Merle Haggard Dies on His 79th Birthday

Merle Haggard

Country music legend Merle Haggard, best known for such patriotic hits as “Okie From Muskogee” and “The Fightin’ Side of Me,” died Wednesday, his birthday, at his home in Northern California. He was 79. Haggard died of complications from pneumonia

Born MERLE RONALD HAGGARD in OILDALE, CALIFORNIA, HAGGARD and his family lived in an old boxcar that they converted into a home. After a rough start and trouble-filled youth, HAGGARD turned to music and rose to prominence as a Country singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist as he helped to create and shape the BAKERSFIELD SOUND of the 60s. By the 1970s, HAGGARD was aligned with the ever-growing Outlaw Country movement. He continued a successful career that included hits such as “Mama Tried,” “Workin’ Man Blues,” “Okie From Muskogee,” “The Fightin’ Side Of Me,” “If We Make It Through December,” “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink,” and many more, charting 38 number one hits in total.

HAGGARD released more than 35 studio albums throughout his career and earned awards from the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC, the COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION, BMI, the GRAMMYS, and more. HAGGARD was known as “The Poet Of The Working Man.” He was inducted in to the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME in 1994. He is a member of the NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME and was inducted in to the KENNEDY CENTER HONORS in 2010. HAGGARD was married five times and has six children. Friends and fans knew him simply as “HAG.”

“Country music has suffered on of the greatest losses it will ever experience,” CHARLIE DANIELS shared via TWITTER. “Rest in peace, MERLE HAGGARD.” No details are currently available regarding services or memorials.