George Strait Heart Attack: Did the Country Icon Have a Heart Attack After Losing 3 Close Music Family Members in 39 Days?
We don’t know where this came from, but a couple of rumors started flying around mentioning that George Strait had a heart attack.
Sure, the man is 72 years old (as of 2024) and his heart may not be as strong as it was in his youth. However, there are no credible sources discussing that he had a heart attack.
The only source we could find mentioned vaguely that he was hospitalized. The rest of the source just instructed us about heart attack symptoms and such, so it was clearly generic.
That being said, George Strait did suffer “heartbreaking news” recently, and we’re sure that’s what whoever spread the rumors of the heart attack used to twist up a rumor.
Let’s just get to it, shall we?
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George Strait: Fine Physically, But Not Mentally
The good news is that he is physically fine. George Strait, hailed as the ‘King of Country Music,’ boasts 44 Billboard number-one hits—more than any other artist in history. He also ranks third in gold and platinum records, trailing only Elvis Presley and The Beatles. However, he’s surely suffering because the heartbreaking news we mentioned earlier was quite recent.
You may have guessed it already: people who are close to him passed away. They’re not exactly his family members, but he does consider them part of his “music family.”
Allow us to elaborate.
Image source: Google
On March 20, 2024, Strait lost two of the most important people in his life: Erv Woolsey, his longtime manager of 45 years, and Gene Elders, the fiddle and mandolin player for his band, Ace in the Hole.
Erv Woolsey, born in 1944, discovered George Strait and helped him rise to country music stardom. Woolsey worked at ABC and MCA Records before managing Strait full-time. He passed away on March 20, 2024, at age 80, after nearly 50 years together.
Since 1984, Gene Elders has played the violin and mandolin in Strait’s band. Strait shared on social media that his Ace in the Hole Band violinist passed away just hours after longtime agent Erv Woolsey, with whom he worked for 45 years.
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We all know that death comes suddenly, but Strait had the difficulty meter scaled up a little, as both men passed away on the same day.
It didn’t stop there, unfortunately. Just over a month later, on April 29, 2024, Strait faced yet another devastating blow with the death of Tom Foote, his longtime tour manager.
Tom Foote, who played a key role in hiring George Strait as Stoney Ridge’s lead singer in 1975, was Strait’s drummer until 1983 and later became the band’s tour manager. Fute felt uncomfortable during a rehearsal and was later found dead. The cause of death has not yet been announced.
Foote had been with Strait for nearly 48 years and was not only a key figure in managing his tours but also a close friend with whom he shared countless memories.
Image source: Facebook
To be honest, this tragic coincidence is, in essence, a heart attack, just not what it’s rumored to be like.
In Conclusion
The good news is that George Strait didn’t suffer a physical heart attack, not one that’s publicly disclosed at least. The bad news is that he lost three people he cherished within 39 days.
It’s bittersweet, honestly. The death of a loved one is something you just can’t get used to, but it is how life goes.
Featured image source: Google
