This George Strait Show Might Be the Wildest (and Most Unlikely) Concert Ever Scheduled. ML
A Homecoming 25 Years in the Making: George Strait Returns to Clemson’s Memorial Stadium
By Staff Writer – October 21, 2025
For Clemson, South Carolina, Memorial Stadium isn’t just a place for college football legends — it’s also the site of one of the most unforgettable concerts in country music history. And in 2026, that history will come full circle.
Country music icon George Strait is set to return to Death Valley on Saturday, May 2, 2026, for a one-night-only, in-the-round concert that fans have been waiting decades for. The show will also feature Cody Johnson, a rising star in the country world and fellow Texan, along with special guest Wyatt Flores.
The performance marks the first concert at the stadium in over 25 years, and fittingly, Strait was the last to play there in 1999. For many in Clemson, memories of that evening remain vivid — a night when the field was transformed into a sea of cowboy hats and southern pride.
“Going back to Death Valley for the first time in more than 25 years feels pretty special,” Strait said in a brief statement released this week. “Can’t wait to see you, Clemson.”
Hints of the announcement began to spread across social media. Fans noticed Strait posting a retro tour poster, recalling his 1990s George Strait Country Music Festival tour. Soon after, Clemson’s official social accounts dropped a teaser, leading to speculation about a major concert announcement. When Strait and Johnson posted photos of customized Clemson jerseys with their last names, the message was clear — George was coming home.
Tickets will be available starting October 31, 2025, at 10 a.m. ET through Ticketmaster.com. Local officials are preparing for an influx of visitors and expect the event to be one of the largest in the stadium’s history.
Strait’s recent performances have been rare but spectacular. His 2024 concert at Kyle Field in Texas set a record with 110,905 attendees, becoming one of the largest single-ticketed concerts ever held in the United States. In 2025, his five-city mini-tour included stops in some of the country’s largest stadiums, all sold out in record time.
This concert comes as Strait is being recognized at the highest levels. In December, he’ll be honored at the Kennedy Center Honors, and early next year, he will be inducted into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame — accolades that celebrate a career still going strong after more than four decades.
For Clemson — and for country fans across the region — May 2, 2026, will be more than just a concert. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of music, memory, and the return of a legend.
