Country Star and Army Reserve Soldier Craig Morgan Reflects on Patriotism in America

Craig Morgan performs onstage during the 2024 CMA Music festival at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville on June 6, 2024. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Ahead of Independence Day on July 4, Craig Morgan, a country music singer known for hits such as “Almost Home,” “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” and “Redneck Yacht Club,” has shared what he values most about being an American.

“Freedom, it’s that simple,” he recently told Fox News. However, the 59-year-old musician said he often witnesses people—particularly the younger generations—lacking an appreciation for the freedoms they have in the United States.

“I see it on TV,” he said. “I see things that people are doing that just make me shake my head in a lack of understanding—how they can’t appreciate how fortunate we are. I think a lot of that is attributed to a lack of education.”

Mr. Morgan noted that he wasn’t implying that those people were unintelligent.

“I’m just saying there’s some ignorance in the world, in our society, in particular in the states where people don’t understand the importance of the freedoms that we celebrate,” he said.

‘God, Family, Country’

Mr. Morgan launched his debut album, “Craig Morgan,” in May 2000. The country singer has since released a dozen more albums, including “My Kind of Livin'” (2005), “This Ole Boy” (2012), “When I’m Gone” (2015), and “God, Family, Country” (2020).

In September 2022, Mr. Morgan published his memoir, named after his 2020 album.

“God, Family, Country: A Memoir,” which was co-written with author Jim DeFelice, the New York Times bestselling co-author of 2012’s “American Sniper,” explores the singer’s life, from his long music career to his early days serving in the Army, “hunting down bad guys in the jungles of Panama, working with the CIA, rescuing children from prostitution rings,” per a synopsis.

Mr. Morgan spent 17 years serving in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve before becoming a renowned country crooner, garnering the USO Merit Award and the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal for his contributions to the nation. Mr. Morgan is also an inductee of the U.S. Field Artillery Hall of Fame.

‘Enlisted’

The Army veteran returned to duty last year, continuing his military career by reenlisting in the United States Army Reserve, this time as a staff sergeant and potential Warrant Officer candidate.

On July 29, the singer took the stage of the historic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and was sworn into service in front of an audience during a live show.

“I’m excited to once again serve my country and be all I can be in hopes of encouraging others to be a part of something greater than ourselves,” Mr. Morgan said in a press release. “I love being an artist, but I consider it a true privilege and honor to work with what I believe are the greatest of Americans, my fellow Soldiers. God Bless America. Go Army.”

In a statement, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) commended Mr. Morgan’s return to duty. “It has been such an honor to work alongside Craig on his return to the U.S. Army Reserve,” she said.

“Craig has long been a champion of our military, with his support spanning his previous active-duty service and an accomplished career in music,” Ms. Blackburn continued. “His dedication to serving our country exemplifies the very best of the Volunteer Spirit, and I know his story will be an inspiration to Americans considering the call to serve.”

On Oct. 20, 2023, just three months after becoming a soldier in the Army Reserve, Mr. Morgan released a new EP, aptly entitled “Enlisted,” featuring collaborations with six other country music stars.

The extended play album contains six tracks in total, four of which are reimagined versions of his older hits, including “Almost Home” featuring Jelly Roll, “Redneck Yacht Club” featuring Blake Shelton, “That’s What I Love About Sunday” featuring Gray LeVox, and “International Harvester” featuring Lainey Wilson.

Two news songs were also introduced on the EP: “Raise the Bar” featuring Luke Combs and “That Ain’t Gonna Be Me” featuring Trace Adkins.

Earlier this year, Mr. Morgan—who is currently touring this summer, making stops throughout the country on his Redneck Yacht Club Tour—achieved another milestone in his military career. On Feb. 3, the singer was promoted from staff sergeant to warrant officer in the Army Reserve in a ceremony held at the Redstone Arsenal, an Army base in Huntsville, Alabama.

“It is a big part of who I am, what my family is about, what we represent, the love that we have for our country, the passion we have for the freedoms that we celebrate in this nation,” the Tennessee native told Fox News, reflecting on his time in the Army.

“To be able to go back and reignite that fire and be a part of what I believe are the greatest people in our nation—it was very emotional,” he added. “I’m excited, honored, humbled, and grateful to be able to do it again, and hopefully encourage other folks in our country to celebrate again and be a part of what I do believe and know to be the greatest nation in the world.”