OPRY NEWS
Craig Morgan Inducted as Newest Member of the Grand Ole Opry
Officially Inducted by Opry Member John Conlee
Nashville, TN — October 26, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (October 25, 2008) – BNA Records recording artist Craig Morgan became the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry tonight, inducted by Opry member John Conlee before an Opry House audience including family, friends, and fans.
Officially welcoming Morgan as an Opry member, Conlee said, “I had the great pleasure of being the Opry member to first bring him on this stage the first time he guested on the Grand Ole Opry, and what an honor that was. As we’ve become friends…it was plain to me that no one loves the Grand Ole Opry more than this young man right here. He loves it as much as he loves his country, and he’s proven that with his service to his country before.” Turning to Morgan, Conlee continued, “I’m proud to call you friend and I’m proud to call you ‘brother Grand Ole Opry member Craig Morgan’. Welcome to the family, sir.”
“Thank you so much,” Morgan replied. “I didn’t prepare a speech because I knew I would probably mess it up. I am extremely honored and grateful to the Grand Ole Opry. I am proud to be a part of it and I hope I can uphold its standards.”
Morgan made his Grand Ole Opry debut on April 21, 2000 and was invited to become an Opry member during a special concert for U.S. troops at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina on September 18. That evening was a homecoming of sorts for the singer, who was stationed at Ft. Bragg from 1990 to 1992 during his ten-year active duty tenure in the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.
“If you love country music, you have to love Craig Morgan,” said Opry Vice President and General Manger Pete Fisher. “Everything about Craig speaks quality, from the way he writes and sings his songs to the way he lives his life. The Grand Ole Opry is proud to welcome such a fine man to our esteemed membership roster.”
The induction aired live on Opry Live on GAC: Great American Country. The Opry Member Award presented to Morgan during the induction is a 14-inch bronze and oak wood replica of the Opry’s vintage microphone stand designed by renowned sculptor Bill Rains. Fans can visit Youtube.com/OpryLive to see the induction moment plus a live Opry performance from Morgan. View photos from his induction night by clicking here to open the Opry Photo Flipbook, and selecting "Craig Morgan Becomes The Newest Opry Member" from the drop down menu at the bottom of the screen.
Morgan is a Nashville native who has built his tremendous popularity with massive radio airplay of his signature hits, including: “Love Remembers,” “Almost Home,” “Redneck Yacht Club,” “International Harvester,” and “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” which was Billboard’s Most Played Country Song of 2005. He has performed on the Grand Ole Opry more than 130 times, and plays over 200 sold-out concerts a year. Morgan is signed to Sony Music Entertainment’s BNA Records, and released his fifth studio album, That’s Why, just this week. He spent ten years on active duty in the U.S. Army before launching his music career, and makes a point to perform as often as possible at U.S. military installations both in the U.S. and abroad. He was awarded the USO Merit Award in 2006 for his tireless support of U.S. soldiers and their families. He lives just outside of Nashville with his wife Karen and their four children.