Craig Morgan, the American country singer and former US Army Ranger, was born on 17 July 1964 in Kingston Springs, Tennessee. He served nearly two decades in the military before breaking into music, and this milestone birthday highlights how his career combines commercial country success with a well-documented record of military service and civilian heroism.

Morgan served nine and a half years on active duty, including with the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions and the 3rd Ranger Battalion, followed by six and a half years in the Army Reserve, leaving the forces in 1997. After returning to civilian life he worked in retail, construction and security before landing a job singing demos in Nashville, which led to a record deal with Atlantic Records and his self-titled debut album in 2000. He went on to score hits including “Almost Home”, “Redneck Yacht Club” and the chart-topping “That’s What I Love About Sunday”, while also being credited with rescuing two children from a burning house in 2011. In July 2023 he re-enlisted in the Army Reserves as a Warrant Officer, later being promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2 and serving as associate bandmaster for the 313th Army Band in Alabama.