In a world where divorce is common, especially among celebrities, George Strait and Norma Strait are refreshing examples of lifelong commitment. The two have been married for over 50 years and still dote on each other like newlyweds!
Everyone knows country legend George Strait from his hits such as “She Let Herself Go,” “Give It Away,” as well as “You’ll Be There.” While his professional life has always been successful, George Strait also boasts a very successful private life.
George is one of the rare celebrities who has been married for over 50 years to the love of this life, Norma Strait. While the couple seems incredibly solid now, their love story is miraculous as it almost did not happen!
George and Norma did not consider each other as potential romantic interests even though they were from the same town. Until one fateful day, George asked Norma on a date. While the date did go successfully, the couple did not meet for a while.
George shared how he met his wife at the celebration of their 50th anniversary together in Las Vegas. The country singer said, “So I was 19 years old, and I knew this girl, Norma. She was 17, really hot. So we fell in love.”
George then dedicated his song “I Cross My Heart” to his beloved, as the crowd sang along with him. He mentioned that it had been 50 years since the couple had eloped to Mexico to tie the knot.
The couple eloped on December 4, 1971 and once they returned to Texas, they had another small church ceremony witnessed by their friends and family. After a short while, George had to leave to serve in Hawaii and Norma joined him soon after.
Life for the couple was ideal as they welcomed their daughter Jenifer 10-months after their marriage in October 1972 and then after a gap of 9 years, welcomed their son George “Bubba” Strait, Jr. in 1981.
Much like his successful domestic life, George Strait’s career as a musician was also thriving. The singer’s single “Fool Hearted Memory” proved to be a chart-topping hit.
Unfortunately the singer’s life was about to change drastically. His daughter Jenifer, who was 13 at the time met with a tragic car accident. She was in a car being driven by 18-year-old Gregory Allen who lost control of his Ford Mustang. Jenifer was not wearing a seat belt and was the only fatality in the tragic accident. She lost her life on June 25, 1986 in San Marcos, Texas.
The driver, Gregory Allen did not face any imprisonment or charges for Jenifer’s death. But the accident left a huge hole in the Strait family.
George Strait shared in an interview that the family constantly missed Jenifer. He said, “We were blessed to have been able to spend 13 years with our beautiful daughter Jenifer,” he continued, “we will all miss Jenifer very much, and we will never forget her, her smile and laugh. She meant the world to us, and we’ll miss her dearly.”
