Country music legend Garth Brooks has been named the Best Living Performer by an expert panel of judges on the Taste of Country website, leaving his idol George Strait in an unexpected ninth place.

The surprising ranking placed Strait behind Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, Shania Twain, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, and Cody Johnson.

The panel cited Strait's lack of a dynamic live show as the reason for his lower ranking, despite his impressive 60 No. 1 hits, significantly surpassing Garth's 22 chart-toppers. "George can still sell out stadiums, but he gets the feeling the younger generation doesn't feel connected to him," says a friend.

According to sources, contemporary country fans crave more bells and whistles during live performances, and Garth excels in delivering that experience. In contrast, Strait opts for a more traditional approach, standing on stage with his guitar and focusing solely on his singing. "George says he would never win an ass-shaking contest! But kids want more these days — they have short attention spans," adds the friend.

While Strait is content with Garth's success, he reportedly dislikes feeling like an afterthought. Conversely, insiders claim Garth was embarrassed by his victory over Strait, whom he has long idolized. "Garth idolizes George — and if any fan came up to him and said 'You're better than George Strait,' Garth would laugh in their face!" shares an insider.

The source also reveals that Garth attempted to model his career after Strait when he first began and genuinely believes he cannot compare to the 70-year-old country icon.