Intrudoction
“I Believe” originally appeared on George Strait’s 2013 album Love Is Everything, released as its second single on July 15, 2013. Co-written by Strait, his son Bubba, and veteran songwriter Dean Dillon, the song is a poignant, faith-infused reflection inspired in part by the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy—a powerful expression of hope in the face of despair .
Dillon’s trust in the song’s sincerity eventually persuaded Strait to include it on the album, despite initial hesitations about how it might be received. Critics responded warmly: Taste of Country rated it 4.5/5, while Country Universe awarded an A, praising Strait’s emotional delivery and his respectful handling of a sensitive subject .
Although the studio version didn’t break into the Top 40 of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart, “I Believe” took on new life as part of Strait’s final tour, The Cowboy Rides Away, culminating at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on June 7, 2014—which drew a record-breaking crowd of 104,793.
The performance of “I Believe” that night became one of the emotional highlights of the more-than-40-song setlist. Featuring stirring instrumentation and Strait’s heartfelt vocals, it stood out as a moment of collective reflection and solidarity, particularly poignant given the tour’s farewell theme
Subsequently, the concert was released as the live album The Cowboy Rides Away: Live from AT&T Stadium on September 16, 2014, and its DVD followed in November. The deluxe live package included the performance of “I Believe” among 28 tracks—capturing Strait’s connection with his audience one final time at what was then the largest indoor concert ever held in North America