All eyes were on George Strait as he took the stage at the 2024 CMA Awards to accept the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Following a series of tribute performances from stars like Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, Strait shared a series of shoutouts to his fans, friends and loved ones, including Norma Strait, his wife of more than 50 years.

“I want to thank the CMAs for adding my name to the incredible artists on the small list of recipients who bear the name of icon Willie Nelson,” Strait, 72, said. “I want to thank all these amazing artists who have performed some of my songs that I’ve recorded over the years. It’s great to hear you all do them. I’m so glad I got them before you did. ”

Strait then thanked his family in the audience, namely his wife, son Bubba, 43, daughter-in-law Tamara and grandchildren Jilliann, 8, and Harvey, 12.

“So great to have you all here,” he said. “But especially Norma, who supported me for almost 53 years in December. It has also been a wonderful 53 years.”

Elsewhere in his speech, Strait thanked Jesus, his fans, record label and band, and also expressed gratitude to the deceased members of his inner circle, including Erv Woolsey, who managed the star for nearly 50 years and died in March, his old way . manager Tom Foote, who died in April, and his violinist Gene Elders, who also died in March.

Before his speech, Strait was honored with a series of performances from some of the country’s biggest stars. Lainey Wilson kicked off with “Amarillo By Morning,” and Jamey Johnson followed with “Give It Away.”

Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum next teamed up for “Troubadour,” and Strait eventually came out to perform “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” with Chris Stapleton.

“Cheers, brother!” Strait said after the performance.

The recognition comes after a hugely successful career for the singer, who has been dubbed the ‘King of Country’.

In the four decades since his debut album in 1981, he has released more than 30 platinum or multi-platinum records. He has also produced 60 No. 1 singles and is the only artist in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for more than 30 years. In 2024 he released his 31st studio album, Cowboys and dreamers.

This year, Strait also broke a record for the largest ticketed concert in American history, with more than 110,000 in attendance at his show in College Station, Texas, surpassing the Grateful Dead’s long-standing title streak with more than 107,000 attendees during a 1977 show in New Jersey. .

During that time, Strait has received a number of accolades, including 16 Grammy Award nominations and one win for Best Country Album of 2008. Troubadour. He also has a number of CMA awards, including 17 wins and 83 nominations, making him the most nominated artist in the awards’ history. Among his wins, the singer was named Entertainer of the Year three times, in 1989, 1990 and 2013.

Wednesday’s lifetime honor comes a week after it was first revealed that Strait would be the latest artist to receive the award, which was first introduced in 2012 and has since been presented to Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015 ), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Charley Pride (2020), Loretta Lynn (2021) and Alan Jackson (2022).

See all of PEOPLE’s full CMA Awards coverage here.

“There have been few other artists as authentically Texas and authentically country as George Strait, and country music fans around the world have been better for it,” Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement at the time.

She added: “As a three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year and the most nominated artist of all time, he serves as an inspiration and icon for many of the great new artists we know today. I’m thrilled we’re rewarding him with this honor is deserved.”

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The 58th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC on Wednesday, November 20 from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The show will stream on Hulu the next day.