Country Star Re-Enlists In Army On Stage At Grand Ole Opry

By Andie Summers

A well-known country star enlisted in the Army during his show at the Grand Ole Opry over the weekend - and it brought the house down.

If you were at the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night, you got a lot more than great country music. You witnessed the very thing that makes country music the best in all the land. One of the performers, a country star, not only did a great set, but he re-enlisted in the US Army Reserve.

The artist I'm talking about is Craig Morgan. Craig is a 17-year US Army veteran. His swearing-in happened on the stage of the Opry and was conducted by General Andrew Poppas, Commander of the US Army Forces Command. Poppas said, "No matter who you are or where you’re from, service in the United States Army is a unique, life-changing honor. Every Soldier who enters the Army has the opportunity to become the best version of themselves, and Staff Sgt. Morgan is no exception. I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes and how he impacts other Soldiers around the Army.”

Craig re-enlisted in such a public way in an effort to encourage others to make the commitment to become part of something greater than themselves. This is what country music is all about, and I'm so glad Craig was able to remind us all of that. He said. "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. 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."

As a reservist, his Army stint will be part-time. Craig still gets to keep his full-time country music career going, which is a good thing - since he's already announced his "God, Family and Country" tour for this fall.

My father was a Marine. The greatest lesson he ever taught me was to admire and appreciate the US Military. I can't hear the National Anthem with out crying. I thank men and women in uniform when I see them. My feelings aren't something that started with the tragedy of 9/11. The terror attacks amplified them. I'll never forget, when I was in high school, sitting with my dad watching CNN during Desert Storm and him desperately wanting to re-enlist. I understand the passion and I admire it.

Country music goes hand in hand with America and has been known for years as "America's Music." We will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday this week with our loved ones at a barbecue, traveling the country, and with fireworks displays. In honor of the holiday,  we take a look at country stars wearing stars and stripes for our great nation through the years.

For a bit of history: The Fourth of July, or Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence. It was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.

The Fourth of July has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941. However, the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence. Two days later (7/4), delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

To this day, July 4 has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades, family reunions, and concerts.