George Strait is a country music icon that has achieved legendary status through his many hits and a career spanning decades. Behind the scenes, however, a tragic personal event occurred that would shape the remainder of his life forever. On June 25, 1986, just before midnight in San Marcos, Texas, Jenifer Lyn Strait died in a car accident that would alter the family’s lives forever.

Shortly after her death, the family created the Jenifer Lynn Strait Foundation and still makes charitable donations to children today. The foundation also hosts an annual memorial concert in Jenifer’s honor which is held at the Cheatham Street Warehouse in downtown San Antonio.

Following the tragedy, George Strait began to reduce the number of interviews he gave and focused solely on his work. He continued to release number-one albums throughout the 1980s including Right or Wrong, Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind, and Something Special.

Many of these songs include lyrics about lost loved ones. The song Baby Blue, released in 1988, is often thought of as a dedication to Jenifer due to the mention of her piercing blue eyes.

After the death of his daughter, Bubba Strait grew up to become a professional rodeo competitor and has collaborated with his father on co-writing songs. His dedication to both his rodeo and musical career has exemplified the hard working attitude and talent that runs in the family. He is married to Tamara and they have two children, George Harvey Strait III and Jilliann Louise Strait.