Craig Morgan Sings the Praises of Military Service

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.

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.