Craig Morgan Still Psyched About Opry

Craig Morgan is inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on October 25, 2008 by Opry member John Conlee. Copyright Grand Ole Opry® Photo by Chris Hollo, Hollo Photographics.

March 23, 2009 — In October, Craig Morgan became the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, performing "International Harvester" and the John Conlee classic "Rose Colored Glasses" as he took his place in the fabled lineup.

It’s been five months since the induction, but Craig still takes his membership seriously.

"To me, the Opry epitomizes what country music is," he told LiveDaily.com. "It is the mother church. The Grand Ole Opry is definitely one of the cornerstones, foundation pieces of our format. To be considered a member of that is quite an honor."

Indeed, the Opry s well-represented among the elite figures in country history. Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette were all Opry members at some point in their careers. Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson are still part of the club, which has also added such newer members as Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins and Carrie Underwood.

"It's beyond words," Craig says of his membership. "It's one of those things that I've wanted and looked forward to it hopefully happening some day. I didn't expect it to happen this early in my career. But now that it has, I feel like I'm not worthy of it."

Craig appears on the Tuesday edition of the Opry with Dierks Bentley, Emily West and the Infamous Stringdusters. And on Thursday, the Opry introduces a new Opry Classics weekly series that focuses on the standards of the genre. Performers for the first week include Loretta Lynn, Lorrie Morgan, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Band and Mandy Barnett.

GAC presents an encore edition of Opry Live Saturday at 9 p.m. ET. The installment features Jason Aldean, John Anderson and Jason Michael Carroll.