Sony BMG recording artist Craig Morgan was invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry this evening during a special concert for U.S. troops at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The 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. Morgan will be formally inducted into the Opry family on Sat., Oct. 25.
Opry member John Conlee surprised Morgan by walking on stage during Morgan’s performance of “Rose Colored Glasses,” a song popularized by Conlee in 1978 and almost always on Morgan’s set list. Conlee said, “Craig, where are your rose colored glasses?" to which Morgan shared he must have left them at home. Then Conlee asked if Morgan knew where he was going to be on October 25 and he replied “I don’t know.” “Well, I happen to know that you're going be on the Opry,” said Conlee. “How would you like to be the next member of the Grand Ole Opry?" Morgan then proceeded to break down on stage and exclaimed "Oh, God Yes! I do love the Grand Ole Opry! And I gotta tell you, it’s cool to be invited right here."
“This was the perfect time and place to invite Craig to become the Opry’s newest member,” said Pete Fisher, Opry vice president and general manager. “Craig consistently displays such a high degree of quality and integrity in all he does, from serving our country, to making great country music, to his frequent performances at the Grand Ole Opry. Whether at a military installation or on the Opry stage, audiences admire his character and love his music. We look forward to welcoming him into the Opry family on October 25th.”
Morgan has made a name for himself with massive radio airplay of his signature hits, among them “Almost Home” (named “Music Row” Song of the Year in 2003), the chart-topping summer anthem “Redneck Yacht Club,” and “That's What I Love About Sunday,” which spent five weeks at #1 and was “Billboard's” Most Played Country Song of the Year in 2005. Morgan is set to release his fifth CD, That's Why, on Oct. 21. The album's lead single, “Love Remembers,” is rapidly climbing the charts.
The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®. Opry performances are held every weekend of the year, and the Tuesday Night Opry continues through Dec. 18. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or log on to www.opry.com.
About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. A uniquely American experience for more than 80 years, the Opry can be heard on 650 WSM-AM, XM Satellite Radio, and opry.com. The syndicated weekly program, America’s Grand Ole Opry Weekend, airs on more than 200 country radio stations across the country and on the Armed Forces Radio Network, and Opry Live airs each weekend on GAC: Great American Country and CMT Canada. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET), a Nashville-based hospitality and entertainment company that also owns and operates Gaylord Hotels. For more information, visit opry.com or www.gaylordentertainment.com
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