George Strait

If you know me very well at all, it's no secret I have had a long-time love affair with George Strait. Seriously y'all...it's bad.

Possibly the first time I got to see him in concert was one summer when I went to Sea World with my mom and sisters. We just so happened to get there on the day George Strait was singing. We walked over to the lawn late afternoon to get a spot and ended up right at the front next to a giant speaker. It was amazing!!

Then in college, I had a chance to go to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and had a super awesome connection (thank you college boyfriend) who was able to get us backstage.  I have no idea what got into me when we took our picture, but I snuggled right up to him like I had known him for years. In hindsight, I'm really glad I did it.   

And then in college, my dear friend and roommate Jana and I even took what we referred to as the "box tour" one spring break. We started off in Abilene, drove to San Antonio, then Houston, and back to Abilene.  If you look at the route on a map,  it looked like a box. We also listened to the George Strait box set the whole time ;)  Nerds… I know.   At the time, I worked for the president of Hardin-Simmons, and he thought that was the most hilarious thing that we referred to it as our box tour ;). 

Then there was the time I met Jana in Oklahoma City to see him… We had nosebleed seats but didn't care. Just before George Strait was going to come on, an angel… Okay really someone who worked for the concert… Came off the elevator and asked Jana and I if we wanted two tickets. As we followed the signs to our new seats we realized they were 4th row seats which were just handed to us. Aaaaammmmmaaazing!!!!!!

So all of that leads to this recent concert series he had which was the Cowboy Rides Away Tour. I honestly didn't have plans to go until the last week and then I started scrambling thinking I can not miss this.  Tickets were ridiculously expensive even for bad seats, but I knew that I wanted to go out with a bang. I shelled out more money than I care to mention for floor seats. Jana worked a small miracle with her schedule and was able to come down for the concert. It was everything and then some!!!

  Getting our pink wristbands… exclusive to those of us seated on the FLOOR ;)

  Swoon!!

  And the set list: 

• 1. Check Yes or No 
  2. A Fire I Can't Put Out 
  3. Lovebug 
     (George Jones cover) (with Vince Gill)
  4. Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind 
     (with Vince Gill)
  5. River of Love 
  6. Lead On 
  7. Fool Hearted Memory 
     (with Jason Aldean)
  8. Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her 
     (with Jason Aldean)
  9. Arkansas Dave 
     (with Bubba Strait)
  10. I Saw God Today 
  11. Cowboys Like Us 
      (with Eric Church)
  12. Easy Come, Easy Go 
      (with Eric Church)
  13. That's What Breaking Hearts Do 
  14. Marina Del Rey 
  15. Here for a Good Time 
      (with Sheryl Crow)
  16. When Did You Stop Loving Me 
      (with Sheryl Crow)
  17. I Can Still Make Cheyenne 
  18. Drinkin' Man 
  19. Jackson 
      (Billy Edd Wheeler cover) (with Martina McBride)
  20. Golden Ring 
      (George Jones & Tammy Wynette cover) (with Martina McBride)
  21. Give It Away 
  22. I Got a Car 
  23. A Showman's Life 
      (with Faith Hill)
  24. Let's Fall to Pieces Together 
      (with Faith Hill)
  25. I Believe 
  26. Blame It On Mexico 
  27. Amarillo By Morning 
      (with Alan Jackson)
  28. Murder on Music Row 
      (with Alan Jackson)
  29. The Chair 
  30. Give It All We Got Tonight 
  31. How 'Bout Them Cowgirls 
      (with Miranda Lambert)
  32. Run 
      (with Miranda Lambert)
  33. You Look So Good in Love 
  34. I'll Always Remember You 
  35. Ocean Front Property 
      (with Kenny Chesney)
  36. The Fireman 
      (with Kenny Chesney)
  37. Troubadour 
  38. Unwound 
  39. Encore:
  39. All My Ex's Live in Texas 
      (with Gill, Aldean, Church,… more )
  40. Folsom Prison Blues 
      (Johnny Cash cover) (with Gill, Aldean, Church,… more )
  41. The Cowboy Rides Away