George Strait, known as “The King of Country Music,” accepted the prestigious CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 CMA Awards on Wednesday evening (Nov. 20).
Strait was honored with a star-studded musical tribute from Lainey Wilson, Jamey Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum and Chris Stapleton that included performances of some of The King of Country Music’s biggest hits such as “Troubadour,” “Amarillo By Morning,” “Give It Away” and “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame.”
Following the all-star tribute performance, Stapleton then presented the 72-year-old country music icon with the prestigious honor. “It is my great honor tonight to present the Willie Nelson Achievement award to a true country music royalty, the king of country, George Strait,” Stapleton said while holding the trophy, standing beside Strait.
As his wife Norma, children and grandchildren watched on from the star-studded audience, George Strait graciously accepted the 2024 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. “First of all, I want to thank my lord and savior, Jesus Christ. I want to thank the CMAs for adding my name to the incredible artists on the small list of recipients carrying the name of the icon Willie Nelson,” Strait said from the stage as he held the award in his hand. “I want to thank all these great artists who performed some of my songs that I’ve recorded over the years. It’s amazing to hear y’all do them. I’m so glad I got ’em before you.”
Strait then thanked his wife of 50 years, Norma Strait, and his son Bubba, daughter-in-law, Tamara and his grandkids, Jilliann and Harvey. “So great to have you all here, but especially Norma, who’s supported me for just shy of 53 years, in December. It’s been an amazing 53 years, too,” he continued. He concluded with a heartfelt message in honor of three of his team members who passed away this year, his manager Erv Woolsey and longtime road manager Tom Foote as well as his late fiddle player Gene Elders.
“Thank you everybody,” Strait concluded.
With a career spanning over 40 years, George Strait has achieved unmatched success, including 60 No. 1 singles and 33 Platinum or multi-Platinum albums. The Texas Country legend is celebrated for seamlessly blending timeless familiarity with fresh energy in both his live performances and studio recordings.
Strait is the only artist in history to secure a Top 10 hit every year for more than three decades. He has sold over 70 million albums and earned more than 60 major industry awards. His extensive discography—31 studio albums, three live albums, and 11 compilations—cements his status as one of Country Music’s most decorated artists.
Among his accolades are three CMA Entertainer of the Year awards (1989, 1990, 2013), 17 CMA wins, and a record-setting 83 CMA nominations. Strait is also a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
CMA Willie Nelson Achievement Awards
According to a press release, the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an “an iconic artist who has attained the highest degree of recognition in Country Music.”
“The award recognizes those who have achieved both national and international prominence and stature through concert performances, humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, streaming numbers, record sales and public representation at the highest level. The artist receiving this award has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of the genre over the course of many years and has proven to have an unprecedented historical impact on fans and industry alike,” the press release also stated.
Previous recipients of the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement award include: Willie Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Charley Pride (2020), Loretta Lynn (2021) and Alan Jackson (2022).
2024 CMA Awards
The 2024 CMA Awards also featured memorable performances from Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson, Post Malone, Ashley McBryde, Shaboozey, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Eric Church, Bailey Zimmerman, Megan Moroney, Luke Combs, Kacey Musgraves and more.
The three-hour broadcast showcased a star-studded lineup of one-of-a-kind collaborations and unforgettable moments. Ella Langley and Riley Green delivered their chart-climbing viral hit, “You Look Like You Love Me,” while Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan, along with Post Malone and Chris Stapleton, debuted their fan-favorite duets, “Cowboys Cry Too” and “California Sober,” respectively.
Additionally, Dierks Bentley, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes paid tribute to the late Tom Petty with a rendition of “American Girl.” Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims combined their current singles, “Somethin’ Bout A Woman” and “Lose Control,” in a dynamic mashup, and Brooks & Dunn and Jelly Roll performed “Believe,” a standout track from Brooks & Dunn’s latest release, Reboot II.
An impressive lineup of presenters were on hand to give out the awards and introduce performances, including Simone Biles, Clint Black, Jeff Bridges, Mark Collie, Jordan Davis, The Oak Ridges Boys, Mitchell Tenpenny, Dustin Lynch, Caleb Pressley, Freddie Freeman, Little Big Town, Carly Pearce, Katharine McPhee, and Billy Bob Thornton, among others.
Co-hosted by Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning, and Lainey Wilson, the 58th Annual CMA Awards aired live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 20, on ABC and will be available to stream on Hulu starting November 21.
