Sunday might be the South’s most important day of the week. Sayings commonly associated with the region reflect its importance, like “Slower than a Sunday,” which implies an absence of urgency. Longstanding traditions like Sunday drives have gone on to become expressions representing the art of the slow pace.
In 2005, Craig Morgan released a song that perfectly encapsulated the southern culture’s respect for leisure as the weekend comes to a close. His hit single, “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” resonated with country music listeners everywhere. A song celebrating simple joys became a universal reminder that it’s okay to slow down and savor the moment.
Setting Records

When speaking with music industry magazine Billboard in 2013, the conversation steered towards “That’s What I Love About Sunday” being one of his “career songs.” Morgan got his start in country music when he signed with Atlantic Records in 2000. But not long after joining the roster, the company closed its division in Nashville. Two years later, he signed with independent label, Broken Bow Records. A string of hits followed, including “Almost Home,” a poignant ballad about an unsuspecting passerby intervening as a homeless man lived out his final moments while remembering fond childhood memories.
Out of all of his singles, “That’s What I Love About Sunday” made the biggest impact for Broken Bow. Not only was the song the first single with independent distribution to reach the No. 1 spot on country charts since 2000, but Morgan became the first artist on the roster to gain a No. 1 hit.
According to the news outlet Reuters, it “was the most-played country single of 2005.”
Celebrating the Little Things
Though Morgan writes much of his own music, “That’s What I Love About Sunday” was penned by two songwriters, Adam Dorsey and Mark Narmore, who fleshed out the idea for the song during a lunch meeting at a Chinese restaurant.Like most country music, the song is lyrically driven. Images of attending church, eating a home-cooked meal with family, and playing a pickup game of football round out the first chorus.

Some of the song’s lines feature the names of real-life people, like Miss Betty, who loves to sing along to church hymns even if she’s a bit pitchy.
“Sweet Miss Betty likes to sing off key/ In the pew behind me.”
Other characters in the song are embellished, like an adolescent neighborhood nuisance who attends the service with the Martin family.
“There’s the Martins walkin' in/ With that mean little freckle-faced kid/ Who broke a window last week.”
“My mother’s name is Betty … and the kid that broke the window is based on something that happened when I was about 10 years old. Our best friends at church are the Martins, though they don’t have a mean freckle-faced kid.”
In a 2007 interview with music journalist Craig Havighurst featured in Billboard, Morgan once explained why he likes to cover everyday life in his music.
Building Emotional Connection
Though one of Morgan’s early hit songs concerns the importance of downtime, its wide-ranging popularity meant the country artist would have to learn how to navigate a busy schedule.Though Morgan’s music is often gentle in nature, fans have long appreciated his ability to tackle tough subjects. Online music publication Taste of Country once described Morgan as a musician who has the “ability and willingness to steer head on into … emotions.”

A Weekly Break
For 17 years, Morgan served in both the Army and the Army Reserve. Over the years, he’s been the recipient of the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal Award for the Army and Merit Award for the USO. In 2023, he re-enlisted.When speaking with media outlet Fox News about his decision to continue his military career in the Army Reserve while also balancing his dedication to music, he said it takes a lot of “coordination,” but it’s well worth it.
“There’s a term, ‘once a soldier, always a soldier’. For me, I have never quit being a soldier, even though I was no longer actually serving in the capacity of a service member on duty. In my head, I’ve always been a soldier and I always will be,” he said.
Morgan is one of the hardest-working individuals out there. But one of his biggest and most impactful hits reminds us that no matter how busy we get, taking a break to enjoy life’s simple pleasures should always be included on our weekly to-do list.