# Merle Haggard has passed **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369 "2016-04-06T18:03:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/21 "2016-04-06T20:25:47Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Saw him with Bob Dylan (and knew nothing about him). He was wonderful. RIP. I also saw him when he was touring with Dylan several years ago. I knew his music and was very impressed with his performance. Sad to hear this. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/22 "2016-04-06T20:33:22Z")
Man, that sucks. Damn I’m gonna miss that guy. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/23 "2016-04-06T20:43:23Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > The Highwaymen were Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Merle was not involved with the group. I stand corrected ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/24 "2016-04-06T20:51:39Z")
this short article discusses Merle’s career and health struggles. He lead quite a colorful life. > **[Merle Haggard Dead at 79](https://tasteofcountry.com/merle-haggard-dead/)** > > Merle Haggard has died after a series of recent health struggles. The legendary singer passed away on April 6, 2016, which was also his 79th birthday. Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and the great George Jones all legends of country music. Gone. Willi Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Dolly Parton are the only three big names left. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2016, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/25 "2016-04-06T22:35:13Z")
One of the last of the true greats, I was just talking to my mother (who introduced me to his music when I was young) about him and his health this week. RIP ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/26 "2016-04-07T00:58:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Willi Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Dolly Parton are the only three big names left. Loretta Lynn is still kickin’. I saw her perform a few years ago and she was in fine form. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/27 "2016-04-07T01:25:34Z")
There’s a story in my family that my father played guitar with Merle back in the day. I can’t remember any of the details though, if I ever knew them in the first place. RIP Merle, I sure loved your music growing up. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/28 "2016-04-07T01:29:24Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Loretta Lynn is still kickin’. I saw her perform a few years ago and she was in fine form. Loretta Lynn’s disgusting comments about Mike Dukakis has turned me against her permanently. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/29 "2016-04-07T02:03:25Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Loretta Lynn’s disgusting comments about Mike Dukakis has turned me against her permanently. My Google-fu is failing me. I see allusions to her saying that she can’t pronounce his last name, but that’s all I see. What else did she say that was particularly disgusting? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/30 "2016-04-07T02:12:17Z")
I think that was it. Many people interpreted that as prejudice against funny-sounding furriner. I think she was as much making fun of herself as backwoods/unworldly, given that she played up her own accent for the line. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/31 "2016-04-07T02:36:51Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > My Google-fu is failing me. I see allusions to her saying that she can’t pronounce his last name, but that’s all I see. What else did she say that was particularly disgusting? Dukakis wasn’t qualified to be President because he had a funny name. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/32 "2016-04-07T03:02:44Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Loretta Lynn’s disgusting comments about Mike Dukakis has turned me against her permanently. Might not want to look too close at some of the anti-liberal attitudes espoused by the late great Haggard himself, then. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/33 "2016-04-07T03:12:50Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > this short article discusses Merle’s career and health struggles. He lead quite a colorful life. > [Merle Haggard Dead at 79](http://tasteofcountry.com/merle-haggard-dead/) > > Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and the great George Jones all legends of country music. Gone. > > Willi Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Dolly Parton are the only three big names left. Glen Campbell is still alive, although Alzheimer’s has taken its toll. StG ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/34 "2016-04-07T03:45:04Z")
Merle’s son Ben played lead guitar and sang in his dad’s band for many years. He posted this on facebook. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Ben release an album and carry on the family name. > [@](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/35 "2016-04-07T03:49:40Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Might not want to look too close at some of the anti-liberal attitudes espoused by the late great Haggard himself, then. Oh, I know. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/36 "2016-04-07T05:38:10Z")
I loved “Mama Tried” and didn’t know until recently that it was autobiographical. What a talent lost. May he rest in peace and keep heaven rocking with a mighty fine band they got going up there. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/37 "2016-04-07T14:12:13Z")
Loretta Lynn just released a new album and Dolly has a number of big projects in the works, so they’re not slowing down none. But their peer group is dwindling. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/38 "2016-04-07T14:14:16Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Might not want to look too close at some of the anti-liberal attitudes espoused by the late great Haggard himself, then. When I saw him a few years ago, he appeared to have flipped on some of those attitudes. Before playing Okie, he said something along the lines that those hippies were the ones that were right. ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/39 "2016-04-07T14:31:26Z")
I was lucky enough to see him at one of his last shows, last October in Pikeville, KY, with Willie Nelson. He introduced his back-up singers with “we’re the only touring act that puts our nurses up on stage with us!” ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2016, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369/40 "2016-04-07T14:40:24Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > When I saw him a few years ago, he appeared to have flipped on some of those attitudes. Before playing Okie, he said something along the lines that those hippies were the ones that were right. Well, he kind of had a complex position on the whole culture war of the time, and often presented different angles of what he thought about the song when asked. I figured he was a wise enough person to see it both as a parody and a serious song at the same time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merle-haggard-has-passed/751369.md?page=3)