Newly promoted country music artist Craig Morgan said his dual careers allow him “to demonstrate what patriotism looks like and to tell the story of the men and women willing to give everything.”
Morgan, 61, made headlines in 2023 during a high-profile reenlistment ceremony at the Grand Ole Opry. Now, the Army Reserve soldier’s career is back in the spotlight after he was promoted to chief warrant officer 2 in January by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
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The promotion, he says, was a personal honor but far from the reason he serves.
“I don’t serve for moments like that; though it was truly an honor to have Secretary of War Pete Hegseth promote me. For me, it’s never been about titles or rank at the highest levels. It’s about the soldiers I serve alongside and the missions we carry out for this country,” Morgan said. “Service shouldn’t be political and I won’t get into all of it, but from my time with the secretary I gathered that he genuinely cares about our troops and wants to take care of them well.”
Morgan enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1985, serving a little over nine and a half years on active duty with assignments in the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, including a deployment to Panama for Operation Just Cause.
After completing his active-duty service, he continued in the Army Reserve for six years while pursuing a burgeoning country music career. As his music gained momentum in the early 2000s, balancing civilian life and military obligations became increasingly challenging, prompting him to step away.
Then, on July 29, 2023, Morgan rejoined the Army Reserve as a warrant officer candidate at a ceremony on country music’s biggest stage in Nashville, Tennessee.
“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,” Morgan stated in a press release at the time.
His reenlistment marked a renewed commitment to finish what he started.
“It was really important to me to come back into service and give everything I knew I still had left in me to make it to the finish line,” he said. “When I first started pursuing music, I just was not able to make Army service work alongside that career. Now, I have the time, the ability and the wherewithal to make a difference and give it everything I have.”
Morgan sees tremendous “unbelievable value” in maintaining both military and civilian careers, particularly with the crossover into music.
“Through my platform as a country music artist, I’m able to bring awareness to what service really means,” Morgan explained. “I’ve seen the world and I’ve seen the worst of the worst. Most Americans don’t fully realize what they have or the sacrifices made to protect it. I have the opportunity, not just through my words, but through my actions as a soldier, to demonstrate what patriotism looks like and to tell the story of the men and women willing to give everything so we can live with the freedoms we enjoy.”
One of Morgan’s proudest initiatives to support is the soldier-led Prevention Music Initiative, which offers “a modern, creative way to reach Soldiers and Families with messages of suicide prevention.”
“I’m so proud of this initiative because, regardless of who you are, we’re all touched by music. You can’t always predict when someone might be struggling and there aren’t always signs, especially for our veterans, but music can reach people in ways nothing else can,” Morgan said.
He added that collaborators will work with the Army band to create original music that spreads messages of hope and support. Mental wellness and physical fitness are also central to Morgan’s own life.
“Being physically fit and healthy is vitally important to me, not just as a soldier, but as a human being. Our health is connected to everything, including mental wellness, so maintaining it is a top priority for me,” he said. “I’ve been following a keto diet for the past six years and feel healthier today than I did when I was in my 20s. Initiatives like those led by Secretary [Robert] Kennedy at HHS [Health and Human Services] have also helped shift the conversation around nutrition and overall health, which I really appreciate.”
Even with a full military career and ongoing music projects, Morgan is excited about what is next. When asked if fans could expect new music on the horizon, he shared that he’s currently working on two new songs that he will take on the road to test out with crowds. He also feels immensely blessed to continue doing what he loves in and out of uniform.
“I love my job as a soldier; it’s such a privilege to serve this nation and I’m always grateful to continue making music. It’s a blessing I’ll never take for granted,” Morgan said.
Visit Craig Morgan online for his latest music, tour information and book details.
