Country Star Re-Enlists in Military to Boost Recruitment

Published: March 11, 2025

Country Star Re-Enlists in Military to Boost Recruitment

Movieguide® Contributor

Country star Craig Morgan helped military recruitment get a record high after he publicly re-enlisted.

“Recruiting was worse than it had ever been in the history of our nation. It was terrible and I felt like I could bring something to the table to help with that,” the “Almost Home” singer explained on FOX AND FRIENDS Mar. 7.

“Secondly, I had 17 and a half years that I never got a letter that said thank you for your service. I wanted that retirement letter so bad. So this was an opportunity for me to do that,” he said.

On July 29, 2023, Morgan surprised his Grand Ole Opry audience by getting sworn into the U.S. Army reserve during the 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,” he said at the time. “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.”

Since then, he’s made a lot of effort to rally troops, and it’s paid off. In December, the army had about 350 people enlist per day. January marked the highest recruiting numbers it’s had in 15 years, per Straight Arrow News.

“I spent a lot of time out there talking with our young Americans, trying to encourage them. And as you guys just said, there’s a sense of renewed pride in our nation, and that trickles down to our young men and women, and families,” he said.

“I used to tell people—I still do—I never joined the army for a president. You join the army to join your country. Any service member will tell you that but it is nice to know that you have a president of the United States who truly cares about the men and women who are serving.”

He added that the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, also has service members’ “interests” at heart.

The artist says he sticks to original country music because that’s what relates to others.

“I am the same people that I sing for, to, and about… I still take my trash out. My wife waits till I get home. My truck bed is full when I get home,” he laughed. “I have to do the same things everybody else does and I still do and that will never change, whether singing or soldiering, or whatever it is, I’m doing.”

Currently, he’s touring with Blake Shelton.

“The best tour I’ve ever been on,” Morgan said. Shelton “Is so much fun. He’s an absolute idiot,” he joked, “but he’s fun. In a good way.”

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