....super sad about this one - Merle Haggard RIP. To me, other than maybe George Jones, Johnny Cash and Original Hank Williams - there has been NO BETTER than Merle Haggard. My interview with him is something I will cherish....not because he is dead and a Hall of Famer, but because he was the real deal who gave me the time and was nothing but cool as can be. Asking him to tell me the story of the first time he heard one of his songs on the radio was both personal and of a different time and era. For those of us who have been on the wrong side of the tracks a time or two - Merle spoke the truth. He was simply the best and there will never be another like him.

The Hag - rest in peace.

The time I saw him I was amazed at how talented he and his whole band was. He played multiple instruments that show.

The Hag - rest in peace.

The time I saw him I was amazed at how talented he and his whole band was. He played multiple instruments that show.

I had the opportunity to see Merle last September, at a punk-leaning festival in Chicago of all places. He and his band were consummate showmen, and were very well received.

RIP Merle
This one hurts. I’m not really what you would call a Country guy, but Merle was something special. My Parents brought me with them to see him when I was about 10 or 11, Just before the age where you get turned on to Zeppelin, Stones or whatever, but to this day (45 yrs later) if I am listening to Country its him or Johnny or Hank.

Got another chance to see him here about 6-7years ago, returned the favor to my folks. Was a bit concerned of if he could still do it….he did!

There’ll be Merle on the stereo tonight

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/merle-haggard-revered-country-singer-of-common-man-anthems-dies-at-79/2016/04/06/39647f2c-fc1e-11e5-80e4-c381214de1a3_story.html

Between 1966 and 1987, Mr. Haggard had 38 No. 1 country hits, including several drawn from his experiences in the California penal system. Mr. Haggard once described his career in music as a “35-year bus ride.”

Oh No!

i'm shocked and saddened...i knew Merle was sick, & cancelled shows but never expected this...

last saw him open for Dylan..his band,his sound was and in many way still is the template for Dylan's performance since Merle opened those shows---the sound,the dynamics,the clothes,the way they stand and set up and so much more...

what a significant loss,,,RIP Merle....

Truly one of a kind. A giant. A huge loss. RIP.

"As Merle Haggard's 'I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am' played, Ronnie was laid to rest with his trademark Texas Hatters black hat and favorite fishing pole" -lynyrdskynyrdhistory

My wife and I saw The Hag last July. I wasn't really all that excited about the show to begin with. I'd seen Willie Nelson twice and both shows SUCKED. For some reason, I thought Haggard would put on a similar show. I don't think I've ever been so glad to be so wrong.

Yeah, they played all the hits, but Merle and The Strangers were on top of their game and tight as hell. At one point, he unstrapped his signature Tele and grabbed a fiddle and proceeded to saw it damn near in half ! I was eagerly awaiting his upcoming show in Tallahassee, now this.

Respect and admiration, Mr. Haggard. RIP

"I ain't never been the kind of guy who did what people told me"
Ride in peace, Hag.

I'm seeing Eric Church at a festival here in Dallas in a few weeks. He has a song called Pledge Allegiance To The Hag, and it's a great song. So he should definitely play it to pay tribute to him.

He had a show scheduled in Augusta, GA and I had planned on going to see him.....
🙁

This stings R.I.P. Merle , thanks for the years of great music , my wife and I met Merle in Vancouver in 2004 and he was a gentleman , signed a poster and took pictures with us . One of the greats .

OUCH! this hurts! 🙁 🙁 🙁

http://tasteofcountry.com/toby-keith-merle-haggard-final-show/

In the wake of Merle Haggard‘s passing, actor and musician W. Earl Brown shared a touching recollection of the country legend’s final show, revealing how Toby Keith stepped up to save the day for the ailing icon.

Haggard kept actively recording and performing until very near the end of his life, when his health began to fail. The Country Music Hall of Famer canceled tour dates in December of 2015 due to a life-threatening bout with double pneumonia, and canceled shows scheduled for Jan. 30 and 31 after his double pneumonia returned.

He unexpectedly returned to the stage on Feb. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Ballroom in Las Vegas.

Brown is best-known for his role in the HBO series Deadwood, but he also records and tours with the country band Sacred Cowboys.

He recently hosted the all-star tribute to Kris Kristofferson that took place in Nashville, and after Haggard passed away on April 6, Brown shared the inside story of his final gig via Facebook:

It was Super Bowl weekend. Merle had already cancelled months of shows, but this particular booking was a big payday. Merle had to pay his band and crew, so there was no calling in sick for this gig.

Never speak ill of Toby Keith to me; thanks to him, Merle exited the stage with his dignity intact.

Great story - thanks!

http://tasteofcountry.com/toby-keith-merle-haggard-final-show/

Merle was in bad shape. He needed to be in a hospital – not on a stage; but The Show Must Go On.

Merle would not take charity from anyone, but he did turn to Toby and say, “How many songs of mine do you know?”
“All of ’em” answered T.
“All of ’em?”
“Yep. And I won’t need a teleprompter.”
“Well, stay nearby.”

After four or five songs, Merle’s infected lungs were spent. He couldn’t draw enough air to sing any longer.

“We’ve, uh, we’ve got a special guest here tonight…” Toby came out and sang the rest of the show. Merle gave his last concert. The Strangers got paid. And the audience, while not realizing it at the time, saw something special.

Never speak ill of Toby Keith to me; thanks to him, Merle exited the stage with his dignity intact.

A couple of years ago I saw Dan Baird and Homemade Sin here in Raleigh and after the show I spoke at length to Mr. Warner E. Hodges, of HS and Jason And The Scorchers fame - truly one of the great guitar slingers of our time. He had put out a solo CD called Centerline, which, by the way, is fantastic, and on it he covered The Hag's Branded Man. He told me that he was raised on the Hag's music in his house growing up and that "THAT was REAL country music, not that slick sh!t coming out of Nashville now." He can say that, as he lives there....

I'm sure Warner's flying his flag at half mast today.

R.I.P Merle Haggard, truly an American Original if there was one.

http://tasteofcountry.com/toby-keith-merle-haggard-final-show/

Merle was in bad shape. He needed to be in a hospital – not on a stage; but The Show Must Go On.

Merle would not take charity from anyone, but he did turn to Toby and say, “How many songs of mine do you know?”
“All of ’em” answered T.
“All of ’em?”
“Yep. And I won’t need a teleprompter.”
“Well, stay nearby.”

After four or five songs, Merle’s infected lungs were spent. He couldn’t draw enough air to sing any longer.

“We’ve, uh, we’ve got a special guest here tonight…” Toby came out and sang the rest of the show. Merle gave his last concert. The Strangers got paid. And the audience, while not realizing it at the time, saw something special.

Never speak ill of Toby Keith to me; thanks to him, Merle exited the stage with his dignity intact.

This gives me a new found respect for Toby Keith.

Merle Haggard was an American artist on a par with Mark Twain, Woody Guthrie, Louis Armstrong, Hank Williams, Duke Ellington, F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck, Bob Dylan….I guess Willie is the last living proof that country music was once deep and vital, instead of the joke it has become.

I liked him a lot, simple, heartfelt songs. He didn't try to be anybody but himself.