I’ve just learned that Merle Haggard has died.
He’s one of those performers whose nagging draw made me know that my childhood love of country music that wouldn’t die was just one of those things that I had to live with, and enjoy. Mama Tried made it into the Library of Congress last month. It deserves to be part of our national history, I hope more of his songs make it in.
If it’s not sharing too much, I’m gonna go cry myself to sleep now.
My favorites are dying. First Johnny, then Buck, now Merle. When Willie goes, it’ll be a dark day in the Lendervedder house. Hopefully Dwight has many, many years ahead of him.
Oh no! One of the last outlaws.
Thank you, Merle.
He was the real deal. RIP.
On his birthday, even. Bummer.
Merle the pearl. We poor out a toast to you.
I’ve heard his music for years, but only developed a full understanding and appreciation of/for him over the last few. His is a great story.
I’d just -this weekend- learned about the honors bestowed upon his tune “Mama Tried” and had been *rocking with *him on Sunday.
I was planning to see him and Willie when they stopped here next month, thinking that I may never get another chance. 
He was a native of Oildale. We did some filming in Oildale back in the '80s when we needed to show a post-apocalyptic town/area.
Rest in Peace, Merle. He was one of those artists who actually lived the songs he sang.
A country singer who actually sang country songs, unlike many of today’s posers.
Saw him with Bob Dylan (and knew nothing about him). He was wonderful. RIP.
Half of The Highwaymen are gone.
Is he the man who sang the theme song to The Dukes of Hazard?
3/4. Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and now Merle.
ETA: Waltzes, that was Waylon Jennings.
That was Waylon.
Pretty bummed about Haggard’s death, although I knew he was in poor health in recent months. My dad has a bunch of his LPs, and so I grew up listening to him. Some of his songs are just so spot-on.
If you’ve got the time, this quarter-century-old profile from the The New Yorker is well worth the read: http://longform.org/stories/ornery-merle-haggard
Now that you mention it, it’s 3/5. Wasn’t Kris Kristofferson part of The Highwaymen?
The Highwaymen were Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Merle was not involved with the group.
RIP Merle.
Listening to Momma Tried right now. sniff
I was hoping he’d beat this illness. He cancelled his tour in late Nov. Then was supposed to return I think in Feb. Then Rolling Stone said he’d resume performing in April. Apparently even with the best medical care his body couldn’t shake off this pneumonia.
We lost a giant today in the field of country music. Incredible songwriter and a performer.
RIP Merle
at least he died still doing what he loved most.