Country Artists Honor George Strait in All-Star Concert
The stars turned out in force on Sunday, April 6 in Las Vegas to honor George Strait as the Academy of Country Music’s Artist of the Decade (Pictured above: Garth Brooks – Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com).
Held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the historic tribute featured country’s biggest names singing their favorite Strait hits.
George Stait (Photo courtesy of ACM)
Strait himself took the stage and played a few of his classic singles as his fellow artists in the crowd sang along. Garth Brooks, named Artist of the Decade for the 1990s, presented Strait his trophy. He joins only four other artists who have received this distinction: Marty Robbins, Loretta Lynn, Alabama and Brooks.
With a record-breaking career that spans nearly 25 years, George Strait has more than earned his distinction as “The King of Country Music.” A cowboy singer who walks the walk and talks the talk, Strait has endeared himself to country music fans everywhere as the real deal. His knack for picking great songs has helped him amass 57 No. 1 hits and countless other beloved classics, among them “Amarillo By Morning,” “The Chair,” “I Cross My Heart,” “I Saw God Today” and the ACM Song of the Year “Give It Away.”
With the Artist of the Decade award, Strait has now won 20 Academy of Country Music Awards including Entertainer of the Year for 1989. He also holds the record for the most No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. He has sold more than 68 million records, garnering him 32 different platinum or multi-platinum albums resulting in the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Strait’s current album, Troubadour, is certified gold, and his career only continues to grow.
George Strait – ACM Artist of the Decade, produced by Dick Clark Productions, will air May 27th on CBS. Proceeds from the live concert will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music.
Las Vegas photographer Erik Kabik shot these photos in the ACM press room:
Blake Shelton
Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com
Miranda Lambert
Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com
Jamey Johnson with Epiphone Guitar signed by George Strait
Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com
Jack Ingram
Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com
Martina McBride
Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com
Montgomery Gentry and Troy Gentry
Photo: © Erik Kabik/ RETNA/ www.erikkabik.com
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