Craig Morgan Sings the Praises of Military Service

Country superstar reenlisted in the Army Reserves at age 59

Gayle Jo Carter,

AARP

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Published June 06, 2024

Craig Morgan against yellow-orange ombre background

AARP (Nate Griffin)

Country music star Craig Morgan, 59, is known for performing his hit songs like “That’s What I Love About Sunday” and “Almost Home.” But at the historic Grand Ole Opry last summer, he did more than just sing — he also reenlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve live on stage. Morgan previously served in Operation Just Cause in Panama and is now an army reserve assistant bandmaster for the 313th Army Band. As he switches gears from the military to music and heads out on a cross-country tour, he tells AARP why he decided to reenlist, which career — music or the Army — is more challenging and the big plans he has for turning 60.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What made you decide to reenlist in the Army?

When I left the Army, I left because the world of my music had gotten so busy that I felt like it wasn’t fair to everyone involved for me to try to maintain both occupations at the same time. Back at that time, I was doing 150 shows a year, which is too much to try to do both. I’m at a point in my life now where I’m making enough money per show that I don’t have to do as many shows, so I’m able to manage my time a lot better, and it made sense that I was able to go back. And selfishly, I always regretted not having that letter from the government saying that I served my country for 20 years. Even at 17 and a half, I never got a letter that said, “Thank you for your 17 and a half years of service.” So being able to go back and finish out a career that I started long ago — that and marry both worlds back together again — was very humbling.

What do you hear from your fans about your decision?

More support than not. There have been a few that asked me if I bumped my head. There’s a lot of conversation about the current state of affairs, not only worldly but within our military. So there’s a lot of very interesting conversations. I tell them the reasons [for reenlisting] that I told you, as well [as that] I get to help with Army recruiting. If I can encourage young people, and anyone, for that matter, to serve their country … I can show them that I can do it and it encourages them to do it, then that’s a good thing, and that’s what I’m doing.

Craig Morgan on stage with Fort Campbell Garrison Commander Colonel Jordan; Commander, U.S. Army Forces Command General Poppas; Command Sergeant Major Stackpole; Deputy State Director/Military Adviser John Clement; Senator Marsha Blackburn with American flag behind them

On July 29, 2023, Morgan was sworn into the U.S. Army Reserve live on stage at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. He's seen on stage with, from left, Ft. Campbell Garrison Commander Col. Jordan; Commander, U.S. Army Forces Command Gen. Poppas; Command Sergeant Major Stackpole; Deputy State Director/Military Adviser John Clement; Sen. Marsha Blackburn.

Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry

What do you tell people who are considering joining the Armed Services?

Of all the things that I’ve done in my life, it was only in the Army that I was presented with opportunities, energies and resources that afforded me the opportunity to truly be all I could be. The Army didn’t tell me to say it. In fact, I went to a course that a lot of the generals go to to talk about Army speaking points. And I said, “That’s great, and I’ll utilize those speaking points, but I’m going to tell my story and I’m going to tell the truth.” And the truth is that there’s no other occupation that allows you the opportunities to excel like the Army does.

What’s more difficult, your Army career or music career?

[The Army] — that’s fun stuff. The music industry is a whole lot harder. In the Army, we have task, conditions and standards. You meet them, you succeed. The music, there’s no such thing as task, conditions and standards. You can have a great song and be doing all the things right, and it’s still not connecting. It’s a weird business.

The last time you wore the uniform you were in your 40s. Now you’re about to turn 60. How does it fit?

I’m in better shape than I was then. No question. It’s activity. Body at motion stays in motion; body at rest stays at rest. I stay in motion. I exercise. I run. I do triathlons, Ironman stuff. I stay busy. I stay active.

Do you also pay special attention to your diet?

I do, yes. I stay on a keto diet. I have been for about six years now. High protein, high fat, low carb. But I cheat every once in a while. Last night, I had a whole cup of M&M’s with my wine. Even with that cup of M&M’s, I still probably wasn’t over 50 carbs. That’s it. It’s all about the sugar. Sugar is the killer. You don’t need it to survive.

You’ll turn 60 this year. Any big plans to celebrate?

I’m doing a 60 mile bike ride on my 60th [July 17], inviting some friends to come with me. I was going to do a 60 mile run, but I figured that might take too long. It might take a day or so, a day and a half. And I couldn’t get as many people to join me on the run as I could to bike ride.

Where are you going to bike?

In Florida. We have a place down there, and I’m going to bike from Miramar Beach down to Panama City and back.

Will you break your keto diet and have some cake after that big ride?

No, no, no, I’ll have wine. That’s my only vice, that and my wife. I’ve gotta see her about every 10 days or so or I start losing my train of thought.

Book cover that says God, Family, Country: A Memoir, Craig Morgan with Jim DeFelice

Morgan writes about his military service and his roots in country music in "God, Family, Country: A Memoir."

Courtesy Blackstone Publishing

Musically, who would you still like to collaborate with?

I just did the Enlisted project [a six-track release in October] where I had a bunch of my friends [including Trace Adkins, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Blake Shelton and Lainey Wilson] join me on some of my hits and a couple of new songs. And that was exciting. I think if they said, “You’ve got one duet type project left. Who would it be?”, it’d be CeCe Winans. I just love her so much. I love her vocals. I love what she stands for. She’s probably one of the greatest vocalists ever in the history of music, and I’d love to do something with her someday.

What do you do on your off-duty time?

I’m working or I’m playing [the video game] Call of Duty. I’m pretty much an expert now [laughs]. But when I’m playing that stupid game, I don’t do anything else. I’m just having a good time and I’m talking to other guys that are online playing from around the world, and sometimes with friends — Luke Combs plays Warzone. Jelly Roll plays. Billy Dean. So sometimes I get to play with these guys.

Any advice for that younger Craig Morgan just starting out?

Yeah, I’d tell him, “Hey, it’s really gonna happen.” Because I never believed it would the whole time, and still there’s times when I walk out on stage and I feel like I’m in a place that I don’t belong.

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Gayle Jo Carter is a former entertainment editor at USA WEEKEND, who during her 30-year reporting and editing career, has worked at USA TODAY, Voice of America and Feature Story News. When not interviewing high-profile people, she’s teaching reformer Pilates classes and doing her best to raise two empathetic, curious, healthy young people to adulthood.

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