George Strait Shows Why He’s the King of Country Music: Even His “Underrated” Hits Are Solid Country Gold

George Strait is widely hailed as the King of Country music for a reason. Over the course of his career, he has launched 60 singles to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. More importantly, his traditional country style has helped to influence countless artists over the years.

With so many hit songs, some will naturally fall by the wayside. No. 1 singles like “You Look So Good in Love,” “The Chair,” and “Ocean Front Property” are among his most popular. Then, there’s “Amarillo By Morning” which might be Strait’s most popular song but it peaked at No. 4 on the chart. Those songs get plenty of fan attention. However, some regularly get overlooked. For example, watch him play the underrated hit “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind” below.

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“Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind” is a perfect example of mid-80s country music from Texas. It’s a heartbroken song that sees the narrator sitting in a bar in Fort Worth pining for his ex who has moved on and relocated to Dallas. As he drowns his sorrows, he wonders if Fort Worth—and the good times they had there—ever cross her mind while she’s with her new beau in Dallas.

George Strait Earns an Early Hit with “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind”

Co-written by Whitey and Darlene Shafer, George Strait released “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind” in 1984. It was the lead single and title track from his fourth studio album. The song went to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, giving Strait his sixth No. 1 single. It was also the final No. 1 in a string of five consecutive chart-toppers. It was the only single from the album to reach the top of the chart.

Strait wasn’t the first artist to record the song. Moe Bandy recorded a version of it in 1974. A decade later, Keith Whitley released a version of the song as a single. However, it didn’t make it on his debut album. While he was third in line to cut the song, King George was the only artist to make it a hit.

“I lived in Fort Worth for a long time and it seemed like Fort Worth was always in the shadow of Dallas,” Shafer said of the inspiration behind the song. “I just wanted to do something about the two cities,” he added.

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