Released in 2013 on George Strait’s Love Is Everything album, “I Believe” is one of the most emotional and personal songs in his long career. Co-written by Strait with his son Bubba Strait and songwriter Dean Dillon, it was inspired by the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. Though George initially hesitated to release the track, feeling the weight of such heartbreak, he ultimately shared it as both a tribute and a prayer.
The song’s lyric is steeped in grief but anchored in hope. Strait sings of unspeakable loss—parents without their children, a world left broken—but he frames it with the assurance of faith: “I believe there is someone in heaven above, no matter what happens, he’ll always be there to love.” It’s a song that does not shy away from pain, but instead reaches for light in the darkness.
Vocally, Strait delivers the performance with profound restraint. His calm baritone—always more about truth than theatrics—carries the words with humility. He doesn’t over-sing or dramatize; he lets the weight of the lyric do the work. In that simplicity lies its power: a reminder that sometimes comfort comes not from answers, but from presence.
Musically, the arrangement is delicate: soft piano, gentle strings, and understated steel guitar form the backdrop, creating a hymn-like atmosphere. The sparseness allows the lyric and voice to sit front and center, wrapping the song in reverence.
“I Believe” was never intended to be a radio hit, but it quickly became one of Strait’s most admired songs for its courage and compassion. Fans embraced it as a vessel for their own grief—whether tied to the Sandy Hook tragedy, or to personal losses in their own lives.
In the story of George Strait’s career, “I Believe” stands out as a reminder that even kings of country are not immune to the world’s sorrows. More importantly, it shows how music, when offered with humility and faith, can become a balm.
It is not a song of answers—it is a song of comfort. And in George Strait’s steady hands, “I Believe” becomes a prayer shared between artist and listener, a quiet assurance that even in the darkest valleys, hope remains.