George Strait Celebrated in Star-Studded Show

A who's-who list of country's brightest stars spent an extra night in Las Vegas after the ACM Awards to pay tribute to a legend. ACM Artist of the Decade winner George Strait was honored with a special concert in Sin City.

Pictured above with Strait are Taylor Swift, Eddie Montgomery, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Troy Gentry, Ronnie Dunn, Jack Ingram, Lee Ann Womack, Kix Brooks, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, all of whom sang classic Strait songs during the special show.

Garth Brooks, the last recipient of the ACM's Artist of the Decade award, presented Strait with the trophy. Brooks says it was Strait's song, 'Unwound,' that inspired him to chase his own country music dreams.

"From that very second I knew what I wanted to be," Brooks said of hearing 'Unwound' for the first time. "It was so easy and it didn't seem that far away. I wanted to be George Strait."

Strait is one of only five musicians to receive the ACM Artist of the Decade distinction. He follows Marty Robbins (1960s), Loretta Lynn (1970s), Alabama (1980s and Brooks (1990s). Performing at Monday's special show, Strait was visibly touched by the honor.

"It's almost like this was a farewell deal, but I ain't ready to go yet," he joked with the crowd before closing the show with a fitting song for the occasion, 'Troubadour.'

The ACM Artist of the Decade salute to George Strait was taped to air on CBS on May 27.