Perennial best seller George Strait is packing up the tour van again next year to hit the road for a string of recently announced tour dates. Ok, ok, this is George Strait, so “tour van” probably actually means lavishly equipped bus and/or private jet. Still, the 12 dates announced for January and February 2012 will be his first outing supporting his most recent album, Here For a Good Time, which was released last month.

Here For a Good Time, which entered the country chart at number one, is Strait’s 39th studio album. The title track for the album was the first single released and, at number two on the country chart this week, marks Strait’s 73rd Top 5 single, out of 89 singles he has released (84 of those have placed in the top 10). In addition, he’s enjoyed 57 number one hits and Here For a Good Time marks his 24th number one album. With those kinds of numbers, it doesn’t have to be said that tickets for these shows will go fast.

The tour will kick off January 27 in Lafayette, La. and will continue through February 25, also hitting towns in Georgia, Florida, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nevada, Utah and Kansas. Joining Strait on the tour will be Martina McBride, who released her eleventh album—appropriately title Eleven—earlier this week.

Strait released a statement concerning McBride’s presence on the tour:

“I love Martina. She’s been on our tours before and she’s great. I’m really looking forward to the tour. Martina will definitely make it a special night.”

In addition to those dates, Strait also will be playing a benefit for victims of the wildfires that swept through central Texas this summer. The show will be held October 17 in Austin, and other performers will include Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett and the Dixie Chicks.

George Strait, with his new album scheduled to be released early next week to stores, is preparing to take to the road. Strait announced he will start to tour in January 2012. However, he didn’t reveal any specific dates or cities. He did however announce that Martina McBride will be opening for him.

In his press release, Strait said, I love Martina. She has toured with us before. She is great. I really am looking forward to this tour. The night will definitely be special with Martina there.

This fall, McBride is also releasing a new album. On October 11, “Eleven” will be available, featuring “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” and “Teenage Daughters.”

“Here For a Good Time,” the 39th album from Strait, will be available on September 6. The featured title track is “A Showman’s Life,” a duet Strait sings along with Faith Hill. The set contains seven songs co-wrote by Strait. It is Strait’s most personal album from him in a long time according to the early reviews. Strait will be releasing a new greatest hits compilation on September 13.

Country Music’s King won’t be turning his crown in anytime soon. It has just been announced that George Strait will be releasing “Here for a Good Time,” his 39th album, on September 6. In addition he will support his new set with a tour that will stretch into 2012. On this forthcoming album Strait co-wrote more of the songs than he has on any of his previous albums. Out of the eleven tracks on the album, seven of them give songwriting credit to the country icon, along with Bubba, his son, and Dean Dillon, the famed songwriter. The same three wrote “Living for the Night,” Strait’s 2009 hit single.

Strait was also a co-producer on the album, along with Tony Brown, the legendary producer. The two longtime friends made their return to Key West, FL to record the tracks for “Here for a Good Time” at Shrimpboat Sound Studio, owned by Jimmy Buffett. It is the same studio that the last three George Strait albums have been recorded.

A pre-order package is already available at GeorgeStrait.com. The package includes the album, poster, t-shirt, and a “Here for a Good Time” instant download. The title track is the second highest debut for the country legend on the singles chart. Current it is in the No. 16 spot after eight weeks.

According to Pollstar, North America’s highest grossing country tour for 2010 was George Strait.  He was also the 14th highest overall, unless the Eagles are considered to be country.

In 2010 the Eagles grossed $64.5 million, making their tour the fifth largest gross for North America.  The Eagles also were only one of the 5 tours whose average ticket price was over $100, with Eagles tickets costing an average of $105.53 apiece.  The Eagles sold 611,2000 tickets for 42 shows.

George Strait toured with Lee Ann Womack and Reba McEntire.  For 31 shows they grossed $41.6 million and the average ticket price for the shows was $84.30 with a total of 493,475 tickets sold.

Brad Paisley came in 15 place, grossing $40.7 million over 65 shows.  Tim McGraw grossed $39.1 million over 65 shows.  Paisley sold a total of 879,558 tickets, while McGraw sold just 46,000 less than Paisley.

In 18th place was Carrie Underwood, who sold 778,930 tickets and grossed $38.3 million.  Taylor Swift was in 19th place, selling 556,331 tickets over 39 shows and grossed $34.2 million.  Rascal Flatts was No. 22 with a gross of $28.4 million, Brooks & Dunn was No. 27 with a gross of $25.7 million, Toby Keith grossed $25.5 million for 28th place and Sugarland was No. 38 with a gross of $19 million.

Once again the Queen and King of Country Music are set to hit the road together in 2011.

Starting in January, Reba McEntire and George Strait will be picking up right where they left their co-headlining tour.  Lee Ann Womack will open their trek of 18 cities.

Reba and George late last year gave their fans a huge surprise with their announcement that they would share the stage together in 2010 again for the very first time in many years.  Their tour was a huge success, with sell outs from coast to coast in many of the large markets.

The next leg for the Lee Ann, Reba and George tour will kick off in Austin, TX on January 14 and wrap up in Louisville, KY on April 9.

Fans who don’t want to wait until January on November 10 will be able to see Reba and George on ABC for the CMA 44th Annual Awards show.  King George is a Male Vocalist of the Year nominee for the 24th time.  His set “Twang” has been nominated in the category Album of the Year.  Once again Reba has been nominated as Female Vocalist of the Year by CMA.  The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on ABC from Nashville beginning at 8 pm ET.

2011 George Strait & Reba McEntire Concert Tour
January 2011
14 – Austin, TX – Frank Erwin Center
15 – Oklahoma City, OK – Ford Center
27 – Tallahassee, FL – Leon City Civic Center
28 – Jacksonville, FL – Veterans Memorial Arena
29 – Tampa, FL – St. Pete Times Forum

February 2011
4 – Fresno, CA – SaveMart Center
5 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
17 – Indianapolis, IN – Conseco Fieldhouse
18 – Cleveland, OH – Quickens Loan Arena
19 – Auburn Hills, MI – The Palace

March 2011
4 – Cincinnati, OH – US Bank Arena
5 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
25 – Lubbock, TX – United Spirit Arena
26 – Las Cruces, NM – Pan American Center

April 2011
1 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
2 – Salt Lake City, UT – Energy Solutions Arena
8 – Columbia, MO – Mizzou Arena
9 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Arena

Katrina Elam has signed on to play the role of “Bobbie” in the sequel to the 1992 film “Pure Country”, aptly titled “Pure Country 2: The Gift”.  George Strait, who was featured in the 1992 original portraying the role of country musician “Dusty Chandler”, will also be in the sequel, as seen in the movie’s trailer.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, “The Gift” chronicles the story of Bobbie and the three angels who gifted her with a magnificent singing voice, a voice that propelled her to stardom and fortune but also made her “break[s] some of the angels’ rules, so they take away her big voice”, as Chris Cain, screenplay writer and director of the film, puts it.  Cain co-wrote the script with his son Dean Cain who is also featured in the film.

Several scenes from the film were already shot including a concert scene which was shot at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville.  As mentioned, a trailer for the film is already out as well as a release date, which is scheduled to hit theaters on October 15.  A soundtrack, which is yet to have a release date, is also in the works and features music by Steve Dorff whose daughter, Kaitlyn, will also star in the said sequel as the young Bobbie.

George Strait, with tickets going on sale on Saturday July 23 for his tour this fall, is preparing for another round of dates along with Lee Ann Womack and Reba McEntire backing last year’s album “Twang.”

Strait, who has spent the last few months touring the nation’s western half, will kick off a run of 11 cities in Columbus, OH on September 9.  The trek is currently scheduled to end in Fargo, ND on October 22.

Tickets for opening night of the tour will go on sale via Ticketmaster on Saturday July 23.  In upcoming weeks ticket will also be going on sale for the other dates.

According to Pollstar, the first leg on the Strait/McEntire tour brought in $29.8 million, which made it the fifth best grossing tour for 2010′s first half.

Strait is continuing to support “Twang,” his chart topping 26th album, which was released to stores last summer.  The performer earlier this month released the album’s latest single, “The Breath You Take,” which was his 91st career single.

McEntire is touring ahead of her upcoming new album,.  It will become available on November 9.  The set has yet to be named, but will be a followup to “Keep On Loving You,” released last year.  Her new single is “Turn on the Radio.”

The entertainment industry, due to poor economic conditions, is feeling lots of stress and strain.  Major tours and former billable headliners have experienced declining tickets sales and had to cancel tour dates.

The Eagles (with Keith Urban and Dixie Chicks), Rihanna and Lilith Fair are among the artists and tours that have had to cancel because of poor ticket sales.

There are however, despite a gigantic 17 percent decline this year in ticket sales, a few Country artists that have managed to still make it to the top of Pollstar’s 2010 tours list.

The list was headed by Bon Jovi.  Their concerts have brought in almost $53 million.  The tour of Carole King’s brought in $41 million at No. 2.  Taylor Swift was at No. 3 with $34 million.  Paul McCartney, the former Beatle, held down the No. 4 spot bringing in over $31 million.  The top five was rounded out by the George Strait and Reba McEntire tour which brought in nearly $30 million.

With one tour complete and another one still in progress, Braid Paisley is No. 16  for his completed tour “American Saturday Night” and the currently in progress tour “H20.”

In recent years country music has continued to increase in popularity.  Some of the Country Music artists who have best selling tour acts over the last decade include Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney.

Swift is taking a break of several months from the road to work on a new album.  However McEntire and Strait (with Lee Ann Womack as the opener) will stay out on the road through this fall.

George Strait is Billboard’s No. 1 ranked artist on their top 25 list for country music artists from the last 25 years.

The list headed by Strait includes Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and Garth Brooks in the top 5. Billboard compiled the list to celebrate country music’s big week with the CMT Music Awards and Billboard’s Country Summit. They combed the Top Country Albums and Billboard Hot Country Songs charts to come up with a ranking of the top 25 country music artists from the past 25 years, from 1985 to 2010.

Strait is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and holds several Billboard all-time records. He has had 44 No. 1 hits on the Hot Country Songs chart. It is the most from any artist over the 64 year history of the chart. In September 2006 Strait became number one when his single “Give It Away” hit No. 1, becoming his 41st overall, moving Conway Twitty, previous record holder, into the No. 2 spot. Strait has also had 82 singles in the top 10. He is in second place behind Eddy Arnold who had 92 top 10 hits. Strait is the only musician in Billboard history to have top 10 singles thirty years in a row (1981-2010).

Billboard’s ranking for Top Country Artists 1985-2010 was based on actual performances on the charts Top Country Albums and Hot Country Songs for the time period of January 5, 1985 to May 29, 2010. The inverse point system used to rank the artists gives greater weight to weeks spent at No. 1, while weeks on the lower part of the chart earn less value.

This fall, George Strait will be performing a run of concerts, including 11 visits across the U.S along with some of the top stars of country music.

Lee Ann Womack and Reba McEntire will be joining Strait during his first show. The concert will be held in Columbus, Ohio on September 9.

The tour will have shows in Minnesota, New York, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee before wrapping up on October 22 at Fargo, North Dakota.

Strait will also re-release the DVD “George Strait Live,” which includes 1980s concert footage. The DVD also captures Strait performing with Ace in the Hole Band at Dallas Reunion Arena in 1986 on New Year’s eve.

Bonus special music videos are also featured on the DVD, including “Living for the Night,” “She’ll Leave You With a Smile,” “Check Yes or No,” “The Chair” and “Amarillo by Morning.”

The “George Strait Live” DVD is be sold exclusively through Wal-Mart. It will become available on June 15.