George Strait’s upcoming album includes a song by Maceo native Brown that premiered during a recording concert

George Strait, known as the King of Country Music, set a new record for the best-selling concert in U.S. history earlier this week when he performed before 110,905 fans in Texas. While fans mostly sang along to his 50-year discography, he also previewed a new song by Maceo native Marty Brown from Strait’s upcoming album.

Brown said when he wrote the song “To the Moon” in late 2022, he knew it had the potential to be something big. He tried to contact Strait’s team and heard almost immediately that the country icon wanted to pursue the project.

“George talked about how much he loved the song and how much he wanted to capture it, and that they would go and record it,” Brown said.

Strait announced in May that his 30th studio album, “Cowboys and Dreamers,” will be released in September, ending his five-year album hiatus. “To The Moon” is the third track on the album and features Brown’s writing credits.

“He’s the king of country music and I’m just so grateful and proud to thank God for letting me be a part of it. It’s a dream come true,” Brown said.

Brown said the feeling is getting better and better as Strait continues his tour and announces music from the album. Although the song hasn’t been released yet, Strait sang it in front of nearly 111,000 fans at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field – a number that surpassed the Grateful Dead’s 1977 concert, which drew just over 107,000 people.

About halfway through the 32-song set, Strait let the audience know that they were about to hear something new.

“I want to dedicate this to my wife of 52 years,” Strait said as the crowd congratulated him. “It’s called ‘To The Moon.'”

The guitars begin to strum as Strait sings in the song’s live debut, “I like my dog, I like movies, I like the ’60s when everything was cool.” Video of his performance has made its way through social media.

The crowd cheered as Strait ended the song with “and I love you through thick and thin, to the moon above.”

What’s special about it is not the applause of the crowd, but the dedication at the start, said Brown.

“He sang my song ‘To The Moon’ and dedicated it to his wife on stage. I mean, it just doesn’t get any sweeter for a songwriter,” Brown said.

Brown said the song was written over the phone with his friend Steve Clark. The two wanted the chorus to feel “like a plane taking off” as it soars over the crowd. His favorite lyric in the song, however, is the titular phrase that Strait ends the song with.

“That’s my favorite part, through thick and thin. They will always be there no matter what life throws at you. True love will always win,” Brown said.

According to Brown, the song hasn’t changed at all from the writing process to the stage performance to the version on the album.

“Cowboys and Dreamers” is out Sept. 6 and features 13 new songs from Strait. Brown said the release will bring his career full circle and he’s ready to move on to the next goal.

He compared his journey to the journey of music and faith, like that of a horse that follows God and goes where he leads.

“My horse has taken me so many places in my life, and now he’s probably ready to retire and I’m not going to let that happen,” Brown said. “You always have to reach for the stars.”