George Strait playing MGM Grand Garden

Giants and Patriots fans just think their teams will be in the Super Bowl every year. George Strait fans know he will be playing the night before.

Either team would love to make the big game five times in six years, as Strait has done in his tradition of Super Bowl eve concerts in the MGM Grand Garden.

For some reason he skipped 2009, likely because it was the year the Academy of Country Music staged a whole "Artist of the Decade" TV tribute concert for him at the MGM two months later.

Otherwise the country titan's MGM appointment has been as steady as his career.

No other country star has enjoyed this overall consistency for more than 30 years, uniting all musical branches of the tree, from Western swing to the beach partyin' crowd.

Opening the show is Martina McBride, who is back from a few slow years with a Top 10 single, "I'm Gonna Love You Through it."

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.