George Strait has always been championed as one of the kindest and most genial figures in country music. In a heartfelt tribute, one of his key collaborators, Jim Lauderdale, underlines what a “warm” and “down-to-earth” guy Strait really is.

Lauderdale and Strait have worked together on a dazzling array of tracks over the years, with the ‘I Can Still Make Cheyenne’ hitmaker first recording some of Lauderdale's songs as part of the Pure Country movie soundtrack in 1992. After meeting at the premiere for the film, in which Strait stars as Dusty, they've been buddies ever since, with Lauderdale becoming a key writer for the Texas country legend.

A few years after the release of Pure Country in September 1996, Lauderdale reflected on his experience of meeting Strait in the introduction to Mark Bego's insightful book on the ‘Blue Clear Sky’ crooner, George Strait: The Story of Country's Living Legend.

Lauderdale shares, “The first time I met George Strait, was at the premiere of his film, Pure Country, in 1993. His recording two of my songs as part of the soundtrack for that film was the beginning of our professional friendship. I feel like I owe George so much, because of his recording ‘Where the Sidewalk Ends’ and ‘The King of Broken Hearts’, and all of the subsequent songs of mine that he has recorded for the next four albums. It really was a turning point in my writing career”.

He goes on to praise Strait's character, and expresses how his good-hearted nature was apparent from the outset, “I was introduced to George Strait at the party afterwards. He was so warm, and so down-to-earth and friendly, I could tell that he was really a special person. He's just got such a real easy-going magnetism about him”.

Elsewhere in this tribute, Lauderdale considers the question of why Strait has been able to establish himself as one of the all-time greats of the genre, and remain relevant through so many changing trends and generations within the country landscape.

Lauderdale concludes, “What is it about George Strait that gives him such lasting appeal and longevity over the past 16 years? It is a hard question to answer, but I can honestly say, there is just something about him, some undefinable quality about him that makes people love him. He's got millions of devoted fans. A lot of people come and go in country music, but he is just very consistent...”

The North Carolina native concludes, “What is it that makes people gravitate towards George and his music year after year? I think that it is because he is real. He is a devoted family man, and he just seems like such a down-to-earth person as a human being. Success has not ruined him. He is living the good life, and he is happy, and I think that people pick up on that genuineness. I can speak from experience when I say that he is as warm and friendly and genuine as he looks up there on stage, on television, and on record: that is the real George Strait!”

Although written two decades ago, you can't help but feel Lauderdale's comments are just as apt today as they were when he wrote them. Strait continues to come across both through his music and on the rare occasions he does an interview.

On the ‘All My Ex's Live in Texas’ chart-topper's latest album, Cowboys and Dreamers, which dropped in 2024, epitomised this, with Strait reasserting the importance he places on family, kindness and faith above any measures of success. He captures this spirit on odes such as ‘The Little Things’ and ‘The Journey Of Your Life’. Lauderdale's most recent cut for Strait was the evocative ’Two More Wishes’, from 2019's Honky Tonk Time Machine, and we're hoping we don't have to wait too much longer before we get to hear another gem from these two trailblazers.