George Strait is teaming up with Chris Stapleton for several unforgettable stadium shows in 2023. The two will combine their talents for six shows, beginning on May 6 in Glendale, Arizona. Little Big Town will serve as the opening act.
“It just felt right,” Strait tells Billboard of the tour dates. “I had the opportunity to work with Chris and Little Big Town and everything just kind of fell in place for next year. I don’t do that many shows anymore, so if we can do a stadium where we can play for more people, that works for me.”
After more than three decades of nearly nonstop touring, in 2012, Strait announced he was retiring largely from the road. In recent years, Strait has been performing regularly at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, performing only sporadically in other venues. But while he doesn’t tour as much as he used to, the 70-year-old says his favorite place to be remains on the stage.
“By the time showtime arrives every night, I’m usually tired of waiting and chomping at the bit to go,” Strait says. “’When I walk through those curtains and see those smiling faces, my feet don’t touch the ground again till I walk back out and get on that bus that got me here’ — that’s from a song I wrote called ‘I’ll Always Remember You.’ It’s a true statement.”
Strait, whose last album, Honky Tonk Time Machine, was released in 2019, hints he might soon have new music as well.
“We could possibly have something new by then,” he teases. “It’s been a while for me and I’m definitely getting the itch.”
As for Stapleton, who has no problem filling stadiums and large arenas on his own, the chance to tour with the King of Country Music was an easy one for him.
“I love doing these shows with George about as much as I like doing anything,” Stapleton says. “There’s nothing to compare it to. So many of his songs are in the ethos of what country music is. Playing these shows together is a great experience all the way around.”
Tickets will be available on Friday, November 4, at 10:00 AM local time, at GeorgeStrait.com.
George Strait w/ Chris Stapleton & special guests Little Big Town 2023 Stadium Shows:
May 6 Glendale, Ariz. || State Farm Stadium
June 3 Milwaukee, Wisc. || American Family Field
June 17 Seattle, Wash. || Lumen Field
June 24 Denver, Colo. || Empower Field at Mile High Stadium
July 29 Nashville, Tenn. || Nissan Stadium
Aug. 5 Tampa, Fla. || Raymond James Stadium