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Backstage Country: Guest Host

Backstage Country: Guest Host

Backstage Country: Guest Host

Craig Morgan Hopes ‘Enlisted’ Listeners ‘Appreciate The Relationships’

Author Lauren Hoffman
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 14: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Craig Morgan performs onstage for BBR Music Group/BMG presents: Lainey Wilson's Bell Bottom Country music celebration at Omni Nashville Hotel on March 14, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danielle Del Valle/Getty Images)

Craig Morgan‘s latest project, a six-track EP titled Enlisted, brings something to the table for every music fan. It was a very special time for the country star as he re-recorded some of his past hits and new songs along with some of his friends.

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Morgan’s Enlisted EP features fellow country superstars Trace Adkins (“That Ain’t Gonna Be Me”), Luke Combs (“Raise The Bar”), Gary LeVox (“That’s What I Love About Sunday”), Jelly Roll (“Almost Home”), Blake Shelton (“Redneck Yacht Club”), and Lainey Wilson (“International Harvester”).

“I’ll be honest. I hope that when people hear all of these, they feel like they can appreciate the relationships,” Morgan expressed on Shawn Parr’s Backstage Country.

Morgan revealed to Shawn Parr that while creating this project, it was “not forced” and that “everything was natural.”

“There’s a common denominator on all of these songs, and you’ll see every one of these people that join me. They’re all wonderful, beautiful, kind, caring, real people. There’s nothing put on or fake about any one of them,” said Morgan.

One recording in particular that touched Morgan’s heart beyond the lyrics is his collaboration with his new friend and labelmate, Jelly Roll. Before the release of Enlisted, Morgan and Jelly Roll performed “Almost Home” live together at the Grand Ole Opry in July of 2022. You can watch that live performance here.

“I want to be more like Jelly Roll. We come from two completely different backgrounds. I tell him, I was the guy arresting the people like you that did the stuff that you were talking about,” Morgan said. “I want to inspire; I want to motivate. And he does that. So any time I’m around him, I feel like I’m a part of that. And that’s just a very wonderful thing.”

Visit craigmorgan.com and follow Craig Morgan on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok to see more.

 

15 Country Albums Turning 10 In 2024

  • Miranda Lambert 'Platinum' (June 3, 2014)

    As I mentioned above, Miranda Lambert’s Platinum album garnered her the CMA Award for Best Country Album in 2014. It was also my pick that year, and while listening to every track (on repeat) for months, it had me feeling just about every emotion in the book.

  • Dierks Bentley 'Riser' (February 25, 2014)

    I remember clear as day hearing people listening to this song by Dierks Bentley through their headphones while boarding a flight back in 2014. Bentley’s “Drunk On A Plane” was perhaps my favorite song on the 12-track collection. Rise was a personal album for Bentley, however, it also gave fans the country music they needed.

  • Eric Church 'The Outsiders' (February 11, 2014)

    Eric Church’s fourth studio album, The Outsiders, is still to this day one of my favorite country albums ever released. Church, one of the biggest stars in the genre delivered a 12-track collection that became the best-selling country album in 2014.

  • Lady A '747' (September 30, 2014)

    Hey, “Bartender!” Admit it, we all had this song stuck in our heads back in 2014 at some point. Lady A’s sixth studio album, 747, was filled with infectious country hits including my personal favorite, “Long Stretch of Love.”

  • Tim McGraw 'Sundown Heaven Town' (September 16, 2014)

    Tim McGraw’s thirteenth studio album, Sundown Heaven Town, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart in 2014. As someone who attended his album release party in New York City that year, I can honestly say hearing the tracks featured on this album performed live made it even more special.

  • Brad Paisley 'Moonshine In The Trunk' (August 25, 2014)

    Brad Paisley’s 2014 release of Moonshine In The Trunk was his eighth album to hit No.1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. The country star’s eleventh studio album delivered hit after hit, including “River Bank,” “Crushin’ It,” and “Country Nation.”

  • Kenny Chesney 'The Big Revival' (September 23, 2014)

    Kenny Chesney’s album, The Big Revival, will forever have an impact on my other list (the best concerts I’ve ever attended). The country star brought his sixteenth studio album out on the road the following summer which is now certified platinum. Chesney delivered 11 tracks with this collection, including the lead single, “American Kids.”

  • Blake Shelton 'Bringing Back The Sunshine'

    Blake Shelton’s ninth studio album brought him back to a traditional country feel while still keeping things fun just like the star himself. Shelton’s Bringing Back The Sunshine debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s all-genre top 200 in 2014 and features the lead single “Neon Light” as well as the fan-favorite “Sangria.”

  • Jason Aldean 'Old Boots, New Dirt' (October 7, 2014)

    Jason Aldean referred to this collection of work as the “same old me” but he also took some time to explore new styles which is why he named his sixth album, Old Boots, New Dirt. The country superstar debuted at No. 1 with this release in 2014 and delivered four singles to the Aldean Army including “Burnin’ It Down,” “Just Gettin’ Started,” “Tonight Looks Good On You,” and “Gonna Know We Were Here.”

  • Garth Brooks 'Man Against Machine'

    Garth Brooks first introduced his ninth studio album, Man Against Machine, in 2014 with the powerful single, “People Loving People.” While announcing the collection, the living country legend also announced his comeback world tour.

  • Florida Georgia Line 'Anything Goes' (October 14, 2014)

    While I don’t think anything can quite compare to Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” era, I do have to say their sophomore album, Anything Goes, was a game-changer for the country duo. Florida Georgia Line was unstoppable during this time bringing us a new sound with tracks “Dirt,” “Sun Daze,” and “Sippin’ On Fire.”

  • Lee Brice 'I Don't Dance' (September 9, 2014)

    I might be biased because Lee Brice has been and will always be one of my favorite country artists (I adored this album). Although the title track and lead single, “I Don’t Dance,” did become a No. 1 hit, the album overall did not get the praise it deserved in 2014. Brice’s third album, I Don’t Dance, delivered what Brice does best, solid country music.

  • Dan + Shay 'Where It All Began'

    Well, what can I say aside from 2014 was the year of Dan + Shay. The country duo released their debut album, Where It All Began, and never looked back. The 12-track collection includes singles “19 You + Me,” “Show You Off,” and “Nothin’ Like You.”

  • David Nail 'I'm A Fire' (March 4, 2014)

    David Nail’s I’m A Fire album was a good one. I remember seeing him live that year in New York City and it sounded even better live and in person. To this day, Nail’s lead single on the album, “Whatever She’s Got,” continues to be one of my favorite country songs out there.

  • Eli Young Band '10,000 Towns' (March 4, 2014)

    The Eli Young Band released their fourth studio album, 10,000 Towns, in March of 2014. I love going back and listening to this album. The group delivers a sound to the genre like no other with their tracks “Drunk Last Night,” “Dust,” and more.

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Author Lauren Hoffman
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