Legend’s farewell tour rolls into NM

He’s the only artist who has had 85 out of 90 radio singles make it to the Top 10 and 24 albums at the No. 1 position on Billboard’s Country Music Album Chart.

He’s also the only artist in music history to achieve at least one Top 10 hit each year during his 30-year career. And he’s been crowned as country music royalty – as his name is enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Yet with all the accolades, Strait is still a humble man. The 60-year-old country legend has embarked on the trip of a lifetime with his “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour.” The sold-out tour began in Lubbock, Texas, on Jan. 18 and will run through 2014. It marks the singer’s retirement from touring.

“This has been a very special and emotional tour for me,” Strait says during a recent interview. “Everywhere we’re going and have been, holds fond memories and I’m looking forward to paying my respects.”

Strait’s current tour offers fans a final opportunity to take in his live show with the many hits throughout his career. The tour is also named after his 1985 hit.

“This is the song we’ve closed our show with for years,” he explains. “I’ve done a lot of neat things in my career. I’ve played this song for so many people and it has a lot of significance.”

Strait decided to do a farewell tour after hitting 60 last May.

“I always had it in the back of my mind that when I turned 60, it would be time to start thinking about it,” he says. “But I’ll have two years on tour to think about it and maybe not give up touring.”

While his touring days are numbered, Strait stresses that he isn’t retiring as long as Mike Dungan, the head of his record label, Universal Music Group, wants him to record, he has no plans to stop making new music.

	George Strait With Martina McBride WHEN: 7:30 tonight WHERE: The Pit, 1111 University SE HOW MUCH: Sold out

In fact, his new album, “Love is Everything,” will be released May 14. Last year, he retreated to Nashville, Tenn., to work on the album.

“It’s been the longest time between recording projects since 1981,” he says. “I was anxious to get back into the studio.”

With 59 No. 1 hits to his credit thus far, he may have a hard time deciding what to do during his final concerts, but once the tour is over, he has a few ideas with regard to what will fill his days.

“I have a new grandson so we’ll certainly be spending a lot of time with him,” he says. “I’ll try and steal him away from his parents, maybe take him fishing.”

Strait also will perform a sold-out show at the Pan American Center on New Mexico State University’s campus at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6.