In a revelation that has left fans reeling, George Strait’s son, Bubba Strait, has spoken out for the first time about a terrifying horseback riding accident that nearly claimed his life. The quiet and often private son of the “King of Country” broke his silence in a heartfelt interview that has shaken the country music community.
“I thought I wasn’t going to live,” Bubba confessed. “In that moment, everything just… stopped.”
The accident occurred earlier this year on the family’s Texas ranch, during what was supposed to be a routine afternoon ride. Bubba, a skilled rider and competitive roper, was thrown violently after his horse was startled by a sudden noise in the pasture. Witnesses say he hit the ground hard and remained motionless for several minutes before help arrived.
“There was a second there,” a close family friend said, “when we all thought we were going to lose him.”
Bubba was airlifted to a local hospital where he remained under observation for several days. Though he sustained multiple injuries, including a concussion and broken ribs, doctors say it’s a miracle he survived without permanent damage.
For George Strait, the experience was almost too much to bear.
“We’ve lost before,” he told a family member privately, referencing the tragic loss of his daughter Jenifer in 1986. “I couldn’t go through that again.”
The family kept the incident quiet—until now. Bubba says he chose to speak out because he wants people to understand how fragile life really is, no matter how strong or prepared you think you are.
“That horse didn’t mean to hurt me,” Bubba said. “But it reminded me how fast things can change. One second I was laughing… the next, I was praying I’d see my wife and kids again.”
The close call has changed his outlook—and, according to those close to him, it’s brought the entire Strait family even closer.
“Dad hasn’t let me out of his sight much lately,” Bubba joked. “But I don’t mind. I’ve never been more grateful for family, for second chances, and for the breath in my lungs.”
Fans around the world have flooded social media with messages of support, relief, and gratitude. Many say they’re moved not only by Bubba’s survival, but by the quiet strength with which he’s shared such a vulnerable moment.
And for George Strait, who has always carried his deepest emotions in his music rather than in words, this chapter may well find its way into a future song—one about resilience, faith, and the blessings we almost lost.
Because sometimes, the stories that break our hearts also remind us just how deeply we’re meant to hold on to one another.