“The Big One,” a song written by Gerry House and Devon O’Day, was recorded by George Strait for the MCA label on April 19, 1994, at Emerald Sound Studio, 1033 16th Ave., Nashville, TN, on the recording session George was accompanied by: Brent Mason (guitar), Steve Gibson (guitar), Paul Franklin (steel), Buddy Emmons (steel), Glenn Worf (bass), Eddie Bayers (drums), Matt Rollings (piano), Steve Nathan (organ and synthesizer), Stuart Duncan (fiddle) and Curtis Young, Liana Mannis (background vocals). With the production of Tony Brown & George Strait, the song was released on October 3, 1994, December 3, 1994, reached # 1 on the US Hot Country Songs charts, remaining a total of 20 weeks on the charts. On the Canada Country Tracks charts, it reached # 4. It was the twenty-sixth number one in the career of George Strait.
The song was included in the fifteenth George Strait studio album, Lead On (MCA 1994), was released on November 8, 1994, quickly reaching # 1 on the US Top Country Albums charts, on November 26, 1994, for two weeks in a row, and remaining a total of 74 weeks in the charts. On the Canadian RPM Country Albums charts, it reached # 3. The album was certified double platinum in the USA.