“We can hardly imagine the country music phenomenon without its ‘King of Country,’” President Donald Trump said on Dec. 6 in the Oval Office as he presented George Strait and the other 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees with their medallions.
That sentiment echoed powerfully the following night during the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, held Dec. 7 and later broadcast on CBS on Dec. 23. The evening offered a fitting tribute to Strait’s decades-long influence, framed not by spectacle, but by respect.
Vince Gill introduced the segment honoring Strait, praising the quiet authenticity that has defined his career. “He gives such a true and genuine view of country music,” Gill said. “Your authenticity is why we call you our King.”
From his seat in the balcony, Strait watched with a soft smile, occasionally wiping away tears as fellow artists honored the songs that shaped both his career and the genre itself. The selections spanned generations, drawing from his 1982 breakthrough album Strait From the Heart through his 2008 release Troubadour, underscoring the remarkable longevity of his catalog.
Brooks & Dunn Open With “Amarillo By Morning”
Brooks & Dunn launched the tribute with a stripped-down rendition of “Amarillo By Morning.” As the familiar melody filled the room, cameras caught Strait visibly misty-eyed.
Though the song was originally released in 1973 by Terry Stafford, it became inseparable from Strait after his 1982 recording turned it into one of the most enduring anthems in country music. Brooks & Dunn’s performance honored that legacy with restraint, letting the song’s quiet resilience speak for itself.
Miranda Lambert Delivers “Run”
Miranda Lambert followed with a powerful yet controlled performance of “Run,” a ballad from Strait’s 2001 album The Road Less Traveled. Her approach was emotional without excess, allowing the vulnerability of the lyrics to take center stage.
Rather than reimagining the song, Lambert treated it with reverence, offering a performance that felt less like a cover and more like a personal bow to an artist who helped define modern country music.
Vince Gill Closes With “Troubadour”
Later in the evening, Vince Gill returned to the stage to perform “Troubadour,” a song that feels increasingly autobiographical with time. The moment carried added significance, as Strait had recently honored Gill with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 59th CMA Awards in November.
Gill’s delivery was warm and deeply felt, his admiration for Strait evident in every line. It was a full-circle moment — one master honoring another, not through words, but through song.
By the end of the tribute, the applause in the hall felt less like celebration and more like gratitude — for the music, the consistency, and the quiet dignity Strait has carried throughout his career.
Congratulations to George Strait and all of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees on a night that honored not just achievement, but legacy.
See some of Brooks & Dunn’s tribute performance below.