Artist· US country singer, guitarist, fiddler & songwriter

Merle Haggard

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Genres

country christmas music classic country singer-songwriter

Merle Haggard's legacy continues to be highlighted through retrospectives on his influential career, including chart-topping collaborations with Willie Nelson and Clint Eastwood, songs that were initially rejected or improvised, and the enduring impact of his music on country and Americana genres.

Artist· US country singer, guitarist, fiddler & songwriter

Merle Haggard

News

American Songwriter Jul 26

On This Day in 1980, Merle Haggard “Dragged” a Hollywood Icon to the Top of the Country Chart With a Song That Almost Went to George Jones

Merle Haggard George Jones Clint Eastwood

American Songwriter Jul 25

23 Years Ago Today, Merle Haggard Called Out the “Verbal Witch-Hunt” Rocking Country Music

Merle Haggard The Chicks Natalie Maines Toby Keith Bruce Springsteen

American Songwriter Jul 25

Merle Haggard Said This 1971 Deep Cut Was the Most Cathartic To Write, Despite It Being Unpopular

American Songwriter Jul 24

On This Day in 1983, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard Were at No. 1 With a Song Haggard Doesn’t Remember Recording

Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Emmylou Harris Townes Van Zandt

American Songwriter Jul 20

Born in the Lone Star State 109 Years Ago, the Songwriter Behind Timeless Hits From Merle Haggard, Bob Wills, and Bing Crosby

Merle Haggard Bob Wills Bing Crosby Ernest Tubb Ray Charles Jim Reeves Roy Orbison Hank Snow Mickey Gilley

American Songwriter Jul 19

On This Day in 1975, Country Music Lost the Singer Who Inspired Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Jones, and “Perhaps the Biggest Supergroup of All Time”

Merle Haggard Willie Nelson George Jones Lefty Frizzell Roy Orbison George Strait Randy Travis Dwight Yoakam Keith Whitley

American Songwriter Jul 18

44 Years Ago Today, Willie Nelson Hit No. 1 With an Album Named After a Massive Hit Merle Haggard Turned Down

Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Paul Simon

American Songwriter Jul 13

Born 72 Years Ago Today in the Lone Star State, the Hitmaking Sister of a Country Legend and ‘Hee Haw’ Honey Who Recorded With Merle Haggard

American Songwriter Jul 11

This Merle Haggard Song Started as a Joke, Which Is Probably Why The Grateful Dead Covered It in 1971

Merle Haggard Grateful Dead The Beach Boys Kris Kristofferson

American Songwriter Jul 10

Remember When Merle Haggard Released a Duet With Clint Eastwood in 1980?

Clint Eastwood Merle Haggard Ray Charles Willie Nelson Ernest Tubb Gretchen Wilson Janie Fricke

American Songwriter Jul 8

On the Charts 41 Years Ago, This Underrated Merle Haggard Gem Featuring Harmony Vocals From Janie Fricke Hit No. 1

Merle Haggard Janie Fricke Randy Travis George Strait Randy Jackson

American Songwriter Jul 4

25 Years Ago Today, Merle Haggard Lost His Longtime Guitarist and the Man Who “Set the Pace” for His Career

Merle Haggard Lefty Frizzell Roy Nichols Chet Atkins

American Songwriter Jun 30

Born in Oklahoma 90 Years Ago, the Bassist Who Took Merle Haggard’s Place Behind Buck Owens and Helped Shape the Bakersfield Sound

Merle Haggard Buck Owens 1930s The Beatles

Saving Country Music May 22

40 Years Ago: George Jones, Merle Haggard Bail Johnny PayCheck Out of Jail

George Jones Johnny Paycheck Merle Haggard Johnny Cash Kris Kristofferson The Highwaymen Waylon Jennings Willie Nelson

Billboard May 22

Chart Rewind: In 1976, Merle Haggard’s Bicentennial ‘Freedom Train’ Rolled

Merle Haggard Porter Wagoner Dolly Parton Gretchen Wilson

American Songwriter Jul 26

On This Day in 1980, Merle Haggard “Dragged” a Hollywood Icon to the Top of the Country Chart With a Song That Almost Went to George Jones

Merle Haggard George Jones Clint Eastwood

American Songwriter Jul 25

Merle Haggard Said This 1971 Deep Cut Was the Most Cathartic To Write, Despite It Being Unpopular

American Songwriter Jul 20

Born in the Lone Star State 109 Years Ago, the Songwriter Behind Timeless Hits From Merle Haggard, Bob Wills, and Bing Crosby

Merle Haggard Bob Wills Bing Crosby Ernest Tubb Ray Charles Jim Reeves Roy Orbison Hank Snow Mickey Gilley

American Songwriter Jul 18

44 Years Ago Today, Willie Nelson Hit No. 1 With an Album Named After a Massive Hit Merle Haggard Turned Down

Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Paul Simon

American Songwriter Jul 11

This Merle Haggard Song Started as a Joke, Which Is Probably Why The Grateful Dead Covered It in 1971

Merle Haggard Grateful Dead The Beach Boys Kris Kristofferson

American Songwriter Jul 8

On the Charts 41 Years Ago, This Underrated Merle Haggard Gem Featuring Harmony Vocals From Janie Fricke Hit No. 1

Merle Haggard Janie Fricke Randy Travis George Strait Randy Jackson

American Songwriter Jun 30

Born in Oklahoma 90 Years Ago, the Bassist Who Took Merle Haggard’s Place Behind Buck Owens and Helped Shape the Bakersfield Sound

Merle Haggard Buck Owens 1930s The Beatles

Billboard May 22

Chart Rewind: In 1976, Merle Haggard’s Bicentennial ‘Freedom Train’ Rolled

Merle Haggard Porter Wagoner Dolly Parton Gretchen Wilson

American Songwriter Jul 25

23 Years Ago Today, Merle Haggard Called Out the “Verbal Witch-Hunt” Rocking Country Music

Merle Haggard The Chicks Natalie Maines Toby Keith Bruce Springsteen

American Songwriter Jul 24

On This Day in 1983, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard Were at No. 1 With a Song Haggard Doesn’t Remember Recording

Willie Nelson Merle Haggard Emmylou Harris Townes Van Zandt

American Songwriter Jul 19

On This Day in 1975, Country Music Lost the Singer Who Inspired Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Jones, and “Perhaps the Biggest Supergroup of All Time”

Merle Haggard Willie Nelson George Jones Lefty Frizzell Roy Orbison George Strait Randy Travis Dwight Yoakam Keith Whitley

American Songwriter Jul 13

Born 72 Years Ago Today in the Lone Star State, the Hitmaking Sister of a Country Legend and ‘Hee Haw’ Honey Who Recorded With Merle Haggard

American Songwriter Jul 10

Remember When Merle Haggard Released a Duet With Clint Eastwood in 1980?

Clint Eastwood Merle Haggard Ray Charles Willie Nelson Ernest Tubb Gretchen Wilson Janie Fricke

American Songwriter Jul 4

25 Years Ago Today, Merle Haggard Lost His Longtime Guitarist and the Man Who “Set the Pace” for His Career

Merle Haggard Lefty Frizzell Roy Nichols Chet Atkins

Saving Country Music May 22

40 Years Ago: George Jones, Merle Haggard Bail Johnny PayCheck Out of Jail

George Jones Johnny Paycheck Merle Haggard Johnny Cash Kris Kristofferson The Highwaymen Waylon Jennings Willie Nelson

End of Front page

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Seen in 17 outlets, tracked since May 2026

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