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Recently, a rumor surfaced that country music singer, songwriter, and record producer George Strait contributed millions of dollars to flood relief efforts in Texas. The artist’s fan page on Facebook, called Country Heartstrings, claimed in a July 7 post.
“As Texas faced a devastating flood disaster that caused heavy damage and claimed at least 51 lives — including 15 children — a legendary name in country music managed to warm people’s hearts,” the caption read.
It continued, “George Strait, a man known for his private, quiet demeanor, surprised everyone by donating $3.5 million to support the victims and the families of those still missing in this horrific flood. But he didn’t stop there — what George Strait did next left fans both astonished and deeply moved.”
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The post was accompanied by a collage of George Strait’s image alongside those from the flood sites. It garnered severe traction and amassed over 149,000 views within 24 hours.
However, the now-viral claim is fake as George Strait did not donate $3.5 million to Texas flood victims. There is no credible source or evidence to support the rumor shared by Country Heartstrings. Furthermore, the fact-checking website Snopes debunked the claim.
The outlet reached out to the musician’s publicists, and Strait’s representative shared via email: "We have not stated aid as we're still determining how best to support the community."
Other Facebook profiles, such as Eden Lynn and KWVH 94.3 Wimberly Valley Radio, also shared similar fabricated posts about George Strait.
George Strait did not announce any donation to Texas flood relief efforts
The Country Heartstrings Facebook post about George Strait was accompanied by a link to an external site that directed to a blog post called pollywebart.com, published under the 7MEDIA banner. Published on July 6, it was headlined, “George Strait Steps Up Amid Texas Flood Tragedy — and His Next Move Leaves Fans in Awe.”
The article read in part,
“As Texas reeled from one of the deadliest flood disasters in its history — leaving at least 51 people dead, including 15 children, and causing catastrophic damage to homes and communities — a familiar name quietly stepped forward to offer hope.”
It added, “In the wake of the tragedy, country music legend George Strait, long known for his humility and guarded personal life, made a rare public gesture of solidarity. The King of Country donated a staggering $3.5 million to aid flood victims and help families still searching for loved ones swept away in the torrents.”
The blog post further mentioned that Strait’s team confirmed on July 4 that he “personally pledged $3.5 million to support immediate relief efforts, including search and rescue operations, temporary housing, food programs, and counseling services for grieving families.”
The pollywebart.com article claimed George Strait made a statement through his publicist, saying he wanted to help Texas and its people. But Snopes confirmed this isn’t true—there’s no evidence he made a donation or was involved in any relief efforts.
Snopes also checked search engines and found no reliable information to support the claim. Despite what the blog said, there are no credible reports of Strait showing up in person to help with rescue or recovery efforts.
It is noteworthy that the Troubadour crooner has a history of philanthropy. For instance, he has a nonprofit called the Jenifer Strait Memorial Foundation in memory of his late daughter, who helped during the relief efforts of Hurricane Harvey in his home state in August 2017.
Another fact-checking site, Lead Stories, and the local outlet mysanantonio.com also dismissed the rumor. They labeled it as “fake news,” seemingly meant for virality and sensationalism. Similar rumors about Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Jelly Roll have also circulated online and must be debunked.
According to Snopes, so far, the NFL has announced a $1.5 million donation for those affected by the Texas flood. The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans have also contributed half a million dollars each.
Torrential rains led to devastating flash floods in central Texas on July 4. Over a hundred fatalities have been reported, while several others remain missing. Some of the worst-affected areas include Kerr County, Travis County, Burnet County, Williamson County, Kendall County, and Tom Green County, according to BBC reports.
President Donald Trump has activated the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has launched many relief efforts with the help of 20 state agencies, as reported by CNN.
