The 'King of Country Music' Holds the Record for the Most No. 1 Hits in History
With a record that no other artist has come close to matching, the "King of Country Music" remains the benchmark for chart success.
The milestone places George Strait in a category all his own, with more No. 1 hits than any other artist in history. The achievement highlights a career built on consistency, longevity, and a level of success few artists have ever matched.
Strait was named the "King of Country Music" for his many accomplishments within the genre, including a remarkable 60 No. 1 hits, a record that underscores his lasting impact and enduring popularity. His chart-topping success has made him one of the most consistently dominant artists in country music history.
Strait said of the accomplishment, as reported by Music Row, "I didn't realize we were making history. I just hoped we were putting out music that my fans would enjoy."
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"As always, I'm thankful to the fans and country radio for their support on all 60 of these number one songs as well as my entire career. They are the ones who made this happen."
The feat occurred in 2013 at the tail end of Strait's 60th birthday. His record label, MCA Nashville, pushed for the event in a unique marketing campaign titled 60 for 60.
According to his official website, "His music career spans more than 30 years; includes 60 No. 1 singles, more than any other artist in any genre; and boasts 33 platinum or multi-platinum-selling albums, more than any country artist and third across all genres behind only The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Strait is the only act in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for over three decades and has sold more than 70 million albums and earned more than 60 major entertainment industry awards."
Strait's longest-charting song was 1999's "Write This Down," which held the top spot for four weeks. Coming in at two weeks each were "Living and Living Well," "The Best Day," and "She'll Leave You With a Smile."
However, his most popular song is "Amarillo by Morning" according to a 2020 Rolling Stone Readers Poll. The music publication writes, "'Amarillo by Morning' has been a rodeo-circuit hit since 1973, when Terry Stafford wrote and recorded the original version following an all-night drive from one rodeo stop to another. But it took Strait to do the definitive version of this ode to the troubadour lifestyle, which recounts broken bones and loves lost by a journeyman cowboy who owns nothing but the clothes on his back."
Strait debuted in 1981 with "Unwound." He charted his first No. 1 just one year later with the song "Fool Hearted Memory."
George Strait will play Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, for Alan Jackson's "Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale" on June 27, 2026.
Related: Garth Brooks Says He Sold More Records Than Elvis Presley, But He's Still No King
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 4:41 AM.