Country icon GEORGE STRAIT has been given extra reason to continue celebrating his weekend (18May13) birthday after becoming the first ever artist to rack up 60 number one singles in the U.S.

The singer achieved the milestone on Monday (20May13) after music industry officials at Mediabase, which monitors airplay in North America, named his track Give It All We Got Tonight the most-played song on country radio in the past week (12-18May13), giving the veteran his 60th number one ranking across all U.S. charts.

The impressive record was the result of the Sixty for Sixty campaign by fans, country radio bosses and fellow artists to help Strait reach the figure while he was 60 years old. He marked his 61st birthday on Saturday (18May13).

A statement issued by Strait reads: "I didn't realise we were making history - I just hoped we were putting out music that my fans would enjoy. As always, I'm thankful to the fans and country radio for their support on all 60 of these number one songs as well as my entire career. They are the ones who made this happen."

And Strait is on course for another chart celebration - his new album, Love Is Everything, is predicted to enter America's Billboard 200 countdown at number two - his 18th top 10 debut on the chart.