George Strait Welcomes Special Guests at Final Nashville Show

George Strait rode into Music City’s Bridgestone Arena Friday (2/21) on stop 16 of 26 on his two-year record-breaking The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, presented by Quicken Loans with special guest Sheryl Crow. The crowd, a raucous 16,652, welcomed the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year and current ACM Entertainer of the Year nominee with overwhelming applause as he opened his nearly two-hour and 30+ song set with the Top 5 hit “The Fireman” – not even one of his 60 No. 1 singles.

Crow, who joined Strait for Saturday’s Atlanta, Ga. show, too, accompanied Strait during his set on the hits “Here For A Good Time” and “When Did You Stop Loving Me.” Then, as an unannounced surprise to the crowd, Eric Church joined Strait halfway through the set for “Cowboys Like Us.” Upon exit, Strait said, “Eric Church, everybody – we’ll see you in Dallas!” referring to Strait’s tour finale on June 7 at AT&T Stadium.

As if that was not enough — being that it was Nashville — Kenny Chesney sauntered on stage to accompany Strait for the 1983 hit “Amarillo By Morning.”

Earlier in the evening, UMG Nashville President Mike Dungan presented Strait, who is a 33-plus year veteran of the label MCA Nashville, with an RIAA Certified Platinum Plaque for his 60th No. 1 single, “Give It All We’ve Got Tonight” from his latest album, Love Is Everything, which features his current Top 40-and-climbing single “I Got A Car.”

Remaining 2014 The Cowboy Rides Away Tour Dates Are As Follows:
April 4, 2014 INTRUST Bank Arena│Wichita, Kan.
*With special guests Lee Ann Womack and Merle Haggard
April 5, 2014 Pepsi Center│Denver, Colo.
*With special guests Lee Ann Womack and Merle Haggard
April 11, 2014 Moda Center│Portland, Ore.
*With special guest Chris Young
April 12, 2014 Tacoma Dome│Tacoma, Wash.
*With special guest Chris Young
April 18, 2014 Wells Fargo Arena│Des Moines, Iowa
*With special guest Ronnie Dunn
April 19, 2014 BOK Center│Tulsa, Okla.
*With special guest Ronnie Dunn
May 23, 2014 Tiger Stadium│Baton Rouge, La.
*Bayou Country Superfest
May 31, 2014 Gillette Stadium│Foxborough, Mass.
*With special guests Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
June 7, 2014 AT&T Stadium│Arlington, Texas
*With special guests Jason Aldean, Asleep At The Wheel, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride and Lee Ann Womack