George Strait, 82 ACM Nominations

I Gotta Get to You” Makes 82nd Billboard Top 10 Hit
for the “King of Country”

Nashville, Tenn. (April 13, 2010) – Billboard announced today that superstar George Strait has accomplished what no other artist in the history of Billboard charts has – 30 years of consecutive Top 10 hits. With his current single “I Gotta Get to You” jumping from No. 12 to No. 9 on Billboard’s radio airplay list, Strait’s number of Top 10 hits totals 82 and marks 2010 as the historic 30th year milestone.

Billboard writes, “30 years into his unparalleled career, the 'King of Country' shows no signs of abdicating the throne.”

“It just continues to be one heck of a ride that I'm enjoying every minute of,” responds Strait. “Time does fly when you’re having fun. Thanks to all of my fans for their support. Long live country music!”

Strait landed his first Top 10 in 1981 with his first charting single, "Unwound."

"It is truly a privilege for all of us at Universal to be associated with George Strait," says Luke Lewis, Chairman of Universal Music Group Nashville. "He has recorded music for MCA Records his entire career and we are very proud to be part of this achievement."

With a career spanning more than 30 years, George Strait has the most number one singles of any artist in history including Elvis (57 To Date inclusive of all charts). He has sold more than 68.5 million records and with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley.

Strait’s CD Twang debuted at #1 on The Billboard 200 chart and the Top Country Albums chart. This is the fourth time in Strait's career that a new release has debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the 13th time debuting at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart.

Named the Academy of Country Music’s Artist of the Decade last year, George Strait is nominated this year for ACM Entertainer of the Year for the 12th time and Top Male Vocalist for the 20th time, bringing his all-time record to 81 ACM nominations.

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