The Stories Behind Craig Morgan’s Songs: A Journey Through Country Music
Craig Morgan is one of country music’s most beloved artists, known for his distinct voice, and heartfelt lyrics. From March 17-21, he’ll be Elaina Smith’s co-host on Backstage Country! Over the years, Morgan has built a catalog of songs that resonate with country music fans. During his co-hosting stint, he’ll be sharing some of the stories behind his most iconic songs with Smith.
Craig Morgan’s Songs
“Redneck Yacht Club”
Smith asked Morgan about his song “Redneck Yacht Club,” which just celebrated its 20th anniversary. Morgan laughed and said it’s crazy to think that the song was released two decades ago. Smith then asked about his memories of the song and the process of recording a newer version of it. Morgan replied, “We’ve been doing that song for a long, long time. It was a big hit. I mean, it’s a staple summer song. So, when we redid it, I wanted to do it a little bit different. It only made sense when I did on the Enlisted project, where I enlisted my friends to sing with me, that I enlisted Blake Shelton, who was in the original video.”
Morgan chuckled as he added, “And that mullet, I mean, it was just too much. So, it only made sense that I brought him. We did it in this Jamaican vibe. There’s a reason we did it in that vibe. I was in a dive in Jamaica, and prior to going into the water, the Jamaican dive instructor says, ‘Every day before we get in the water, we play our favorite song for all of our divers.’ He started playing ‘Redneck Yacht Club.’ I’m not making this up.”
Smith and Morgan both laughed at the coincidence. “I said, ‘Bro, you got to be kidding me!’ He goes, ‘No, man!’ I said, ‘That’s my song.’ He said, ‘Yeah, man, it’s everybody’s song.’ I’m like, ‘No, that’s me!’ He said, ‘Yeah, man, it is me too!’”
Craig Morgan smiled as he recalled the moment. “True story. Oh my god. I finally explained it to him, ‘That’s me singing!’ He figured it out and he’s like, ‘Oh, we got the president of the Redneck Yacht Club! You must sign my boat!’”
“Almost Home”
Smith asked Morgan how he felt when Jelly Roll joined him at the Grand Ole Opry and shared that watching him perform “Almost Home” had changed his life. Morgan reflected on the moment, touched by Jelly Roll’s words.
The Tennessee native said, “It’s inspirational. We know that our music affects people’s lives, but in our industry, we can get a little jaded sometimes. I mean, it’s the truth. We listen to music, we write music, so it’s a big part of our life.” He added, “It’s fascinating to me, very inspiring and humbling when someone within our industry, especially someone on the rise like Jelly Roll, tells a story and it’s as inspiring or as exciting as it was when we did that song on the stage together.”
He also spoke about how Jelly Roll has worked hard to be the best version of himself in every aspect of his life. Morgan shared how their friendship grew over time and how “Almost Home” played a significant role in that bond.
“That’s What I Love About Sunday”
Smith told Morgan that listening to his song “That’s What I Love About Sunday” paints a beautiful picture of the American Dream for her. She then asked him what his initial thoughts were when he first heard the song. Morgan replied that there was no doubt in his mind—when he listened to it, he immediately knew it would be “an absolute huge hit” because it truly “personifies” the lives of middle America. Morgan chuckled and added, “Blake makes fun of me because he says anytime you mention food in a song, it’s going to be a hit.”
