George Strait and wife Norma Strait’s 50-year marriage is one for this age’s fairy tales. Their love story that started in a small town grew to become one of country music’s greatest love stories. And honestly, despite the unprecedented takeoff of George’s music career, it still does not compare to the success of their story that stood the test of time. Norma had been with him before the fame, and nothing ever changed even with it.
In celebration of their golden year, let’s take a look back where it all started until their story now as grandparents. And of course, let’s also get to know more about the Queen of the King of Country.
First Chapter: “The First Girl I Ever Loved”
As they say, “First love never dies.” And that was the same for George Strait. In an interview with the country radio station the Bull 100.3, Strait confessed that Norma was the first girl he ever loved.
George first met his wife Norma back in high school. They attended the same one in Pearsall, Texas just southwest of San Antonio. They knew each other forever, as George said, growing up in a small town. And he never really even thought anything about her until one day, he asked her out, and they went on a date. But after that, they didn’t see each other for a long time.
Then after some time, he came to his senses, thinking that he was missing something. And so, they started dating again. Luckily, Norma hadn’t written him off during that period. And the couple wasted no more time and eloped in Mexico on December 4, 1971. After that, they also had a church wedding in their hometown before Strait enlisted in the US Army. George was stationed to serve at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, where Norma joined him.
During his time serving in Hawaii, he played with an Army-sponsored band called the Rambling Country until he finished in 1975. Then he went back to college and attended Southwest Texas State University or now known as Texas State, where he joined the country band, Stoney Ridge, as the vocalist and later on changed the name of the band to Ace in the Hole.
While playing with the band and touring, George was also out looking for a record deal. But every record label in Nashville rejected him, and he started to feel very discouraged to the point that he wanted to quit music altogether. But it was Norma who advised him to give it a year.
And in 1981, George made his breakthrough in the music industry after his first single, “Unbound,” peaked at number six on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. This song led him to a longer-term contract with MCA Records (who initially only signed him for one song) and ultimately launched his music career.
Since then, he has enjoyed 60 number one hits, numerous nominations, and awards as well. And through all this, Norma stuck by his side and supported him.
Who is George Strait’s wife, Norma Strait?
Every King has his own Queen. And for George, it was, is, and will always be Norma.
Norma Strait was born on May 18, 1952 and raised in Pearsall, Texas in Frio County. There was hardly any information about his family and childhood, although it was known that she attended a local high school along with George Strait. She went on a date with him after he asked her out, then came a long hiatus after that.
But the two got back together and eloped in 1971. Since then, she has been not only George’s wife but also his number one supporter. She was there through all the lows and the highs, from the passion to the breakthrough to the fame. And of course, it was undeniable that she also inspired some George Strait songs, although George did not talk much about it and rarely did interviews.
As of now, she is living her life as a grandma to two lovely grandkids and spending her time in their ranch in Cotulla, Texas.
Second Chapter: Meet George Strait’s Kids and Family
After eloping in 1971, George and Norma welcomed their first child together, Jenifer Lynn, on October 6, 1972. And then, nine years later, on May 14, 1981, the couple was blessed with a son named George Harvey Jr. or also known by his nickname ‘Bubba.’
The family lived a good life, especially when George’s career had finally taken off. But life wasn’t filled with roses for them, and tragedy struck on the family on June 25, 1986. Their daughter, Jenifer, was killed in a tragic car accident in San Marcos, Texas. She was just 13.
After her death, the couple founded the Jenifer Strait Memorial Foundation. It’s a non-profit organization thriving through private donations, which are then annually distributed to child-related charities in the San Antonio area. And although George had kept quiet about the accident and never talked about it in public, he shared that he and his wife were blessed to have been able to spend all those 13 years with Jenifer in a 2012 interview.
Life went on for the family. Norma served as a stay-at-home mom until Bubba left for college. She then joined her husband on tour until he completed his 2014 farewell Cowboy Rides Away Tour.
Now, the couple enjoys being grandparents to their two lovely grandkids with Bubba, George Strait III, who was born on February 2, 2012 and Jillian Louise, who followed on September 10, 2016.
George Strait and wife Norma Strait found each other 50 years ago. And until now, they are going strong. According to George, he and Norma are so blessed to have found each other, to be able to do everything and experience this life together. And lastly, to support each other through all the good times and the bad. They love each other very much, and they still like each other a lot even after all these years.
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George Strait, Norma Strait