranda Lambert
  46. “Live A Little” – Kenny Chesney
  47. “Love Done Gone” – Billy Currington
  48. “One More Drinkin’ Song” – Jerrod Niemann
  49. “Family Man” – Craig Campbell
  50. “Mama’s Song” – Carrie Underwood

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]]> http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/12/17/top-50-country-songs-of-2011/feed/ 0 Kenny Chesney, Colt Ford Grateful for Grammy Nominations http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/12/05/kenny-chesney-colt-ford-grateful-for-grammy-nominations/ http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/12/05/kenny-chesney-colt-ford-grateful-for-grammy-nominations/#comments Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:17:58 +0000 Sarah Wyland http://blog.gactv.com/?p=25634

Kenny Chesney & Grace Potter onstage at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Stars are continuing to react to the news that their work has received GRAMMY consideration after nominations were announced last Wednesday. Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter’s “You and Tequila” is nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country Song. The nominations come nearly 10 years after Matraca Berg and Deana Carter penned the tune.

“As a songwriter, I’m always happy to see great songs get their due and I’m happy for Matraca and Deana that this song is getting the respect it deserves,” Kenny said. “I’m also thrilled to have recorded this song with Grace Potter, who is so talented and be a part of her first GRAMMY nomination.

Colt Ford was ecstatic to learn that “Dirt Road Anthem,” co-written by himself and Brantley Gilbert and performed by Jason Aldean, received a nod for Best Country Solo Performance. The song isn’t a standard country hit, which made the nomination that much sweeter. 

“I’m blown away by the impact of ‘Dirt Road Anthem,’” Colt said. “This song has been so special for Brantley, Jason, and me. Who would have thought that this song would make the whole world wanna ride down a dirt road? It took an artist with no fear, like Jason, to take a chance on this song.”

George Strait also received a GRAMMY nomination. His latest album, Here For A Good Time, is up for is up for Best Country Album. The nomination marks the fourth album in a row from King George that has resulted in a GRAMMY nomination.

The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on “GRAMMY Sunday,” Feb. 12, 2012, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and once again will be broadcast live on CBS from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

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]]> http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/12/05/kenny-chesney-colt-ford-grateful-for-grammy-nominations/feed/ 0 George Strait Remembers Chris LeDoux as “The Real Deal” http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/11/22/george-strait-remembers-chris-ledoux-as-the-real-deal/ http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/11/22/george-strait-remembers-chris-ledoux-as-the-real-deal/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:32:51 +0000 Wendy Newcomer http://blog.gactv.com/?p=25282 George Strait

George Strait photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Rodeo and country music have always had a close relationship. In Garth Brooks‘ hit, “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old),” he sings of “a worn out tape of Chris LeDoux.” Chris, of course, was a former world champion bronc rider and a Capitol Nashville recording artist. Chris even recorded George Strait‘s ode to rodeo, “Amarillo By Morning,” before George did.

George, as most of his fans know, sponsors his own Team Roping Classic in San Antonio each year. He is no slouch as a roper either, and has been sponsored by Wrangler Western Wear, a brand synonymous with rodeo, for years. In a recent interview with our own Storme Warren, George remembered the multi-talented LeDoux, who passed away in 2005:

GAC is celebrating  the union of rodeo, country music and Wrangler in December by broadcasting the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo live, December 1-10 at 10/9c each night. Plus, eight-time All-Around Champion, Trevor Brazile plays host to Suzanne Alexander and Joe Nichols on his ranch, deep in the heart of Texas in our special, Inside the WNFR 2011. Whether you are new to the sport and or a die-hard fan, this must-see show gives you the 4-1-1 on all the rodeo event categories from Steer Wrestling and Barrel Racing, to the death-defying Bull Riding event.

See more of our interview with George Strait »

Check out GAC’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo section »

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]]> http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/11/22/george-strait-remembers-chris-ledoux-as-the-real-deal/feed/ 0 George Strait Celebrates 58th No. 1 Single http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/10/19/george-strait-celebrates-58th-no-1-single/ http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/10/19/george-strait-celebrates-58th-no-1-single/#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:18:07 +0000 Sarah Wyland http://blog.gactv.com/?p=24219

George Strait photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

George Strait recently celebrated his 58th No. 1 single with “Here For A Good Time.” George co-wrote the song with his son, Bubba Strait, and songwriter Dean Dillon. This is George’s first No. 1 as a songwriter, an accomplishment he shares with Bubba.

King George has the most No. 1 singles of any artist in history, including Elvis Presley. Of his radio singles, 84 out of 89 have charted in the Top 10, 73 of them being Top 5 hits. He has sold nearly 69 million albums and has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis.  

He doesn’t give many interviews, but George sat down with GAC recently to talk about his new music. Check out this clip of George discussing what it was like to write with his son. Once you finish this clip, visit George’s artist section for all 16 new interview clips!

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]]> http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/10/19/george-strait-celebrates-58th-no-1-single/feed/ 0 George Strait, Dixie Chicks, Willie Nelson & More Raise Over $500,000 for Texas Wildfire Victims http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/10/19/george-strait-dixie-chicks-willie-nelson-more-raise-over-500000-for-texas-wildfire-victims/ http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/10/19/george-strait-dixie-chicks-willie-nelson-more-raise-over-500000-for-texas-wildfire-victims/#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:33:15 +0000 Sarah Wyland http://blog.gactv.com/?p=24232 Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson photo by David McClister, courtesy of Lost Highway Records.

Country stars came together in Texas on Monday night to raise money for victims of recent wildfires that have devastated parts of the state. Willie Nelson, George Strait, Dixie Chicks, The Avett Brothers and Asleep At The Wheel were just some of the acts on hand for the concert in Austin which raised more than $500,000 was raised.

“When they called us to do this show, there was zero hesitation,” Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks told the Associated Press. “You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the girl.”

Willie Nelson called the fires ‘tragic’ and knows firsthand how devastating they can be having lost homes to fire. “You never really get over it,” he said. “There’s nothing I can tell them to make it better except some of us have been there and done that and we survived it, and they will too. Be strong.”

Willie, joined by the Avett Brothers and backed by Asleep at the Wheel, entertained the crowd with his classic “On the Road Again” as well as “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson helped booked artists for the concert. He said he rarely calls in favors but didn’t hesitate to do just that in support of the fire victims.

“This one was so compelling, I said `OK, let me call Willie and let me call Lyle (Lovett)’ and they both said yeah,” he said. “Willie actually cancelled a show to do it. Lyle also canceled an appearance. I just think the scope of devastation was so great and so close to home. The numbers in Bastrop were so overwhelming, how do you deal with something like that? And also you do feel… that we’re in a position to not sit on the sidelines and do something.”

Eleven acts were scheduled to perform. Actor Kyle Chandler from Friday Night Lights emceed the event, which was held at the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas at Austin campus.

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]]> http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/10/19/george-strait-dixie-chicks-willie-nelson-more-raise-over-500000-for-texas-wildfire-victims/feed/ 0 George Strait Announces 2012 Tour http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/10/17/george-strait-announces-2012-tour/ http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/10/17/george-strait-announces-2012-tour/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:42:04 +0000 Sarah Wyland http://blog.gactv.com/?p=24125 George Strait

George Strait photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

George Strait is hitting the road. He will kick off his 2012 tour on Janury 27 in Lafayete, Louisiana and has stops scheduled in Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nevada, Utah and Kansas. The tour will wrap in Kansas City, Missouri on February 25. George has invited Martina McBrideto join him.

“I love Martina,” George said. “She’s been on our tours before and she’s great. I’m really looking forward to the tour. Martina will definitely make it a special night.”

Read our review of George Strait’s Here For A Good Time album! >>

George recently released his 39th studio album, Here For A Good Time, which received rave reviews from critics and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts. The title track, “Here For A Good Time,” written by George, his son Bubba Strait and Dean Dillon is George’s 73rd Top 5 hit. Tickets for George’s February 4 Las Vegas show will go on sale October 29 with other ticket on-sale dates to be announced soon.

For more information and 2012 tour updates, visit:  www.georgestrait.com

2012 TOUR DATES

January 27 – Lafayette, LA
January 28 – Bossier City, LA
February 3 – Phoenix, AZ
February 4 – Las Vegas, NV
February 10 – Atlanta, GA
February 11 – Orlando, FL
February 16 – Tulsa, OK
February 17 – Wichita, KS
February 24 – Des Moines, IA
February 25 – Kansas City, MO

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]]> http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/10/17/george-strait-announces-2012-tour/feed/ 0 Toby Keith, Taylor Swift Among Highest-Paid Country Stars http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/09/21/toby-keith-taylor-swift-among-highest-paid-country-stars/ http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/09/21/toby-keith-taylor-swift-among-highest-paid-country-stars/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:02:37 +0000 Sarah Wyland http://blog.gactv.com/?p=23245 Toby Keith

Toby Keith photo courtesy of Show Dog-Universal Music.

Forbes has released their list of country’s highest-paid stars. To compile the list, Forbes looked at money earned between May 2010 and May 2011. They also talked to agents, manager, publishers, lawyers and other industry members to come up with their gross earnings estimates. Toby Keith landed at the top of their list, with Taylor Swift coming in second and Brad Paisley third.

Toby made an estimated $50 million in earnings last year. Besides his music, he has a lucrative sponsorship with Ford now in its tenth year, a line of restaurants called ‘I Love This Bar & Grill and a Mezcal drink called Wild Shots. Taylor’s tour, album sales, movie and television appearances and partnership with Cover Girl helped her earn an estimated $45 million to put her in the second spot. As for Brad, his album and touring sales, deals with Chevy and Sea Ray and his publishing company, Sea Gayle Music, helped earn him a cool $40 million.

Tim McGraw came in fourth on the list with his music and touring sales being boosted by his role in Country Strong and line of cologne. Rascal Flatts rounded out the Top 5 with an estimated earnings of $34 million, coming largely from album and ticket sales. Rounding out the top 10 are Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood and Sugarland.

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]]> http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/09/21/toby-keith-taylor-swift-among-highest-paid-country-stars/feed/ 0 GAC’s Top 20 Cowboy & Rodeo Songs http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/09/07/gacs-top-20-cowboy-rodeo-songs/ http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2011/09/07/gacs-top-20-cowboy-rodeo-songs/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:23:02 +0000 Vernell Hackett http://blog.gactv.com/?p=22792 Rodeo

Photo courtesy of the PRCA.

The American Cowboy is known all over the world as a symbol of America. The cowboy life might not have been quite as glamorous as the silver screen portrayed it, yet most of the men and women who lived their lives as cowboys or cowgirls wouldn’t have traded it for any big city job available to them at the time.

From that golden era came many familiar cowboy songs, some of them originating as folk tunes in other countries and adapted to their new situation by those Irish or Spanish cowboys who worked out west. Later, cowboy songs were big parts of movies during the singing cowboy era, with Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter, Rex Allen and Gene Autry gaining popularity not only as actors but singers too. Carl T. Sprague is considered the original singing cowboy, recording the first authentic cowboy song, “When the Work’s All Done this Fall,” which sold 900,000 copies.

Today’s singer/songwriters have not forgotten the cowboy way. Folks like Ian Tyson, Michael Martin Murphey, Riders in the Sky, Don Edwards, Ed Bruce and the late Chris LeDoux have given us newer songs and also revived some of the older tunes. Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, the late Marty Robbins and the late Johnny Cash were also more than happy to sing the new western songs and keep the cowboy tradition alive in country music.

In no particular order, here are our picks for the Top 20 Cowboy & Cowgirl Songs. Leave us a comment below and let us know your favorite! And don’t forget to enter our Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Sweepstakes for your chance to win a trip for two to the rodeo in Las Vegas! Enter now >>

“Amarillo By Morning” – George Strait

Click here to view the embedded video.


Although Chris LeDoux recorded this song first, most people remember George Strait’s version, which begins with a beautiful intro played by fiddle great Buddy Spicher. Here’s a clip of George singing “Amarillo By Morning” live. The song is about a cowboy’s love for the sport of rodeo, no matter what happens to him and no matter what he loses, saddles and girlfriends included. George, as most of his fans know, sponsors his own Team Roping Classic in San Antonio each year. He is no slouch as a roper either!

“Good Ride Cowboy” – Garth Brooks

Click here to view the embedded video.


This song, written by Jerrod Niemann (performing it in the clip above), Richie Brown, Bryan Kennedy and Bob Doyle, became Garth Brooks‘ tribute to his friend Chris LeDoux after the rodeo champ and singer passed away in 2005. It chronicles Chris’ rise to fame in the rodeo world and as a singer, as well as his down-to-earth ways as a father and husband. Chris and Garth became friends after the Oklahoma singer named the rodeo cowboy in his first single, “Too Young to Feel This Damn Old.” They also recorded a duet in 1992, “What’cha Gonna Do With A Cowboy.”

“Night Rider’s Lament” – Suzy Bogguss

Click here to view the embedded video.


Upon hearing this song, one would assume it was written in the heyday of the cowboy. A little research finds it was written by real-life cowboy Michael Burton, but in a much more recent setting, circa 1975. It describes how one cowboy chose career over true love and how he sometimes thinks about what might have been. Those thoughts don’t linger long, however, as he quickly remembers why he chose the life of a cowboy on the range. The tune has been recorded by everyone from Chris LeDoux to Garth Brooks and Nanci Griffith, but Suzy has one of the great versions of the tune. Here she is singing it with Jerry Jeff Walker.

“Should’ve Been A Cowboy” – Toby Keith

Click here to view the embedded video.


Despite the fact that he is as much at home on a horse as he is on a stage, Toby Keith laments in this song that he should have been a cowboy. The Oklahoma native thinks he should have learned to rope and ride in a cattle drive, because he thinks as a cowboy he could have stolen the young girls’ hearts like his heroes, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Who among us hasn’t thought how glamorous it would be to be a cowboy on a big ranch somewhere out west, or at the very least, in a movie?

“Someday Soon” – Ian Tyson

Click here to view the embedded video.


Written by Ian Tyson, “Someday Soon” has been recorded by Judy Collins, Suzy Bogguss and many others and has charted in pop, folk and country. This 2009 video features Ian singing it – and you can see Suzy’s version HERE.

“Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” – Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings

Click here to view the embedded video.


This video shows Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings singing the Ed Bruce-penned song live from Farm Aid in 1986. The song is a tongue-in-cheek admonition for mothers to beware if their sons wanted to be cowboys when they grew up, and lists all the pitfalls should that happen.

“Texas In 1880” – Foster & Lloyd

Click here to view the embedded video.


One of Foster & Lloyd’s best-known hits, this tune talks about the cowboy way of life, but Radney Foster says it is really a song about the freedom to dream, to do what you want to do. Nevertheless, the song’s video is a great tribute to the life of the rodeo cowboy.

“This Cowboy’s Hat’” – Chris LeDoux

Click here to view the embedded video.


Written by Jakes Brooks, this song might show the sentiment of a cowboy better than any song out there. While the lyrics don’t depict any cowboy activities like riding, roping and branding, Chris declares the simple reasons why the motorcycle gang member won’t be able to take his old cowboy hat off his head. It also conveys the message that although we may all be from different cultures, there are similarities among us nevertheless.

“I Wanna Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart” –Patsy Montana

Click here to view the embedded video.


One of the great western numbers sung by a female, this song became the first million-selling song by a woman after Patsy Montana recorded it in 1935. The singer hopes one day to be a cowboy’s sweetheart, and by the end of the song, her dream has come true. The tune has been recorded by a diverse group of singers, including Phish, the Dixie Chicks, Suzy Bogguss, Lynn Anderson and LeAnn Rimes.

“Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy” – Chris LeDoux and Garth Brooks

Click here to view the embedded video.


This fun-loving tune was a duet with friends Chris LeDoux and Garth Brooks. The two ask the question of the lovely lady: “Whatcha gonna do with a cowboy when he don’t saddle up and ride away?” There’s no ready answer, so the listener is left to make their own decision as to how the gal who was looking for a cowboy will handle her newfound boyfriend’s lifestyle.

“The Last Cowboy Song” – The Highwaymen

Click here to view the embedded video.


The Highwaymen – Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings – are one of many who recorded this song from the pen of Ed Bruce. They sing of recollections of the cowboy era and how it seems another piece of America has been lost. The song concludes, however, that there are still cowboys out there, and there will always be men and women who dream of that way of life.

“The Beaches Of Cheyenne” – Garth Brooks

Click here to view the embedded video.


“The Beaches of Cheyenne,” written by Bryan Kennedy and Dan Roberts with Garth, tells the story of a rodeo cowboy and his wife who have a fight before he is killed in a ride at a rodeo. The thought that the fight was never reconciled drives her mad, and his wife takes drastic measures to relieve her sorrow. It’s a ghost story that finds the woman forever walking the beaches of Cheyenne.

“Cowboy Logic” –Michael Martin Murphey

Click here to view the embedded video.


Written by Don Cook and Chick Rains, this is one of the best songs out there that explains the cowboy philosophy. Michael Martin Murphey recorded it during the time he first began recording cowboy tunes. As the song says, “If it’s a job, do it, put your back into it.” Plus, there is the humorous take on how you can spot a real cowboy from where he sits in a pickup truck!

“Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)” – Garth Brooks

[Ed. note: The official video was pulled from YouTube]
This tune, written by Garth Brooks, was his first single and set a trend for him in future recordings, to always include a song or two about the American Cowboy. It was also the song where he mentioned one of his heroes, Chris LeDoux, and unknowingly re-energized the singer/songwriter’s career so that more people heard about him and his music. Garth had many more tunes that championed the cowboy or the American West, but folks will always remember this one because it introduced him to the fans.

“The Strawberry Roan” – Marty Robbins

Click here to view the embedded video.


There’s not a cowboy in the world that won’t take the challenge of trying to ride the one horse that everyone else working on the ranch can’t ride. This is the premise of this old western song, which has been sung by numerous cowboy singers through the years. Marty Robbins loved cowboy music and recorded several albums of western tunes. This song had special meaning to him, as he sang it for a local Phoenix radio station back in the late 1940’s when he thought he was better than the singer the station hired! He got the job, and he sang it throughout his career. He recorded it on his Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs album, which also featured the classics “Big Iron”  and “El Paso.”

“Cowgirls Don’t Cry” – Brooks & Dunn (featuring Reba McEntire)

Click here to view the embedded video.

One of the newer songs to pay tribute to the women in cowboy culture, “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” features country music’s modern day cowgirl/superwoman, Reba McEntire.

“Bandy The Rodeo Clown” – Moe Bandy

Click here to view the embedded video.


Moe Bandy sings about an integral part of the rodeo circuit, the rodeo clown. Many a cowboy owes his life to the quick thinking and fast footwork of a rodeo clown, who has drawn a ferocious bull or a bucking bronc away from the rider and given him time to get out from under the hooves or away from the horns of said animal. Although this rodeo clown may have seen his best years, he still is thought well of by his peers who remember the times he was the ultimate professional.

“Coyotes” – Don Edwards

Click here to view the embedded video.


A look at today’s world from the eyes of an old cowboy, who has no use for “this new world of asphalt and steel.” Written by Bob McDill, the song is a very poignant story of what happens when the world as someone knows it and worked in it begins to disappear. Don Edwards was the perfect match for this tune, because not only is he a great singer, he is a historian of the American West.

“Cowboy Up” – Joni Harms

Click here to view the embedded video.


Oregon native Joni Harms says she can’t live without western music. With songs like this one, she’ll never have to! The singer tells the story of a young cowboy who gets thrown and how a wise old cowboy gives him some sage advice, “You better cowboy up … get right back in the saddle, as soon as you hit the ground.” As the young cowboy becomes one of the best, he calls his girl, only to find she’s married his best friend. At that point he finds that the old cowboy’s advice is not just for bronc busting!

“Happy Trails” – Roy Rogers & Dale Evans

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A universally known song written by Dale Evans and often sung as a duet, this tune has closed many cowboy music concerts for years. It became Roy & Dale’s theme song and the two of them signed off The Roy Rogers show with it.

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