Few songs in country music are as instantly recognizable as “Amarillo by Morning.” With its lonesome fiddle and wistful lyrics about a rodeo cowboy’s struggles, the song has become one of George Strait’s signature hits. But while many fans associate the song with Strait, he wasn’t the first to record it. The journey of “Amarillo by Morning” started nearly a decade before Strait made it famous. Along the way, another cowboy legend, Chris LeDoux, also recorded it.
Terry Stafford, The First Voice Behind Amarillo by Morning
Mix 94.1 reveals that the first person to record “Amarillo by Morning” wasn’t George Strait or Chris LeDoux—it was Terry Stafford. Stafford, best known for his 1964 Elvis-style hit “Suspicion,” started out as a rock and pop singer before gradually transitioning into country music.
Stafford came up with the idea for “Amarillo by Morning” after a rodeo performance in San Antonio. As he drove back home to Amarillo late at night, he found inspiration in a television commercial that mentioned deliveries arriving “by morning.” He shared the idea with songwriter Paul Fraser, and together, they wrote what would become one of country music’s most enduring songs.
Stafford recorded the song in 1973 with a polished, almost pop-country arrangement, complete with a xylophone and background singers. It was released as a single and reached No. 31 on the Billboard Country chart. Though not a massive hit then, the song resonated with rodeo cowboys and country traditionalists, ensuring it would live beyond Stafford’s version.
Chris LeDoux, The Cowboy Who Kept It Alive
Two years after Stafford’s original recording, another artist took “Amarillo by Morning,” giving it a more rugged, Western feel—Chris LeDoux. A champion rodeo cowboy himself, LeDoux embodied the very lifestyle the song described. His 1975 version leaned into the authenticity of the lyrics, capturing the grit and loneliness of life on the road.
While LeDoux’s version didn’t become a major hit, it helped keep the song circulating in rodeo and country music circles. His independent approach to music—selling records out of his truck and performing at rodeos—made him a cult favorite long before mainstream success found him in the ’90s. And though George Strait’s version would eventually become the definitive one, LeDoux’s take remains a fan favorite for those who appreciate cowboy country in its rawest form.
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George Strait, The Definitive Rendition
By the time George Strait recorded “Amarillo by Morning” in 1982 for his album Strait from the Heart, the song had already been around for nearly a decade. But Strait made it his own with his smooth delivery and signature Western swing style.
His version was released as a single in 1983 and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Country chart—surprisingly, it never hit No. 1 in the U.S., though it did top the charts in Canada. Despite not being a chart-topping single, it became one of the most beloved songs of Strait’s career. In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 10 on its list of the 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time, further cementing its legacy.
One of the reasons Strait’s version became so iconic was its stripped-down, fiddle-driven arrangement. Unlike Stafford’s more polished original, Strait’s take leaned fully into traditional country and Western influences. It was the perfect match for his easygoing, cowboy persona. Over the years, it became a staple in his live shows—especially at RodeoHouston, where he remains the unofficial king.
The Lasting Legacy of Amarillo by Morning
“Amarillo by Morning” proves that great country music doesn’t always need to be an instant chart-topper to leave a lasting impact. From Terry Stafford’s late-night inspiration to Chris LeDoux’s rodeo-hardened rendition and, finally, George Strait’s career-defining version, the song has traveled through generations of country music.
While Stafford may have been the first to sing it, and LeDoux helped keep it alive, it was Strait who turned it into an all-time classic. Today, whether performed by a rising star like Zach Top or by Strait himself at a sold-out stadium, “Amarillo by Morning” remains one of the purest examples of country storytelling—a song that captures the spirit of the cowboy and the bittersweet beauty of the open road.
