Country music icon George Strait made history last week at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, by performing in front of an astonishing crowd of 110,905 fans. This achievement shattered the previous record for the largest ticketed crowd at a live music concert in the United States.
Surpassing the longstanding record set by the Grateful Dead in 1977 at Raceway Park, New Jersey, Strait’s monumental concert highlighted his enduring popularity and widespread appeal. The event also marked a new attendance record for Kyle Field, underscoring the overwhelming demand as local accommodations sold out within 30 minutes of the concert’s announcement.
Strait, accompanied by his Ace In The Hole Band, is currently on tour in anticipation of his upcoming album ‘Cowboys And Dreamers’, slated for release on September 6. With more Number One singles on the US Country Charts than any other artist, Strait’s influence extends beyond country music, as evidenced by recent tributes from pop artists like Post Malone, who covered his song ‘Check Yes Or No’ at the Stagecoach Festival in April.
Country music is experiencing a resurgence in 2024, according to the Official Charts Company, which reported a 67 percent increase in sales and streaming in the genre in the UK compared to the previous year. Leading this resurgence are collaborations like ‘I Had Some Help’ by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen, which debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart, along with Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’, and viral hits from TikTok sensations like Shaboozey’s ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ and Dasha’s ‘Austin’.
Looking ahead, Lana Del Rey is poised to explore country music with her upcoming 10th album ‘Lasso’, set for release later this year. At a pre-Grammy event in January, Del Rey expressed her enthusiasm for the genre’s growing prominence, declaring, “The music business is going country. We’re going country. It’s happening.”
The record-breaking concert by George Strait at Kyle Field not only underscores the genre’s enduring appeal but also signals a significant cultural moment in the resurgence of country music on the global stage.
