On a warm May night in 2024, George Strait stepped onto the stage at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, and asked a question the crowd already loved: “How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls?” The song has always been a fan favorite, but on this night, it hit a little differently. It wasn’t just about cowgirls anymore. It was about resilience, independence and quiet strength. And as Strait smiled into the lights, the audience, men and women alike, lit up with cheers that felt more like gratitude than applause.
The lyrics celebrate women who don’t need saving, who ride their trails, stay true to themselves, and carry their stories with pride. Strait sings with admiration, never pity, tipping his hat to a kind of strength that doesn’t always get center stage. The performance is light in touch but rich in meaning. His voice carries just enough warmth to make it personal. One moment, he’s smiling like a storyteller. Next, there’s absolute awe in his tone like he’s still learning just how tough and tender these women can be.
George Strait – How Bout’ Them Cowgirls/2024/Ames, IA/Jack Trice Stadium
Fans in Ames could feel the love behind every word. Many in the crowd were cowgirls themselves or raised by one, married to one, or wanted to be one. You could see it in their eyes, hear it in the way they sang along. Online, fans called the moment “classic George,” saying the song felt even more meaningful now. The comments are full of pride, memory, and stories of strong women who don’t get nearly enough credit.
But just as the crowd settled into the warmth of that tribute, Strait pulled them into something slower, more profound. In his 2002 performance of Run from the Astrodome, the mood shifts completely. If How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls is about the ones who stay strong, Run is about the ones we hope will come back. The spotlight fades a little. The stage quiets. And his voice? It carries the ache of someone who’s still waiting at the door.
George Strait – Run (Live From The Astrodome)
Run is a song full of longing. It doesn’t beg, it pleads. Strait sings with that familiar steadiness but there’s something raw in it too. “If there’s a plane or a bus, leave your things, I don’t care how you get here, just run.” It’s a love letter wrapped in urgency. In the Astrodome, it echoed through the rafters like a prayer, drawing quiet tears from a crowd that had cheered just minutes before. He’s not chasing her. He’s asking her to choose him. That difference is what makes it sting.
That’s the magic of George Strait. In one show or even one set, he can make you laugh, cheer, remember, and reach for someone you miss. Whether he’s honoring the cowgirls who ride strong or the love that got away, his voice stays steady, honest, and full of heart. Follow George on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube because whether you’re holding on or hoping for one more chance, he’s already written your song.