The Grand Ole Opry continues to offer up special moments. Last Saturday night, Craig Morgan reenlisted to serve in the Army. Here is the story as reported by NBC news:
Country music star Craig Morgan had decided to step away from the military after more than 17 years of service, including nearly a decade on active duty. But fans in the historic halls of the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night were in for an unprecedented surprise, when Morgan, 59, was sworn in as a warrant officer with the U.S. Army Reserves — becoming the first person to commission at the home of country music — Nashville, Tennessee.
“I feel like an 18-year-old kid, I can tell you,” Morgan said in an interview with NBC News ahead of the ceremony. “I’m excited, nervous. But humbled. I’m humbled for the opportunity.”
One year ago, after Morgan performed at a military fundraiser, he had told Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., that leaving the military early was his “biggest regret.”
“As a, you know, throwaway comment I said, ‘I’d love to finish my commitment — that’s a 20-year commitment to our country, and I want to finish that,’” Morgan recalled of their conversation. Soon after, Blackburn’s team connected Morgan with officials from the Department of Defense.
Amid projected shortfalls across several military branches, Morgan’s personal ambitions fell secondary to the main reason he decided to serve again. “I feel like if a guy like me, who has the career that I do, can go in and participate … anybody can do it,” he said Friday while on a tour bus in Britt, Iowa.
Morgan, who grew up poor, said the military opened doors for him: “If you join the military, you’re going to be afforded opportunities and situations for you to enhance and grow your life that you can’t get in the civilian populace.”
In front of the American flag on stage where he swore in Morgan, commander of Army Forces Command, Gen. Andrew Poppas, said: “Every soldier who enters the Army has the opportunity to become the best version of themselves, and Staff Sgt. Morgan is no exception.”
Poppas added that he looks “forward to seeing what he [Morgan] accomplishes and how he impacts other soldiers around the Army.”
Morgan will be assigned to Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, where he will be stationed two days out of every month. The musician is currently on his God, Family Country tour across the country.
“Haven’t sung in uniform in a long time,” he said, performing his hit "Soldier" for the roaring crowd.
Craig Morgan will be back at the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night, along with Opry members Mark Wills, Connie Smith and once again, Vince Gill. For Vince, who is on his way to making more Opry appearances than any other year in his career, this will be his 20th appearance of 2023.
Mark Wills and Connie Smith will also be on the Friday Night Opry, along with Mike Snider and Charlie McCoy
King Calaway, Waylon Payne, and Appalachian Road Show will be guesting on Friday, while Alex Hall and Darin & Brooke Aldridge are on the Saturday schedule.
There are two acts who will be making their Opry debuts this weekend: Abbey Cone on the Friday Night Opry and Wood Box Heroes on Saturday.
Friday August 4
7:00: Mark Wills, Connie Smith, Mike Snider, King Calaway
Intermission
8:15: Waylon Payne, Appalachian Road Show, Abbey Cone, Charlie McCoy
Saturday August 5
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Connie Smith, Wood Box Heroes
Intermission
8:15: Alex Hall, Opry Square Dancers, Craig Morgan, Vince Gill
Once again, there is no live TV on Circle television. Opry Live this week will air the salute to Merle Haggard, featuring Clint Black, Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson and Marty Haggard.
As mentioned, Abbey Cone and Wood Box Heroes are making their Opry debuts this weekend.
Abbey Cone is known for her emotionally resonant songwriting that connects with the next generation (and beyond) of country listeners. With an induction into CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2020 and named one of Pandora’s 10 Country Artists To Watch in 2022, she has already made her mark, co-writing with some of Nashville's best-known songwriters. She recently made her debut on main stages at Stagecoach and CMA Fest, and has toured with Tanya Tucker, Brittney Spencer, Abby Anderson, and the CMT Next Women of Country Tour with Maddie & Tae and Sacha. This spring, she shared "If You Were A Song," her first single as an independent artist, and is expected to release more new music in 2023.
Wood Box Heroes is a newly formed American acoustic super-group. Deeply rooted in tradition while melding together an eclectic-array of sounds from the country, bluegrass, blues, jazz, rock, and classical varieties, paired with crafty and authentic songwriting, the band delivers a piercing listening experience that plunges deep into the caverns of the soul. Bringing together some of the world’s most highly lauded musicians in Matt Menefee (banjo-Mumford & Sons, Cadillac Sky, Warren Haynes), Seth Taylor (mandolin-Mountain Heart, Dailey & Vincent) and Barry Bales (bass Alison Krauss & Union Station) backing up the vocal magic of Jenee Fleenor (fiddle-Blake Shelton, Larry Cordle) and Josh Martin (singer/songwriter/guitarist), this unit has over a century of musical seasoning between them. Yet, it is quite astonishing that the years spent on separate roads, accompanying a spectrum of incredible artists and receiving some of the most sought-after honors and awards in the business, has led to this enigmatic musical intersection.
Now from 45 years ago, Saturday August 5, 1978. The first show that night featured a guest appearance by Merle Haggard:
1st show
6:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
6:45: Charlie Walker (host); Willis Brothers
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); Billy Grammer, Harold Morrison, Del Wood
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Minnie Pearl, Crook Brothers, Merle Haggard
8:00: Charlie Louvin (host); Stu Phillips, Lorrie Morgan, Bill Carlisle
8:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); The 4 Guys, Linda Hargrove, Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe (host); Charlie Walker, Wilma Lee Cooper, Willis Brothers, Del Wood
10:00: Wilburn Brothers (host); Judy Robbins
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Minnie Pearl
10:30: Billy Grammer (host); Harold Morrison
10:45: Charlie Louvin (host); Brenda Clark, Bill Carlisle, Crook Brothers
11:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); The 4 Guys, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Stu Phillips (host); Linda Hargrove, Louie Robers
(Ernie Ashworth was scheduled to appear on both shows but cancelled)
Grand Ole Opry member Terri Clark was born on August 6, 1968. She, along with Hank Snow and Stu Phillips, is the only Grand Ole Opry member to have been born in Canada. Terri joined the Grand Ole Opry on June 12, 2004.
In honor of Terri Clark's 53rd birthday, here is the running order from 19 years ago, Saturday June 12, 2004, the night Terri became a member of the Grand Ole Opry
1st show
6:30: Tennessee Pride
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take an Old Cold Tater
Jeannie Seely: Anytime/When He Leaves You
Osborne Brothers: Rock of Ages/Rocky Top
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew
7:00: Tootsie's/Standard Candy
Marty Stuart (host): Rock Island Line
Terri Clark: Girls Lie Too
Mel Tillis: It's A Love Revival/Southern Rain
Mel and Pam Tillis: Waiting On The Wind
Billy Dean: Billy The Kid
Terri Clark: I Wanna Do It All
Marty Stuart: Hillbilly Rock
8:00: Martha White
Mike Snider (host): (?)
Jean Shepard: Tennessee Waltz
Billy Walker: Don't Stop In My World
Connie Smith: If It Ain't Love
Hoot Hester: Bile Them Cabbage Down
Mike Snider: The Fur Coat/Fire On The Mountain
8:30: Caribbean Cruise
Bill Anderson (host): Don't She Look Good
George Hamilton IV & V: We Will Meet Again
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Pam Tillis: Deep Down/Mi Vida Loco
Bill Anderson: Deck of Cards
2nd show
9:30: Coca Cola
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' At The Foot of The Bed
Jim Ed Brown: Looking Back To See/The 3 Bells
Billy Dean: Thank God I'm A Country Boy/Billy The Kid
Jimmy Dickens: I'd Rather Sleep In Peace
10:00: Resort Quest
Pam Tillis (host): Bend In The Window
Jean Shepard: Virginia (You Have Taken My Man)/Second Fiddle
Mel Tillis: Good Woman Blues/I Got The Horse/You Got The Saddle
The Stutterettes: Once A Day/I Fall To Pieces/You Ain't Woman Enough/Stand By Your Man
Pam and Mel Tillis: Detroit City
10:30: Caribbean Cruise
Marty Stuart (host): The Whiskey Ain't Working Anymore
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
Connie Smith: How Long, How Long/You and Your Sweet Love
Hoot Hester: Cherokee Shuffle
Marty Stuart: In The Pines
11:00: WSM Online.com
Bill Anderson (host): I Love You Drops
George Hamilton IV & V: We Will Meet Again
Jimmy C Newman: Sugar Bee
Terri Clark: Girls Lie Too/Walkin' After Midnight
Bill Anderson: Too Country
11:30: Opry Visa Card
Mike Snider (host): Angeline The Baker/Soldier's Joy/Old Molly Hare
Billy Walker: I'm Back On The Mountain Again
Jack Greene: Walkin' on New Grass
Julie Roberts: It Ain't Down Home/Break Down Here
Mike Snider: Fire On The Mountain
There you have it for this week. As always, I thank everyone for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
No comments:
Post a Comment