• May 25, 2009
• Vol. 71
• No. 20

George Strait Country's All-Star Salute

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From PEOPLE Magazine

How do you get this many Nashville stars in a room? Two words: George Strait. Backstage at the Academy of Country Music's Artist of the Decade concert in Strait's honor (airing May 27 on CBS), the celebs posed for this photo and talked George. "He's one of my heroes," says Tim McGraw. Adds Keith Urban: "No one's been recording as long as George, and he's still kicking our ass!"

Called the King of Country, Strait (center, in black hat) was surrounded by 21 loyal subjects—plus fan and fellow singer Jamie Foxx—for this exclusive tribute photo taken on April 6 in Las Vegas. Front row, left to right: Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Jack Ingram, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and John Rich. Middle row, left to right: Dierks Bentley, Jamey Johnson, Alan Jackson, Lee Ann Womack, Strait, Foxx, LeAnn Rimes, Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Toby Keith. Back row, left to right: Eddie Montgomery, Troy Gentry, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush.

For more fun details from this shoot, check out People's Country Special on stands now!