October 6, 2025 • 8 mins
Craig has his own locker at the Grand Ole Opry? What's in it? Also Craig was a demo singer before he got his record deal. Amazing stories as Bob visits with Craig Morgan.....listen in!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
By picking with you on the line. Right now, we've
got Craig Morgan. I just got through telling Craig Craig
is one of the most honest, one of the nicest
guys in the business. You've got a great reputation in
the business, mister Morgan.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well, thank you, sir.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
We were just like I told you, off the line
or off the air.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I'm just grateful to be here, buddy.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Yeah, we're grateful for you. So many great songs. You've
got Redneck Yacht Club. That's what I love about Sundays. Uh,
this ain't nothing love remembers Now. My favorite song is
almost Home, and I just love the way that you
paint that picture with that song.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Well, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
That was a that was a lot of work on
that song with Kerry Kurk Phillips, my buddy, I wrote
that with h but uh, it obviously paid off.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
You know. It's it's been one of our one of
our biggest hits.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
So do you have any is any of your big hits,
any of your your favorites so far?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I like the one that makes the most money.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I knew you were gonna say that, right, And which
one has made the most money for you so far, probably.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Almost home, I'll be honest, you know, they you know
all I say that jokingly, but the reality is I don't.
I don't write and sing and record for my own
personal benefit.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I don't do it. It's not my therapy. I do it
because it's my job and I absolutely love it. Uh.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
So I say all that to say I'm writing. I'm
trying to write, sing and produce and deliver and entertain
with music that that our listeners want to hear. So
and you just never really know what's going to click.
So when one does, man, what a what a blessing
it is.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Somebody told me you were a demo singer, Is that right?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I was, yeah that when I first started. Uh, you know,
I got in the business to write. I didn't get
into business to, uh to be a singer as much
as I wanted to write songs because I knew you
could make money, you know, right away. So in the
process of writing to make the demo cost cheaper, I
would sing on myself. And someone heard a song that
I pitched over to Atlantic Records.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
So I actually pitched the song to.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
John Michael and they called me and offered me a
record deal.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
That's the way it worked.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
What song was that? Is it one that we would
know it.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Was a song?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I think it was on my very first album called
three oh two South Maple Avenue, humh.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
And that was Pitcher John Michael. Any demos that you
sang that became hits for other stars, Uh?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, I sing a bunch of demos.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I did a couple of George Straight demos that ended
up being songs on his records. No way, Yeah, I mean,
you know, in the process I did it for I
don't know, probably three years, you know, singing pretty heavy.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Now when you go back and you hear those songs
in the radio, and did you ever see to yourself that, man,
I sung that a lot better? Where's my record? Deal?
Were you singing that back?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Absolutely? I'm never never that confident.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
In fact, even some of my songs, you know, almost Home,
I didn't know it. But after I had recorded it
and was the label and I had decided to put
it out as a single, Trace Atkins had that song
on hold, and I remember telling him, man, I would
much rather have had you cut it at the time
than me, because I'd have made a lot more money
(02:59):
in this.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
No.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
But it's your song, and it's one of your signature songs. Now,
you mentioned a couple of George Straight demos. Do you
recall any of those titles off hand?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
He on a song that Phil O'Donnell wrote, Karen, what
was that big song?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Phil wrote?
Speaker 4 (03:15):
I can't even remember the title. You want to say,
George Straight song? Phil billar But it was a number
one hit. I'm sorry, but it was the number one
hit for George.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, yeah, it was. In fact, it was his last
number one. It was this forty fifty first or whatever.
It was number one Lee. Yeah, I can't remember. Now,
that's terrible. I can't remember that. Well.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
I think it's pretty cool to know that George Strait
listened to your demo and said, you know what I want?
This song right there? Is that right there?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Now?
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Also, let's talk about your grand Ole Opry days. You're
a proud remember of the grand Ole Opry John Conley.
When I first got in radio in nineteen seventy seven, man,
I was playing a lot of John Conley music. John
Conley asked you to join the Grand Ole Opry. How
many How long.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Ago was that? It was in two thousand and eight.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Just a little test right there. So what does it
mean to be a Grand ole Opry member?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
In my opinion, is the epitome of being a country
music singer. I think it's as greater, maybe even in
greater honor than being a member of the country music
Hall of Fame, you know, the Hall of Fame. When
they induct you into the country music Hall of Fame,
it's based on your career, the things that you did,
and the impact that you had in the country music realm.
The grand ol Oprary bring you in is based not
(04:30):
only in what you have done, but what they believe
you will do. So they have confidence in your ability
and your representation of our genre are format.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
So I think it speaks even.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Higher because it's not only again what you've done, but
what they think you will do.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Well.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I tell you it's a lot to live up to,
right there, isn't it, Craig.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I mean, it's a It's a cornerstone of our genre.
It is the home, it is the mother church of
country music.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I was lucky, tough this year to be a guest
announcerent in the Grande Lopry and just just walking out
on that stage, you know, did my ninety seconds but
just being a part of that part of the opera
for a short time was just an amazing experience. I
got to introduce Non Schlitz on stage. But it's something
that I will never forget and it's a highlight of
my radio career. But you are an actual member of
(05:20):
the Grande Lopery. That means you can go walk in
the back anytime you want to, Buddy, that's cool.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I got a mailbox.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
You got a mailbox, are you serious? And a locker
You got a locker at the grand Ole Lockery.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Yeah, I got my own locker.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Man. That that's what it means when you become a member.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah, I mean it's quite a privilege. You know, it's
very humbling.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Well, I know, you got your name up there. When
you walk backstage, you see all those names right there,
the little plaques and stuff. But I never knew about
a locker.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
A bunch of us have lockers there that we can
keep our stuff in. I have a particular guitar that
I only play on the stage at the Grand Lotpry
that I leave there.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
So honestly, do you just bouy to have some lemonade
and popcorn and people have been backstage, the Grand Ole Arpery.
You don't know exactly what I'm talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Yeah, the green room, the infamous popcorn and.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Lemonade, Yes, it is great. And coffee and coffee too.
Let's talk about Redneck Yacht Club. I just love that song.
That's a summertime song, but actually you can play a
year round. And you are the president of the red
Neck Yacht Club, aren't you.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
No. I tell people I'm not the president. I'm the founder.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
There's another locker for you right there, Craig.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Because there's a president in every everywhere there's a mud puddle.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
There's a retten at yacht Club, and there's a president
of that. Cud.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I like the mud puddle. That's what I love about Sundays.
What a beautiful song is song that everybody can relate to,
and it's something that I try to play every Sunday
on the radio stations that I am on. I just
love that song. Did you know when when you record
it that that was going to be a big hit?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah? I felt like it was. You know, I will
say that just about every.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Song I've ever recorded I thought was going to be
a big old bat number one world changing event, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
But you could tell that one. Something special about that
one for sure, right, you could.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Just tell Yeah, I mean, and I'm under the mentality
the majority of our country music listeners are Middle America,
the people that made up our country, that built our country,
and we all live the theme of God, family, and country.
And that's what I try to write and sing about.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I will say to be transparent, I didn't always know
that I was doing that. It just happened.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
But looking back on my career and understanding what I
do in my format and understanding my platform and what
it is I stand for, that those things have always
been a part of my music and always will be.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
You said it right there, what you stand for. Let's
talk about your military career also, man, thank you for
your service in the military.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
It's an honor.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Veterans Day is coming up. Do you recognize veterans in
your show? Every concert, every show, every night. Yeah, and
you've re enlisted on the stage of the Grand ol
Opery too. To throw that in as.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Well, I did just recently, just two years ago, went
back in to finish up my career. You know, I regretted,
I always regretted getting out having seventeen and a half
years in being so close to getting a letter from
the government from the nation that says thank you for
your service to our nation, and I never got that,
and so when I was presented with the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I jumped at it. And it's just been absolutely.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Amazing couple of years and I'm looking forward to as
long as they'll have to continue working and doing everything
I can to convince young men and women to serve
our nation and showing the importance of maintaining a certain
level of leadership, respect, physical fitness, all of those things
that are military truly embodies
By picking with you on the line. Right now, we've
got Craig Morgan. I just got through telling Craig Craig
is one of the most honest, one of the nicest
guys in the business. You've got a great reputation in
the business, mister Morgan.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Well, thank you, sir.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
We were just like I told you, off the line
or off the air.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
I'm just grateful to be here, buddy.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Yeah, we're grateful for you. So many great songs. You've
got Redneck Yacht Club. That's what I love about Sundays. Uh,
this ain't nothing love remembers Now. My favorite song is
almost Home, and I just love the way that you
paint that picture with that song.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Well, thank you very much.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
That was a that was a lot of work on
that song with Kerry Kurk Phillips, my buddy, I wrote
that with h but uh, it obviously paid off.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
You know. It's it's been one of our one of
our biggest hits.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
So do you have any is any of your big hits,
any of your your favorites so far?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I like the one that makes the most money.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I knew you were gonna say that, right, And which
one has made the most money for you so far, probably.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Almost home, I'll be honest, you know, they you know
all I say that jokingly, but the reality is I don't.
I don't write and sing and record for my own
personal benefit.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I don't do it. It's not my therapy. I do it
because it's my job and I absolutely love it. Uh.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
So I say all that to say I'm writing. I'm
trying to write, sing and produce and deliver and entertain
with music that that our listeners want to hear. So
and you just never really know what's going to click.
So when one does, man, what a what a blessing
it is.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Somebody told me you were a demo singer, Is that right?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I was, yeah that when I first started. Uh, you know,
I got in the business to write. I didn't get
into business to, uh to be a singer as much
as I wanted to write songs because I knew you
could make money, you know, right away. So in the
process of writing to make the demo cost cheaper, I
would sing on myself. And someone heard a song that
I pitched over to Atlantic Records.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
So I actually pitched the song to.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
John Michael and they called me and offered me a
record deal.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
That's the way it worked.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
What song was that? Is it one that we would
know it.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Was a song?
Speaker 3 (02:03):
I think it was on my very first album called
three oh two South Maple Avenue, humh.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
And that was Pitcher John Michael. Any demos that you
sang that became hits for other stars, Uh?
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, I sing a bunch of demos.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I did a couple of George Straight demos that ended
up being songs on his records. No way, Yeah, I mean,
you know, in the process I did it for I
don't know, probably three years, you know, singing pretty heavy.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Now when you go back and you hear those songs
in the radio, and did you ever see to yourself that, man,
I sung that a lot better? Where's my record? Deal?
Were you singing that back?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Absolutely? I'm never never that confident.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
In fact, even some of my songs, you know, almost Home,
I didn't know it. But after I had recorded it
and was the label and I had decided to put
it out as a single, Trace Atkins had that song
on hold, and I remember telling him, man, I would
much rather have had you cut it at the time
than me, because I'd have made a lot more money
(02:59):
in this.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
No.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
But it's your song, and it's one of your signature songs. Now,
you mentioned a couple of George Straight demos. Do you
recall any of those titles off hand?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Uh?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
He on a song that Phil O'Donnell wrote, Karen, what
was that big song?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Phil wrote?
Speaker 4 (03:15):
I can't even remember the title. You want to say,
George Straight song? Phil billar But it was a number
one hit. I'm sorry, but it was the number one
hit for George.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, yeah, it was. In fact, it was his last
number one. It was this forty fifty first or whatever.
It was number one Lee. Yeah, I can't remember. Now,
that's terrible. I can't remember that. Well.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
I think it's pretty cool to know that George Strait
listened to your demo and said, you know what I want?
This song right there? Is that right there?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Now?
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Also, let's talk about your grand Ole Opry days. You're
a proud remember of the grand Ole Opry John Conley.
When I first got in radio in nineteen seventy seven, man,
I was playing a lot of John Conley music. John
Conley asked you to join the Grand Ole Opry. How
many How long.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
Ago was that? It was in two thousand and eight.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Just a little test right there. So what does it
mean to be a Grand ole Opry member?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
In my opinion, is the epitome of being a country
music singer. I think it's as greater, maybe even in
greater honor than being a member of the country music
Hall of Fame, you know, the Hall of Fame. When
they induct you into the country music Hall of Fame,
it's based on your career, the things that you did,
and the impact that you had in the country music realm.
The grand ol Oprary bring you in is based not
(04:30):
only in what you have done, but what they believe
you will do. So they have confidence in your ability
and your representation of our genre are format.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
So I think it speaks even.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Higher because it's not only again what you've done, but
what they think you will do.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Well.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
I tell you it's a lot to live up to,
right there, isn't it, Craig.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I mean, it's a It's a cornerstone of our genre.
It is the home, it is the mother church of
country music.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I was lucky, tough this year to be a guest
announcerent in the Grande Lopry and just just walking out
on that stage, you know, did my ninety seconds but
just being a part of that part of the opera
for a short time was just an amazing experience. I
got to introduce Non Schlitz on stage. But it's something
that I will never forget and it's a highlight of
my radio career. But you are an actual member of
(05:20):
the Grande Lopery. That means you can go walk in
the back anytime you want to, Buddy, that's cool.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I got a mailbox.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
You got a mailbox, are you serious? And a locker
You got a locker at the grand Ole Lockery.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Yeah, I got my own locker.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Man. That that's what it means when you become a member.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Yeah, I mean it's quite a privilege. You know, it's
very humbling.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Well, I know, you got your name up there. When
you walk backstage, you see all those names right there,
the little plaques and stuff. But I never knew about
a locker.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
A bunch of us have lockers there that we can
keep our stuff in. I have a particular guitar that
I only play on the stage at the Grand Lotpry
that I leave there.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
So honestly, do you just bouy to have some lemonade
and popcorn and people have been backstage, the Grand Ole Arpery.
You don't know exactly what I'm talking about.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Yeah, the green room, the infamous popcorn and.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Lemonade, Yes, it is great. And coffee and coffee too.
Let's talk about Redneck Yacht Club. I just love that song.
That's a summertime song, but actually you can play a
year round. And you are the president of the red
Neck Yacht Club, aren't you.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
No. I tell people I'm not the president. I'm the founder.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
There's another locker for you right there, Craig.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Because there's a president in every everywhere there's a mud puddle.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
There's a retten at yacht Club, and there's a president
of that. Cud.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I like the mud puddle. That's what I love about Sundays.
What a beautiful song is song that everybody can relate to,
and it's something that I try to play every Sunday
on the radio stations that I am on. I just
love that song. Did you know when when you record
it that that was going to be a big hit?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah? I felt like it was. You know, I will
say that just about every.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Song I've ever recorded I thought was going to be
a big old bat number one world changing event, you know.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
But you could tell that one. Something special about that
one for sure, right, you could.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Just tell Yeah, I mean, and I'm under the mentality
the majority of our country music listeners are Middle America,
the people that made up our country, that built our country,
and we all live the theme of God, family, and country.
And that's what I try to write and sing about.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I will say to be transparent, I didn't always know
that I was doing that. It just happened.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
But looking back on my career and understanding what I
do in my format and understanding my platform and what
it is I stand for, that those things have always
been a part of my music and always will be.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
You said it right there, what you stand for. Let's
talk about your military career also, man, thank you for
your service in the military.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
It's an honor.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Veterans Day is coming up. Do you recognize veterans in
your show? Every concert, every show, every night. Yeah, and
you've re enlisted on the stage of the Grand ol
Opery too. To throw that in as.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Well, I did just recently, just two years ago, went
back in to finish up my career. You know, I regretted,
I always regretted getting out having seventeen and a half
years in being so close to getting a letter from
the government from the nation that says thank you for
your service to our nation, and I never got that,
and so when I was presented with the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
I jumped at it. And it's just been absolutely.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Amazing couple of years and I'm looking forward to as
long as they'll have to continue working and doing everything
I can to convince young men and women to serve
our nation and showing the importance of maintaining a certain
level of leadership, respect, physical fitness, all of those things
that are military truly embodies
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