George Strait's TROUBADOUR Debuts at #1 on Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums Chart

George Strait's TROUBADOUR Debuts at #1 on Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums Chart

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 9, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- The "King of Country Music's" 37th album, TROUBADOUR, debuted at #1 today on the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart.

This is the third time in Strait's career that a new album has debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the 11th time debuting at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart.

Currently, George Strait has 32 platinum albums (13 of which are multi- platinum). The only recording artists with more RIAA certified platinum albums are The Beatles with 39 and Elvis Presley with 45.

It makes perfect sense that Entertainment Weekly proclaims, "George Strait is the most reliable record-maker and biggest one-man hit factory in any genre of music." In addition, The Dallas Morning News reports, "Few artists, country or otherwise, have remained so consistent for so long. George Strait is a treasured rarity."

With a career that spans more than 25 years, Strait has sold more than 67 million records and counting. He has received more than 50 major entertainment industry awards and countless nominations. In 2006, Strait was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame, one of the few artists to receive such a distinction while still actively recording and producing music.

He is currently nominated for ACM Entertainer of the Year for the 10th time and has the distinct honor of XM Radio dedicating an entire channel to his music during the next two months. "Strait Country" will be available from April 1 through May 31 on XM channel 17 and also available online (http://xmro.xmradio.com/).

Contact:
Kathy Best Regina Stuve
FrontPage Publicity Universal Music Group Nashville
615-383-0412 615-524-7543
Kathy@frontpagepublicity.comregina.stuve@umusic.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: MCA Records

CONTACT: Kathy Best of FrontPage Publicity, +1-615-383-0412,
Kathy@frontpagepublicity.com; or Regina Stuve of Universal Music Group
Nashville, +1-615-524-7543, regina.stuve@umusic.com, both for MCA Records

Web site:

http://www.mercurynashville.com/
http://xmro.xmradio.com/

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