George Strait Got Hitched Nearly 50 Years Ago – And Here’s Why His Marriage Is Still Going Strong

Of course, George Strait is a name that needs no introduction among the world’s country music fans. Nearly four decades’ worth of hits have made the singer one of the genre’s most popular and enduring stars. And with over 100 million records sold globally, it’s no surprise that he is known as the “King of Country.”

For fans, George’s appeal cuts to the core of rootsy Americana. And the singer gained notice for his authentic sound following the release of his single debut “Unwound” in 1981. Crucially, he also managed to inspire future generations of icons to follow in his cowboy boot-trodden path.

Over the years, George has had stars like Taylor Swift open for him, and he has played to over 100,000 adoring fans in one night. Yet despite his popularity and down-to-earth appeal, George surprisingly can be something of an enigma. Indeed, the icon prefers to let the music do the talking onstage and rarely does interviews when off it.

While George may be a private man, however, he’s certainly not averse to keeping his personal life entirely out of the picture. Norma – the star’s wife of almost 50 years – has been a near constant companion to him in public. And she’s supported him through a life filled with soaring highs and crushing lows.

Fans who’ve followed George throughout his career may have seen Norma accompanying the star at awards shows and events. Interestingly, she also made a surprise turn dancing with her husband in the video for the singer’s 2018 single “Codigo.” Clearly their present is filled with love; but how did the couple become so close in the first place?

Norma and George’s romance actually began in high school. The two both started their lives in Pearsall, Texas, and were familiar with one another early on. The country star described Norma as “the first girl I ever loved” to KILT-FM in 2011. But initially it had taken a while for him to see her as anything other than a friend.

George said that he hadn’t hit upon the idea of the two being an item at first. He told the Houston radio station, “We [had known] each other forever – growing up in a small town. I never really thought anything about her, but then one day I asked her out and we went on a date.”

However, sparks seemingly didn’t fly for George and Norma after that initial date, and the two later went their separate ways. The singer continued, “We didn’t see each other for a long time after that.” But, George added, an apparent epiphany led the future singer back towards his belle. He went on, “Then one day, I thought, ‘I’m missing the boat here,’ and we started dating again.”

George and Norma then wasted no time in becoming more than just boyfriend and girlfriend. And in 1971 the two married in a special ceremony south of the border in Mexico. Now man and wife, the pair then returned to Texas two weeks later and sealed the deal in a church ceremony in Pearsall.

But George didn’t end up spending too much time at home in Texas. The singer signed up to the U.S. Army after spending a couple of semesters in college, and he ended up being assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. As a result, George had to leave his new wife behind and move to the island – ready to be shipped out to fight in Vietnam at a moment's notice.

But the newlyweds still managed to forge ahead with their new life despite being 3,500 miles apart. Norma discovered she was expecting a child while George was still stationed in Hawaii. And in October 1972 she gave birth to the couple’s first child – a daughter named Jenifer.

If Norma was George’s first love and Jenifer his second, then the singer discovered what is surely his third while in Hawaii. On a whim, the budding musician bought himself a guitar and began learning country songs. And by the end of his service he knew enough to lead his very own band made up of fellow servicemen.

George then returned home in 1975 – where he committed himself to higher education and family duties. But his newfound love for music remained imbedded in his mind. One day, he answered an advert looking for singers to join a band, and soon George became the frontman of a group called the Ace in the Hole Band.

The group released a few singles on an independent label, but they had little success outside Texas. The country scene at the time was dominated by softer acts who contrasted with the band’s rough-hewn stylings. So as a result, record executives dismissed the group for its assumed lack of mainstream potential.

George visited Nashville on a number of occasions in search of a record deal, but he was rejected by every company in town. So when a lucrative job offer in the cattle industry appeared, the singer seriously contemplated leaving the band. However, George still had at least one fan who believed in his talents – his wife Norma.

George was prepared to give up on his music career, but Norma talked the singer into hanging on for another year. And it proved to be pretty sound advice. Months later MCA Records took on George Strait and the Ace in the Hole Band and they released “Urban Cowboy” in 1980. The song breathed new life into the rootsy Americana scene, and the star landed himself a record deal a year later.

In 1981 George released his debut solo single “Unwound” as well as the album Strait Country. The musician also doubled down on his rugged aesthetic. His manager Erv Woolsey explained to The New Yorker that backstage he refused requests by managers to make his image more commercial. And outside of music, that year brought more joy for George and Norma. They welcomed their first son, a boy named George “Bubba” Jr.

Norma remained in Texas while her husband George toured the United States. There, she opted to stay at home and look after the two kids until they were old enough to move out. And she’s stayed with George ever since – with their close bond being the secret to how their marriage has lasted so long. But an unexpected event would soon throw the family into turmoil.

In June 1986 the couple’s world was changed forever when daughter Jenifer was tragically killed in a motor accident. The 13-year-old was in the front passenger seat of the car, which was being driven by a man called Gregory Allen. Allen himself survived the crash, and he avoided criminally negligent homicide charges in June of that year.

George declined to do any interviews following the tragedy and retreated somewhat from the public eye. He told The New Yorker in 2017, “I just kind of shut down. I just didn’t feel like talking about it, so I quit doing interviews.” And to this day, his daughter’s death remains a subject that neither he nor his wife like to discuss in public.

George instead let his music do the talking, and two years after his daughter’s passing the singer released the ballad “Baby Blue.” The song – which is full of references to a love long lost – has been interpreted by fans as a requiem for Jenifer. And it would go on to become a number one hit in America.

George has never confirmed that “Baby Blue” was written for his daughter. However, he and Norma have since honored their girl’s memory and set up a charity called the Jenifer Strait Memorial Foundation. The singer revealed to People in 2012, “We were blessed to have been able to spend 13 years with our beautiful daughter Jenifer.”

George then forged on with his career – exploring new avenues and gaining accolades for his work. And, ironically, his refusal to compromise to mainstream tastes would take him to the top of the charts. Throughout the 1980s, the musician’s brand of “hard country” would result in five albums that all reached platinum status. He ended the decade with a Country Music Association award for Entertainer of the Year in 1989 – an accolade he won again the following year.

The ’90s were good to George, too. In 1992 the icon starred in the film Pure Country and released a soundtrack that would go on to become his best-selling album. He would also scoop a further 20 Country Music Association awards and become the record holder for the most nominations and the most consecutive wins.

However, it wasn’t just George’s songs that propelled the singer to success. Thanks to his good looks, the star had plenty of fans who admired the man for more than just his music. We wonder if Norma was jealous of all those admirers...

By the end of many of George’s shows, in fact, there were so many flowers on stage that his crew apparently began donating them to nearby hospitals. But George didn’t give in to the temptations that being a sex symbol can bring. Instead, the star remained devoted to his wife and family.

George and Norma’s lives then changed in the late 1990s when their son Bubba left home to study at Texas A&M University. The former roper, who now works as a songwriter, later married a woman named Tamara and the two welcomed their first child George III in 2012 and Julliann Louise four years later.

For her part, Norma decided to join her husband on tour after Bubba left home. But even having his wife by his side couldn’t keep George from missing home. And so in 2012 – shortly after the star’s 60th birthday – he announced his retirement from the road.

George then talked to People magazine that year about his decision to throw in the towel. He admitted, “I lost a lot of sleep thinking about it.” Despite his hesitation, however, the star knew it was the right thing to do. The singer joked, “[In] two years I’ll be eligible for Social Security, so the timing seems right.”

But George hasn’t quit the business entirely; he still records and plays the occasional gig. Elsewhere, the star can be found playing golf on the courses around San Antonio. And up until 2018 he could also be spotted hosting his annual George Strait Team Roping Classic event.

But mostly, George’s life is spent in the company of his family who – like him – haven’t left Texas. His son, daughter-in-law and grandson live only a stone’s throw from the singer’s ranch. The singer told People, “We’re lucky [that] they… chose to live so close by so we can see Harvey as much as we want.”

Thankfully, George and Norma are still together, too. The singer went on, “Norma and I are so blessed that we found each other… and [that] we were able to do all of this together, experience this life together, to support each other through everything – good times and bad.”

As we’ve seen, Norma and George have experienced some incredible difficulties throughout their time together. And given that the latter spent so much time on tour, the couple evidently spent a lot of their days apart from each other in those earlier years. Apparently, though, it seems the secret to their success has been in using what time they did have to the full.

Pressed on how he and Norma are so happy after so many years as a couple, George replied that it was merely a matter of keeping each other company. The country icon intoned, “We do almost everything together.”

George continued, “[Norma] stayed home until Bubba got out of high school and went to college, but since then she’s come on the road with me too.” Luckily, neither individual has grown tired of their spouse’s company either. The singer added, “We love each other and we still like each other. A lot!”

Incredibly, the year 2020 will mark the couple’s 49th anniversary as man and wife. But while the pair may have more time for each other now, George is still dedicated to his work. And at the age of 67 at the time of writing, he is still putting on live performances.

Since 2016 George has been putting on shows in Las Vegas under the banner Strait to Vegas. His most recent shows in winter 2020 grossed an incredible $4.2 million combined. And that year has also seen the musician adding concerts in Minnesota and Kansas, too.

The so-called King of Country is also still releasing music to this day. Moreover, he’s finding ways to get his loved ones in on the action too. Take his 2019 single “Codigo,” for example: not only does its music video feature Norma in a rare supporting role, but the song was also co-written by Bubba.

For George, music has clearly become something of a family affair. If it means being able to spend more time with his wife, then the musician surely won’t be putting down his guitar soon. And with their love fast approaching the half-century mark, here’s wishing this couple many more years of happiness.