George Strait Once Lost a Gig for Not Being Country Enough

George Strait is known far and wide as the King of Country, and rightfully so. But did you know the iconic entertainer was once fired from a band for not being country enough?

Strait began his career while stationed in Hawaii in the Army in the '70s. While he had initially aspired to be a rocker, his life was turned around by the influence of Merle Haggard. Ironically, though, when Strait auditioned for a male/female country group called the Country Kings and played a set with them, he got canned after the band members decided his heart wasn't really in country music.

Strait went on to a couple of other bands before landing a solo deal with MCA Records in 1981. His first single, 'Unwound,' was a quick success, launching Strait on a career trajectory that would eventually include 60 No. 1 hits -- more than any other artist in country music. He has sold over 100 million albums, making him one of the best-selling all-genre artists in history -- which is enough to make you wonder, how many times have the members of the Country Kings kicked themselves over the years since they rejected Strait?

Check out the latest installment of Taste of Country's You Think You Know Country? series above for even more fascinating details about Strait's life and career.