10 Things You Didn’t Know About George Strait

5. His Mother Left Him at a Young Age

George Strait and his brothers were raised by their father, John, after their mother, Doris, left following a divorce. According to CMT, she took Strait's sister with her, and while the notoriously private Strait hasn't opened up much about the details of the split or his relationship with the women in his life, it's clear he is closer to the men. Along with his older brother Buddy (who died in 2009), Strait organized the George Strait Team Roping Classic.

John, Strait's dad, was a mathematics teacher and a farmer. The would-be singer wasn't immersed in country radio as a boy like one might imagine. Instead, the King listened to mostly news and farm reports. It wasn't until his teenager years that he took an interest in music -- first rock, and then country.