George Strait gets star-studded salute at 2024 CMA Awards by Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, more

George Strait was the star of last night’s Country Music Awards − in more ways than one.

The legendary crooner, sometimes called the “King of Country Music,” was honored at Wednesday’s CMAs with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

The honor included star-studded performances of Strait’s classics from the likes of Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jamey Johnson, Park McCollum and Lainey Wilson, who won the night’s entertainer of the year award. For the performance, Stapleton joined the king himself for “Honky Honk Hall of Fame,” Lambert and McCollum collaborated on “Troubadour,” Johnson sang “Give It Away” and Wilson sang “Amarillo By Morning.”

During his acceptance speech, the “Troubador” singer told the audience, “I want to thank these great artists who’ve performed some of my songs … it’s amazing to hear y’all do them. I’m so glad I got them before you.”

CMA Awards 2024 winners list: Chris Stapleton, Megan Moroney, George Strait

Strait also thanked his family in the crowd − his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandkids − as they watched on. “It’s so great to have y’all here, but especially Norma (his wife) who’s supported me for just shy of 53 years,” he said.

Strait boasts a remarkably durable career. In June, the 72-year-old artist broke the record for the largest ticketed show ever in the U.S.

His style has not changed much over the years, even as the industry has become more pop-centric. That classic worn-leather quality is what some fans called back to when they took to social media to comment on his perceived reaction to the award show’s performances.

Some took his unflinching face during the tribute to be a distaste for country music’s modern tilt. But really, who knows?

George Strait the entire show #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/HsvH2pMDJ3

— ALEX (@imsovancey) November 21, 2024

As USA TODAY’s Erin Jensen wrote of similar scrutiny when Ben Affleck attended the 2023 Grammy Awards alongside then-wife Jennifer Lopez, “Maybe he was miserable. I’ve been to award shows, and they can be extremely long.”

“Or maybe there was something going on that made it difficult for the star to maintain a smile for the length of the entire event. Or maybe he was having a great time and that is just his face!”