George Strait – “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone?”: A King’s Tribute to a Trailblazer on CMT Giants: Charley Pride
When George Strait stepped onto the stage during CMT Giants: Charley Pride, the moment carried a weight far beyond simple performance. He wasn’t just singing “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone?” — he was honoring one of the most groundbreaking, beloved, and influential voices in country music history. And Strait did it the only way he knows how: with dignity, subtlety, and absolute respect.
Originally released in 1970, Charley Pride’s version of the song became one of his signature hits — a spirited, bittersweet anthem about a man heading anywhere the sun still shines, trying to outrun loneliness and old memories. It’s classic Pride: warm, direct, and full of life despite the heartache beneath the surface.
On the CMT Giants stage, George Strait gave the song a new shade of tenderness. Dressed in his familiar hat and boots, he approached the microphone with quiet confidence — no theatrics, no heavy arrangements. Just Strait, a guitar, and the legacy of a friend he deeply admired.
From the opening line — “Rain dripping off the brim of my hat…” — Strait’s voice carried that unmistakable calm strength. Smooth, steady, unhurried. He didn’t mimic Pride; he honored him by being fully, authentically himself. Every line felt like a conversation between two eras of country music, filled with gratitude and reverence.
The band kept the arrangement clean and classic:
• Steel guitar shimmering softly, echoing the melody Pride made famous
• Light shuffle of drums keeping that classic Texas-to-Tennessee rhythm
• Acoustic warmth supporting Strait’s effortless baritone
The audience listened in stillness — not out of formality, but because they felt the moment. Pride wasn’t just an icon; he was a barrier-breaker, a gentleman, and a powerful voice in American music. Hearing Strait sing his song was like watching a crown being set gently on a pedestal built by giants.
As Strait delivered the final chorus, a soft smile passed across his face — not a showman’s grin, but the expression of a man paying tribute to someone he deeply respected. And when the last chord faded, the crowd rose in heartfelt applause. It wasn’t loud and wild — it was warm, grateful, and profoundly human.
On CMT Giants: Charley Pride, George Strait didn’t just perform “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone?”
He carried a legacy forward.
He honored a friend.
And he reminded the world why real country music lives on — through songs, through respect, and through moments just like this.