Country singer and television star Craig Morgan somehow manages to find time to fit in a busy television shooting schedule with his constant touring and country music hit making.
County music singer Craig Morgan seems to be trying to fit an awful lot of living into the next few months.
"A week around Christmas." He laughed. "I'm taking my family on a cruise."
Sometime after the first of the year, however, Morgan is going back to the Middle East. It will make the singer's eighth or ninth trip since 2004.
"The first time we went in, there was no place to stay. We were sleeping in tents," he said. "They were still sweeping up glass at the airport. We hung out at the Red Cross tent in the morning and drank coffee with the commanders.
"I actually got stuck there for three days because of the mortar attacks."
Morgan was still in the Army Reserves at the time. His trip counted as his drill, and they handed him a rifle during his visit.
The difference in Iraq and Afghanistan these days, he says, is hard to explain to people who haven't been over there. Morgan thinks the safety and security of both countries has improved a lot over the past six years
"It's not a pleasant world," he said. "Afghanistan, in particular. I keep hearing people saying, 'We need to get out, we need to get out,' and that's funny. We've been in Korea since before the Korean War and we still have a military presence there -- and it makes a difference."
During part of Morgan's 10 years spent on active duty with the Army as a fire support specialist, he was stationed in Korea.
As much running around as Morgan does, he's not one to complain.
"Things couldn't be much better, really," he said. "We're working, and my getting away is working. Playing is part of the gig."
Reach Bill Lynch at ly...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5195.
WANT TO GO?
Randy Travis, Craig Morgan and The Davisson Brothers Band
WHERE: Appalachian Power Park
WHEN: 7 p.m. Sept. 23.
TICKETS: General admission $30, VIP package (front row seats, pre-concert buffett) $60
INFO: wvpower.com or 304-344-2287
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- County music singer Craig Morgan seems to be trying to fit an awful lot of living into the next few months.
After he plays his show with Randy Travis and The Davisson Brothers Band Sept. 23. at Appalachian Power Park, he'll continue with his seemingly endless tour.
In between concerts, the 46 year-old will record segments for his TV show, "Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors," shown Saturdays on The Outdoor Channel. While his tour bus is headed to the next venue, Morgan will hunt, fish, ride dirt bikes and occasionally fling himself out of an airplane.
"The show chronicles how I integrate all my outdoor activities into my touring schedule and my life," Morgan said. "It's somewhat of a reality kind of deal. It's non-scripted, and it's all stuff I do."
And it changes from week to week. In an upcoming episode, he and his son will be skydiving together. It will be his son's first jump. Morgan, who served in the 101st and 82nd airborne divisions in the U.S. Army, has lost count of how many times he's parachuted; it's more than 400.
While he's finishing up this tour, his mind is already on the tour for next year, which will coincide with the new record he just turned in to his record company. The album, he says, should be out in stores early next year, but he's promising he's going to take a little time off -- honest.
"A week around Christmas." He laughed. "I'm taking my family on a cruise."
Sometime after the first of the year, however, Morgan is going back to the Middle East. It will make the singer's eighth or ninth trip since 2004.
"The first time we went in, there was no place to stay. We were sleeping in tents," he said. "They were still sweeping up glass at the airport. We hung out at the Red Cross tent in the morning and drank coffee with the commanders.
"I actually got stuck there for three days because of the mortar attacks."
Morgan was still in the Army Reserves at the time. His trip counted as his drill, and they handed him a rifle during his visit.
The difference in Iraq and Afghanistan these days, he says, is hard to explain to people who haven't been over there. Morgan thinks the safety and security of both countries has improved a lot over the past six years
"It's not a pleasant world," he said. "Afghanistan, in particular. I keep hearing people saying, 'We need to get out, we need to get out,' and that's funny. We've been in Korea since before the Korean War and we still have a military presence there -- and it makes a difference."
During part of Morgan's 10 years spent on active duty with the Army as a fire support specialist, he was stationed in Korea.
As much running around as Morgan does, he's not one to complain.
"Things couldn't be much better, really," he said. "We're working, and my getting away is working. Playing is part of the gig."
Reach Bill Lynch at ly...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5195.
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