George Strait Announces New Album, Las Vegas Engagement

George Strait is set to begin his Cold Beer Conversation engagement next spring at the new Las Vegas Arena, the “King of Country Music” announced Tuesday (Sept. 22) during a live press conference streamed on his official website.

George Strait will drop a new album, Cold Beer Conversation, on Friday, with the title track going to radio tomorrow.

Strait said goodbye to touring with his the Cowboy Rides Away Tour, which kicked off in 2013 and wrapped up in 2014, taking him on one final rodeo at some of the most important concert venues of his career.

Strait will play Las Vegas starting on April 22-23 and again on September 9-10. Kacey Musgraves will be opening those shows. I’ve been working a little bit here and there, and I’m really proud of a new album that’s coming out. The shows represent the only opportunities to see Strait perform anytime soon.

“I said all along I wasn’t going to tour anymore, but I also said that I wasn’t retiring by any means and I still wanted to do some dates”, Strait said. “I always shoot for that”, Straight said. Strait co-produced the new album with Chuck Ainley for George Strait Productions and called on some of the top songwriters in Nashville for the 13 tracks, including Bill Anderson, Jamey Johnson, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Tom Shapiro. “I haven’t done them in a long time so I’m really, really looking forward to it”.

Tickets for the Vegas shows go on sale to the general public on October . 2, but Taste of Country readers will get a shot at the best seats first via an exclusive pre-sale, beginning on Friday (Sept. 25) at 1PM ET and running through September 30. “There’s no formula that I can say, ‘This is how you do it.’ I just know a song that fits me when I hear it”.

“In 1981, when I signed with MCA Records, it seems like yesterday”, Strait recalls.