Earlier today, during a press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, George Strait made it official: he's done touring.
After the "The Cowboy Rides Away" tour concludes, that is. The 60-year-old Strait, who has sold more than 65 million albums and won more than 60 major industry awards, will undertake a two-year tour, starting in January, and once that's completed, he'll focus on recording singles and records and playing select dates. His farewell jaunt kicks off Jan. 18 in Lubbock, and for this first leg, he'll be joined by Martina McBride. While no DFW date has been announced yet, Strait will play Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Arena on Jan. 19, and Houston on March 17. The full list of announced concerts can be found on Strait's website.
"This is going to be a very special, emotional tour for me," Strait said in a statement. "Everywhere we’re going holds fond memories and I’m looking forward to paying my respects.”
A statement from Strait's publicist describes the forthcoming live shows as "filled with hits from throughout his remarkable career." Members of George Strait's fan club will have first crack at buying tickets for "The Cowboy Rides Away" tour on Oct. 9, while the public on-sale begins at 10 a.m. Oct. 12 on Strait's website.