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Merle Haggard

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Merle Haggard
Photo: Capitol Records / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Merle Haggard was a country singer and songwriter from Bakersfield, California, known for "Mama Tried" and "Silver Wings." The CMA and the ACM both named him Entertainer of the Year in 1970, and he was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977. He passed away on April 6, 2016.

Born
April 6, 1937
Hometown
Bakersfield, California
Country Music Hall of Fame
Inducted 1994

Latest Stories

When Merle Haggard And Willie Nelson Teamed Up For “Pancho And Lefty”

This is an in depth study of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson's "Pancho and Lefty". Moreover, this is the anatomy of the song that will inform us about who really Pancho and Lefty are.

Get To Know Merle Haggard’s Children Who Got His Talent In Music

Did you know that Merle Haggard’s children are as musically talented as him? Learn more about them here as they follow in their father’s footsteps.

Theresa Ann Lane: Meet Merle Haggard’s Last Wife After Five Marriages

When Merle Haggard died, he left behind his fifth wife, Theresa Ann Lane, whom he was married for a total of 23 years. Learn more about Merle's spouse

Ear-Pleasing Merle Haggard and His 1972 Hit, “It’s Not Love (But It’s Not Bad)”

In 1973, Merle Haggard was at #1 on the Billboard Country album chart with “It's Not Love (But It's Not Bad).”

“Mama Tried” is a Classic Hit from Merle Haggard

In "Mama Tried," country singer Merle Haggard focuses on the suffering he caused his own mother by being incarcerated in 1957.

Merle Haggard’s “Branded Man” Teaches Us Not to Judge Someone Based on Their Past

Have you ever been branded something because of what you did in the past? Maybe you can relate to Merle Haggard's 1967 classic hit Branded Man.

Is Traditional Country Music Really Dying?

The debate between traditional country music fans and pop music fans are as old as the genres, but should we even be debating about it?

One of Merle Haggard’s 1960 Hit, “Today I Started Loving You Again”

Merle Haggard is one of the legendary Country artists. His works were popularly known among country music fans.

George Strait Sings Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” and “Workin’ Man Blues”

George Strait performed two Merle Haggard songs, "Mama Tried" and "Workin' Man Blues," during his Las Vegas Concert in 2017.

“Sing Me Back Home:” A Snapshot of a Prisoner’s Story

The song "Sing Me Back Home" was originally sung and written by Merle Haggard. It was written for his fellow prisoners in San Quentin State Prison.

Jamey Johnson and Merle Haggard Honor Hank Cochran with “I Fall to Pieces”

In 2012, Jamey Johnson collaborated with Merle Haggard to release a cover of "I Fall to Pieces." The song was part of Johnson's tribute album to Cochran.