All My Ex's Live in Texas

"All My Ex's Live in Texas" is a classic country song recorded by George Strait, released on April 10, 1987 as the second single from his album Ocean Front Property. The track was written by Sanger D. Shafer and Lyndia J. Shafer, a husband-and-wife team whose own marital history adds a layer of irony to the song's theme of fleeing multiple ex-girlfriends. Produced by Jimmy Bowen and Strait himself, the song blends Western swing and honky-tonk with a lively fiddle and pedal steel guitar, creating an upbeat traditional country sound.

The lyrics tell the story of a narrator who lists four ex-girlfriends by name and location across Texas, Rosanna in Texarkana, Eileen in Abilene, Allison in Galveston, and Dimples in Temple, and explains that he now lives in Tennessee to avoid them. The famous line "All my exes live in Texas / And that's why I hang my hat in Tennessee" became instantly recognizable. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart on July 11, 1987, holding the top spot for one week, and also topped the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. It was Strait's eleventh number-one hit and the second of three consecutive chart-toppers from the Ocean Front Property album.

The song earned Strait his first Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in 1988. In 2025, it was certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over one million units. The track has been covered by several artists, including Kacey Musgraves, who recorded a version titled "All My Exes (Kacey's Version)," and a live performance from Strait's 2014 farewell tour featured an all-star lineup of country stars. The song remains a fan favorite and a staple of Strait's catalog, celebrated for its witty storytelling and polished delivery. [edit]