By — Margaret Myers Margaret Myers Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/merle-haggard-outlaw-country-music-legend-dies-on-his-79th-birthday Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Merle Haggard, ‘outlaw’ country music legend, dies on his 79th birthday Arts Apr 6, 2016 5:24 PM EDT Merle Haggard, the country music legend who was born during the Depression, came of age in prison and whose songs have earned him the title, “poet of the common man,” died Wednesday at his home near Redding, California. It was his 79th birthday. Haggard had been battling pneumonia in recent months, reported the Los Angeles Times. Haggard sang about the rough and tumble world of the outlaw, a topic personal to him. As a teen he spent time in and out of jail, and at the age of 18, was sentenced to 15 years for burglary and sent to San Quentin, where he served two years. But he credited Johnny Cash’s performance at the prison in 1958 — Haggard was in the audience — as his inspiration to pursue music. “I would’ve become a lifetime criminal if music hadn’t saved my ass,” he told Rolling Stone. Along the way, Haggard collected 38 No. 1 singles on the country charts. One of his most famous, 1969’s “Okie from Muskogee,” was a patriotic anthem for the anti-hippie movement. He sang: “We don’t let our hair grow long and shaggy, like the hippies out in San Francisco do. And I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee.” Merle Haggard was a Kennedy Center honoree in 2010, with (seated left to right) composer and lyricist Jerry Herman and producer, television host and actress Oprah Winfrey, and (standing) dancer and choreographer Bill T. Jones, and singer and songwriter Paul McCartney. Photo by Mike Theiler/Reuters Haggard won two Grammy awards, in 1984 for “That’s the Way Love Goes,” and in 1998 for a collaboration with artists Emmylou Harris, Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam and others. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994, and was presented with a Kennedy Center Honor in 2010, alongside fellow songwriter Paul McCartney. Haggard’s son, Ben Haggard, who played in his father’s band, posted on his Facebook page Wednesday afternoon that his dad had predicted his death today. He wrote: “A week ago dad told us he was gonna pass on his birthday, and he wasn’t wrong. A hour ago he took his last breath surrounded by family and friends. He loved everything about life and he loved that everyone of you gave him a chance with his music. He wasn’t just a country singer. He was the best country singer that ever lived.” Musicians mourned the singer and songwriter as the news broke. “We’ve lost one of the greatest writers and singers of all time,” Dolly Parton said in a statement, ABC News reported. “His heart was as tender as his love ballads. I loved him like a brother. Rest easy, Merle.” Several shared their condolences and memories on Twitter: There are no words to describe the loss & sorrow felt within all of music with the passing of Merle Haggard. Thank God for his life & songs. — Brad Paisley (@BradPaisley) April 6, 2016 Godspeed #MerleHaggard the king of Soul Country Music-thanx for enriching our lives — Ted Nugent (@TedNugent) April 6, 2016 You will always be my hero. This was one of the best days of my life. #RIPMerleHaggard @merlehaggard pic.twitter.com/QFfNmkmnF9 — Randy Rogers Band (@RandyRogersBand) April 6, 2016 https://twitter.com/willienelson/status/717797056425766912 extremely sad to hear of the passing of one of the greatest of all time Mr. Merle Haggard… https://t.co/hmAlAdA8pl pic.twitter.com/s9VhxkXz57 — Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) April 6, 2016 Haggard is survived by his wife, Theresa Ann Lane, and his children, Dana, Marty, Kelli, Noel, Ben and Jenessa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bv17jhJTjw Watch a remembrance of the country music legend from Wednesday’s PBS NewsHour. By — Margaret Myers Margaret Myers Margaret Myers is the former Digital News Editor for PBS NewsHour. She is a former editor for ESPN.com. She also led the features department at the Amarillo Globe-News in west Texas. @margaretvm
Merle Haggard, the country music legend who was born during the Depression, came of age in prison and whose songs have earned him the title, “poet of the common man,” died Wednesday at his home near Redding, California. It was his 79th birthday. Haggard had been battling pneumonia in recent months, reported the Los Angeles Times. Haggard sang about the rough and tumble world of the outlaw, a topic personal to him. As a teen he spent time in and out of jail, and at the age of 18, was sentenced to 15 years for burglary and sent to San Quentin, where he served two years. But he credited Johnny Cash’s performance at the prison in 1958 — Haggard was in the audience — as his inspiration to pursue music. “I would’ve become a lifetime criminal if music hadn’t saved my ass,” he told Rolling Stone. Along the way, Haggard collected 38 No. 1 singles on the country charts. One of his most famous, 1969’s “Okie from Muskogee,” was a patriotic anthem for the anti-hippie movement. He sang: “We don’t let our hair grow long and shaggy, like the hippies out in San Francisco do. And I’m proud to be an Okie from Muskogee.” Merle Haggard was a Kennedy Center honoree in 2010, with (seated left to right) composer and lyricist Jerry Herman and producer, television host and actress Oprah Winfrey, and (standing) dancer and choreographer Bill T. Jones, and singer and songwriter Paul McCartney. Photo by Mike Theiler/Reuters Haggard won two Grammy awards, in 1984 for “That’s the Way Love Goes,” and in 1998 for a collaboration with artists Emmylou Harris, Randy Travis, Dwight Yoakam and others. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994, and was presented with a Kennedy Center Honor in 2010, alongside fellow songwriter Paul McCartney. Haggard’s son, Ben Haggard, who played in his father’s band, posted on his Facebook page Wednesday afternoon that his dad had predicted his death today. He wrote: “A week ago dad told us he was gonna pass on his birthday, and he wasn’t wrong. A hour ago he took his last breath surrounded by family and friends. He loved everything about life and he loved that everyone of you gave him a chance with his music. He wasn’t just a country singer. He was the best country singer that ever lived.” Musicians mourned the singer and songwriter as the news broke. “We’ve lost one of the greatest writers and singers of all time,” Dolly Parton said in a statement, ABC News reported. “His heart was as tender as his love ballads. I loved him like a brother. Rest easy, Merle.” Several shared their condolences and memories on Twitter: There are no words to describe the loss & sorrow felt within all of music with the passing of Merle Haggard. Thank God for his life & songs. — Brad Paisley (@BradPaisley) April 6, 2016 Godspeed #MerleHaggard the king of Soul Country Music-thanx for enriching our lives — Ted Nugent (@TedNugent) April 6, 2016 You will always be my hero. This was one of the best days of my life. #RIPMerleHaggard @merlehaggard pic.twitter.com/QFfNmkmnF9 — Randy Rogers Band (@RandyRogersBand) April 6, 2016 https://twitter.com/willienelson/status/717797056425766912 extremely sad to hear of the passing of one of the greatest of all time Mr. Merle Haggard… https://t.co/hmAlAdA8pl pic.twitter.com/s9VhxkXz57 — Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) April 6, 2016 Haggard is survived by his wife, Theresa Ann Lane, and his children, Dana, Marty, Kelli, Noel, Ben and Jenessa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bv17jhJTjw Watch a remembrance of the country music legend from Wednesday’s PBS NewsHour.