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Learn More About The Woman Who’s Been Married To “The King Of Country” For 53 Years

Every king needs his queen, and “The King of Country” has his. George Strait’s wife, Norma, has stood by his side for the past 53 years.

Whether facing tragedies or triumphs, George and Norma have leaned on each other through it all.

Rick Diamond / ACMA2014 / Contributor / Getty Images

Keep reading for their extraordinary love story, and to learn more about Norma herself.

George Strait’s Wife, Norma, Is His High School Sweetheart

George and Norma met while they were still in school. The two high school sweethearts dated off and on for a few years before they decided to tie the knot.

They eloped, and married in Mexico on December 4, 1971. They later had a small ceremony in their hometown in Texas.

Shortly after they married, George enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Hawaii. George discovered his love for music during his time in the service. He started playing with a band called Rambling Country, and even got the chance to perform off base.

George received an honorable discharge from the Army in 1975, and he and Norma moved back to Texas. He enrolled at Southwest Texas State University and continued playing music.

After releasing a few independent singles, his debut major label single, “Unwound,” dropped in 1981. It immediately set George on the map in the country music world.

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George shares two children with Norma. They welcomed their daughter, Jenifer Lynn Strait, in 1972, the year after they married. They welcomed their son, George “Bubba” Strait Jr. in 1981.

Sadly, Jenifer was killed in a car accident in 1986 at the age of 13. The loss of their beautiful daughter left George and Norma devastated.

The couple rarely speaks about Jenifer’s death publicly. But in 2012, George briefly shared his heartbreak in an interview with PEOPLE, telling them:

“We were blessed to have been able to spend 13 years with our beautiful daughter Jenifer.”

George Strait / Instagram

Bubba grew up to become a rodeo competitor and country songwriter. In recent years, he collaborated with his dad on some of his songs.

“Bubba really got me back into writing. That’s been a great experience for me, to be able to watch him grow and blossom as a songwriter,” George told PEOPLE during his 2012 interview.

Bubba and his wife, Tamara, share two children, Harvey and Jillian. They welcomed Harvey in 2012 and Jillian in 2016.

George Feels Incredibly “Blessed” To Have Norma In His Life

While George doesn’t often talk about his personal life, he never shies away from sharing his love for Norma. In is 2012 interview with PEOPLE, he said:

“Norma and I are so blessed that we found each other … and were able to do all of this together, experience this life together, to support each other through everything, good times and bad. We do almost everything together. She stayed home until Bubba got out of high school and went to college, but since then she’s come on the road with me too. We love each other and we still like each other. A lot!“

Although she prefers to live her life out of the spotlight, Norma has continually shown her support for George over the years. She’s attended awards shows, watched his concerts, and even made an appearance in his music video for “Código.” They smiled and danced together for a brief moment near the end of the clip.

George and Norma celebrated their 52nd anniversary in December 2023. Two years prior, George performed in Las Vegas on his and Norma’s 50th anniversary. She was in the audience, so he dedicated his performance of “I Cross My Heart” to her in honor of their anniversary. Watch that romantic moment below.

May George and Norma Strait enjoy many more years together…