The Country Music Association (CMA) has announced George Strait as the 2024 recipient of the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award. A true icon in country music, Strait will accept this prestigious honor during The 58th Annual CMA Awards, aired live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 20 on ABC. The award presentation followed a special tribute performance by a lineup of artists inspired by Strait’s legendary career.
A Well-Deserved Honor
Sarah Trahern, CEO of the CMA, expressed the organization’s admiration for Strait’s unmatched contributions to country music. “There have been few other artists as authentically Texas and authentically Country as George Strait, and Country Music fans all over the world have been better for it,” Trahern stated. She praised Strait for being both an icon and an inspiration to emerging artists. “As a three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year and the most nominated artist of all time, he serves as an inspiration and icon to many of the great, new artists we know today.”
A Career Built on Unmatched Success
George Strait’s career spans over 40 years and includes remarkable achievements. With 60 No.1 singles and 33 Platinum or multi-Platinum albums, Strait has crafted a career that blends the comfort of traditional country with a fresh, ever-evolving appeal. Notably, he remains the only artist in history to achieve a Top 10 hit every year for more than three decades, and he has sold over 70 million albums to date. His contributions to country music have earned him more than 60 major industry awards, including three CMA Entertainer of the Year titles (1989, 1990, and 2013) and an induction into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.
About the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award
The CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, established to honor an artist with a profound impact on country music, has been awarded to some of the genre’s most influential figures. Recipients are recognized for their enduring influence, philanthropic efforts, and lasting impact on country music’s growth and legacy. Past honorees 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).
The Legacy of the CMA Awards
The CMA Awards began in 1967 as the “CMA Awards Banquet and Show,” becoming the longest-running annual music awards program on network television the following year. Since 2006, ABC has been the home of the CMA Awards and other CMA specials, including “CMA Fest” and “CMA Country Christmas.”
Watch the Tribute
Watch George Strait’s special moment at The 58th Annual CMA Awards now and experience a night honoring his contributions to country music and celebrating his role as one of its enduring legends.
