Watch George Strait “Get Choked Up” as the King of Country Serenades His Wife for Their 50th Anniversary

“I Cross My Heart” was destined to become George Strait’s song. Several artists test drove the ballad, including Bette Midler, before it ultimately landed in the King of Country’s hands in 1992. From there, it soared to No. 1 in the U.S. More than 30 years later, country fans still count the track among Strait’s best. “I Cross My Heart” has likely been the soundtrack to many an engagement or “first dance.” In fact, George Strait himself once employed the track as a grand romantic gesture for his wife, Norma.

George Strait: “So, We Fell In Love”

George Strait and Norma Voss met while students at Pearsall High School, 54 miles south of San Antonio, Texas. The pair eloped after their high school graduation in 1971, tying the knot in Mexico. Next stop: Hawaii, where George was stationed with the U.S. Army.

Norma and George celebrated 50 years of marriage on Dec. 4, 2021. On that day, the “Amarillo By Morning” was headlining a show at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. But he couldn’t let their marriage milestone pass unacknowledged.

“So I was 19 years old. And I knew this girl, Norma,” Strait began in his charming Texas twang. “She was 17, really hot.”

The hitmaker continued over the crowd’s deafening cheers: “So we fell in love,” he said. “We went to Mexico and eloped … 50 years ago today.”

The crowd roared as Strait began singing “I Cross My Heart.” Upon finishing the tune, the country icon grinned broadly and pointed to Norma in the audience.

“Happy anniversary,” he said.

Needless to say, fans loved it. “watching the king of country get choked up about his 50 year wedding anniversary, is heartwarming,” one YouTube user wrote.

At 72, King George Is Still Breaking Records

George Strait is among the best-selling artists of all time. He has more No. 1 hits on all charts than any other artist. Additionally, he holds the record for the most CMA and ACM nominations—and wins.

[RELATED: Watch George Strait Pay Tribute to Johnny Cash With Amazing Cover of “Folsom Prison Blues”]

Last month, the Texas native shattered yet another record when he played before 110,905 fans at Texas A&M University’s Kyle Field in College Station. That performance overtook the Grateful Dead, which jammed before 107,019 attendees during a 1977 show at Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J.

Featured image by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for CMT