George Strait

Background

George Strait was born on May 18, 1952, in Poteet, Texas. His father, John Byron Strait, a junior high school math teacher, owned a 2,000-acre ranch in Texas that had been in the family for over 100 years. During George's childhood, his parents divorced, and his mother took her daughter with her, leaving George with custody of him and his brother.

George and his older brother, John Jr., were raised by their father. They spent their childhood in town during the week and stayed on the ranch on weekends. George was a student at Pearsall High School, where his interest in music began. After high school, he enrolled at Southwest Texas State University, where he studied agriculture and graduated in 1979. George played in various garage bands and was a fan of The Beatles and other popular bands of that era.

Marriage, Wife, and Children

In 1971, George Strait enlisted in the Army and married his girlfriend, Norma, on December 4th, 1971 in Mexico. Their daughter, Jenifer, was born on October 6th, 1972. Tragically, George Strait lost his daughter, Jenifer, in a car accident when she was thirteen years old. Fans and biographers widely believe he wrote his song "You'll Be There" in her memory, though Strait has never officially confirmed this. Strait is a religious person and believes he will be with her in Heaven someday. The family created a foundation in her honor, a fundraiser for charities that work in child care, education, and health. George Strait Jr., also known as Bubba, met his wife, Tamara, in 2005; the couple married in December 2010 and have two children, George "Harvey" Strait III and Jilliann Louise Strait.