Las Vegas Weekly

April 7, 2009 · 11:47 AM

Photo Galleries: George Strait is now the official King of Country

By Robin Leach

Garth Brooks.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

It was a long night of celebration -- and television taping -- when George Strait became the official King of Country as the Academy of Country Music saluted him as Artist of the Decade.

George became only the fifth star in country music to be honored with the award -- and the first to have the success recognized with his own television special. George joins the elite ranks of country music alongside Marty Robbins, Loretta Lynn, Alabama and Garth Brooks.

The salute was recorded last night at MGM Grand Garden Arena and will be broadcast on CBS on May 27. Click HERE for our story about the King of Country yesterday.

Photographers, including our contributing photographer Erik Kabik, waited five hours in the pressroom during the taping for the come-and-go visits by only seven of the many stars who performed George's 25-year string of hits for the telecast.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Montgomery Gentry.

The stars in the photo zone were Garth Brooks, Montgomery Gentry, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Jack Ingram and Jamey Johnson, who proudly showed off his autographed Epiphone guitar that George had signed backstage.

Joe Nichols and Jonathan Singleton & the Grove

It’s not just superstars who catch the camera eye of our contributing photographers. The journey to stardom is long, winding and both arduous and curious.

Universal Records decided yesterday, right after Sunday night’s Academy of Country Music Awards, also at MGM Grand Garden Arena, to kick-start the careers of Joe Nichols and Jonathan Singleton & the Grove.

Both have released new singles this week and are tipped by experts to go right to the top of the charts. Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was invited by Universal to chronicle the launch party.

Jonathan Singleton & the Grove released “Livin’ in Paradise,” and Jonathan said: “At the time when we were writing this song, my wife and I were pretty broke. This song basically says that it’s not the big things, it’s the little things that keep you going, that make your paradise.”

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Joe Nichols.

Joe Nichols, whose “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” is his biggest and most recognized hit to date, just released his new single “Believers,” and Joe said: “This song is about passion. When people have passion about something, the sky’s the limit. It’s also about believing in something bigger than what’s right in front of you.”

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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