Back in the 1970s, it was not uncommon to marry your high-school sweetheart. However, when a marriage is constantly in the spotlight for nearly fifty years, enduring hardships can undoubtedly strain it if it lacks true and unconditional love.
Fortunately, George Strait and his wife Norma have never ceased to love each other, whether they were experiencing their happiest moments or enduring their worst nightmares. George and Norma, who are around the same age and hail from the same town, spent a lot of time together as children. However, they never imagined a romantic connection between them.
As the King of Country Music once revealed in an interview with Houston radio station 100.3 The Bull, they went on a date but then spent a considerable amount of time apart. It was during this period that George realized he might be losing something precious, prompting him to make an effort to win Norma’s heart once again. In fact, the renowned singer openly admitted that she was the first woman he ever loved.
In 1971, the couple eloped to Mexico before getting married in a small church ceremony in Pearsall, Texas, just before George enlisted in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Hawaii. In October 1972, their daughter, Jennifer, was born, followed by their son, Bubba, nine years later.
Tragically, their cherished daughter passed away a few months before her 14th birthday in a devastating car accident. While this loss could have torn the family apart, their love was so profound that it provided them with support and strength to carry on. Their son grew up to become a country songwriter and rodeo cowboy, pursuing his passion in college.
Throughout their marriage, the couple has endured losses and heartbreaks, but the idea of giving up has never crossed their minds. They have consistently been there for each other. Norma was a stay-at-home mom until their son left for college, but since then, she has accompanied her husband on his tours. “We do almost everything together… We love each other, and we still genuinely enjoy each other’s company,” Strait revealed in an interview with PEOPLE in 2012.
Last year, the couple celebrated their 50th anniversary, and during a performance at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, the country singer decided to serenade his wife on stage. As the lyrics of the song go, “Our love is unconditional, we knew it from the start. I see it in your eyes; you can feel it from my heart.” Every word seems to carry genuine meaning as Strait pours his heart out.
The crowd erupts in applause and cheers for him and his wife, with one audience member audibly expressing, “I’ll cry,” in the video clip. Truly, their love and unwavering commitment to each other is the kind that can bring tears to your eyes. One comment below the video aptly states, “For a celebrity couple to reach a golden anniversary is monumental. That rarely happens.”
