S T R A I T T A L K George Strait A Double Winner At Academy Of Country Music Awards The 33rd Annual Country Music Awards at most prestigious awards. He won one of the Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Lee Ann the Universal Amphitheater in Hollywood, hat awards for his multi-platinum album Womack also won trophies for their efforts. California certainly had a new look this year “Carrying Your Love With Me” and another In addition to his ACM Awards, Strait was as the show went off smoothly without any for “Male Vocalist of the Year.” It was the also chosen for four Golden Pick awards by hosts for the very first time. While the look second consecutive year that Strait has won the readers of Country Weekly Magazine. he and feel of the show was very different, some both trophies. was chosen for “Favorite Entertainer,” things stayed just the same as George Strait The awards show appeared to be a show- “Favorite Male Vocalist,” “Favorite Album” once again was the big winner. The talented case for the hugely successful George Strait and “Favorite Video Entertainer.” Texas cowboy walked off with two of the Country Music Festival tour as tour mates, George Strait Team Roping Just Around The Corner The 16th Annual George Strait Team Bud Light. tants. In addition to a substantial amount of Roping Classic is rapidly approaching as An estimated 200 or more teams are cash, the winning team will drive away in summer again raises its’ head. With less than expected to face off beginning on Friday two brand new Chevy Trucks pulling their six weeks to go before the 1998 edition gets morning, July 10th. Each team will pay $400 new Bruton Trailers. underway, anticipation is running high. in entry money while competing for more On Saturday night, following the finals, The 1998 Team Roping Classic will be held than $100,000 in cash and prizes that will be George Strait and his Ace In The Hole Band on July 10th and 11th at the J.K. Northway divided up after the Saturday morning finals. will be joined by Asleep At The Wheel in Arena in Kingsville, Texas and will once The fastest 25 teams after Friday’s first two entertaining more than 5,000 ropers and again be co-sponsored by Chevy Trucks and go-rounds will make up the Saturday contes- fans. S T R A I T T A L K Hotter Than Ever! George Strait’s Star-Packed Show Hits The Road Written by Daniel P. Ray, got such an unbelievable amount of talent onstage As soon as she took the stage, huge ovation Country Weekly Writer today and we’re so glad you showed up on time.” went up, showing that fans had not forgotten her. Courtesy of Country Weekly Magazine It was a full-circle day for Asleep at the Wheel. “Lord, I have got the best fans in the world, I tell Two decades ago, the band hired an unknown you what,” she told the crowd. “It’s freezing cold, The George Strait juggernaut is on the road - young Texan - George Strait - to open for them. it’s raining and I love you. I’m so happy. I know and heading for a town near you. George, who always includes some swing songs it’s wet and rainy out there, but who cares? I’m The tour, so big that headliners like Tim in his live shows, is now returning the favor on getting wet with you, I’m losing my pants and my McGraw, John Michael Montgomery and Faith his stadium tour. hair is falling flat.” Hill play supporting roles, is one of the most The band played a quick chorus of “It Ain’t “I just want to say thank you so much for just anticipated events in country music history. Gonna Rain No Mo’” when the first sprinkles fell. roughing out this weather. You are the best!” And COUNTRY WEEKLY was at the mammoth “Don’t worry about it if it comes,” Ray said. “It’s John Michael Montgomery’s hit-filled set was show’s debut in Tempe, Arizona, to give you a just like taking a shower.We’ll pass out some played during the height of the storm, but that taste of what to expect as the event marches soap later.” didn’t dampen his enthusiasm. In fact, he played through its 18-city schedule (see panel on page The longest-running act on the bill was succeed- with the rain-slicked stage, taking a running start 20 for remaining dates). ed by the youngest, 16-year-old Lila McCann, and skimming across it on his boots. “Just having Even El Niño couldn’t conquer “El Jorge” at whose performance included her latest hit “I some fun up here,” he said. Tempe’s Sun Devil Stadium in suburban Phoenix. Wanna Fall in Love.” Tim McGraw drew the biggest pre-George An unexpectedly strong storm dropped tempera- If fans needed a break, the Straitland amusement cheers with two songs. On “It’s Your Love,” Faith tures 20 degrees and sent squalls of rain and wind area was a short walk away, set up in a parking returned onstage in a dry, orange outfit to sing her over the audience. But the overwhelming majori- lot outside the stadium walls. Concession booths part of the duet. ty of the 65,000 ticket-holders scrambled for tem- offered a variety of food and drink. Country radio On Tim’s “Don’t Take the Girl,” he fell silent porary cover, not the exits, so they could hear a stations ran drawings for a chance to meet George during parts of the song and let the crowd fill in Y’allapalooza of talent. backstage. Undiscovered singers could sing coun- the words. “There’s nothing like 60,000 people They were rewarded with 10 hours of great try karaoke - and buy a videotape of the perfor- singing the words to your songs, I tell you that,” country music on the main stadium stage. mance for $10. There were also plenty of booths he said afterward. “I love my job.” Newcomer band Big House was the top attraction set up by the tour’s sponsors - as you might Then it was George’s turn. From the moment he at a second stage in Straitland, an area of conces- expect from a festival whose official name is started with “Take Me Back to Tulsa,” he had the sion tents, midway rides and tour-sponsor booths. Nokia Presents the George Strait Chevy Truck audience standing. On this night, at least, George An exuberant George closed out the show with Country Music Festival brought to you be broke free from the “just stand there and sing” 29 songs in his first performance of 1998. “We’ve Wrangler. One of the most popular booths gave school of performing to which he is often said to been off five or six months, and this is our first away rain ponchos. They went fast. belong. He roamed the stage freely, saluted all night back. And this is a great place to start it all The rain started falling full force during Lee Ann corners of the stadium with smiles and waves, off,” George told his screaming fans. Womack’s performance. and clearly relished the moment. Despite the chill, fans in Tempe were the first to After thrilling the crowd with “Never Again, “I love to play big audiences,” he has said. “It confirm that this is country’s hot ticket. The Again,” and “You’ve Got To Talk To Me,” she really gets your adrenaline pumping. You are weekends-only tour is sold out - or close to it - at confessed backstage, “I had a new fiddle player under a lot of pressure, but at the same time, the every venue where tickets have gone on sale. who hadn’t rehearsed with us, so I was anxious to pressure makes you work harder. It’s a great feel- The Phoenix area is particularly warm for get one under our belt.” ing.” George - and all of country music. Country radio She also had something in common with the He even added a new skill to his resume - stations there pull in 18 percent of the area’s fans - she got wet. Lee Ann performed on a par- matchmaker. Between songs, he grabbed a piece radio advertising dollars - a larger percentage tially covered stage, and “every time I tried to of paper offered up by an audience member and than any other major market. Last year, rock’s U2 back up out of the rain, the monitor would start puzzled over it for a few moments. and The Rolling Stones both booked the same feeding back. So the band got to stand back there “Is this for real?” George asked. He read the stadium. Neither band could draw more than but I had to stand in the rain!” note aloud: “She won’t marry me unless you ask 40,000 fans. It was worth it, she said. “I always dreamed of for me. Jamie and Debby.” Stadium tours are extremely rare in country playing with George Strait. Always. I grew up in “Well, Debby?” George said, looking at the music, but this one is already meeting with great Texas worshiping George, so it’s a milestone for stunned woman in the crowd. “Are you going to success. The reasons? A relatively low ticket me.” marry this guy?” price that tops out at $45 ($47.50 in a few mar- Before her turn to take the stage, Faith Hill was She nodded.