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  1. Home
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  3. Merle Haggard's Life in Pictures

Merle Haggard's Life in Pictures

By Jessica Goodman and Madeline Boardman Updated April 06, 2016 at 07:00 PM EDT
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Merle Haggard's Life in Pictures

Merle Haggard's Life in Pictures
Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Legendary country singer Merle Haggard died Wednesday on his 79th birthday, after a battle with double pneumonia, which forced him to cancel a string of shows in recent months. Known for tunes like "Okie from Muskogee" and "Mama Tried," the California-born star got his start after seeing Johnny Cash perform while he was serving time in San Quentin State Prison for breaking and entering a local roadhouse. After decades in the music industry and honors from the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Kennedy Center, Haggard leaves behind a long and stunning legacy.

 

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Merle Haggard in 1964

Merle Haggard in 1964
Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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Merle Haggard in Los Angeles in September 1966

Merle Haggard in Los Angeles in September 1966
Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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Merle Haggard on The Johnny Cash Show on August 2, 1969

Merle Haggard on The Johnny Cash Show on August 2, 1969
Credit: ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images

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Merle Haggard in 1970

Merle Haggard in 1970
Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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Merle Haggard on The Johnny Cash Show on January 21, 1971

Merle Haggard on The Johnny Cash Show on January 21, 1971
Credit: ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images

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Merle Haggard in the Mid-1970s

Merle Haggard in the Mid-1970s
Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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Merle Haggard Performing for President Richard Nixon and His Family on March 17, 1973

Merle Haggard Performing for President Richard Nixon and His Family on March 17, 1973
Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images

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Merle Haggard With Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond on Donny & Marie on January 14, 1977

Merle Haggard With Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond on Donny & Marie on January 14, 1977
Credit: ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images

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Merle Haggard on The Merv Griffin Show in the Late 1970s

Merle Haggard on The Merv Griffin Show in the Late 1970s
Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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Merle Haggard With President Ronald Reagan on March 16, 1982

Merle Haggard With President Ronald Reagan on March 16, 1982
Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images

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Merle Haggard in 1985

Merle Haggard in 1985
Credit: Ebet Roberts/Redferns

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Merle Haggard at the Country Music Festival in London on April 1988

Merle Haggard at the Country Music Festival in London on April 1988
Credit: David Redfern/Redferns

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Merle Haggard Performing at the Oakland Coliseum on January 19, 1990

Merle Haggard Performing at the Oakland Coliseum on January 19, 1990
Credit: Clayton Call/Redferns

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Merle Haggard and The Strangers at Tramps in New York City on June 23, 1993

Merle Haggard and The Strangers at Tramps in New York City on June 23, 1993
Credit: Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images

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Merle Haggard With Vince Gill and Jane Seymour at the 29th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on May 3, 1994

Merle Haggard With Vince Gill and Jane Seymour at the 29th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on May 3, 1994
Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

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Merle Haggard on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on January 15, 1996

Merle Haggard on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on January 15, 1996
Credit: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

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Merle Haggard With Marty Stuart Filming the "Farmer's Blues" Music Video on August 31, 2003

Merle Haggard With Marty Stuart Filming the "Farmer's Blues" Music Video on August 31, 2003
Credit: Frank Mullen/WireImage

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Merle Haggard With Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis and Kid Rock on May 5, 2004

Merle Haggard With Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis and Kid Rock on May 5, 2004
Credit: M. Caulfield/WireImage

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Merle Haggard at the Willie Nelson 4th of July Concert in San Antonio, Texas on July 4, 2008

Merle Haggard at the Willie Nelson 4th of July Concert in San Antonio, Texas on July 4, 2008
Credit: Gary Miller/FilmMagic

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Merle Haggard at the 2nd Annual ACM Honors on September 22, 2009

Merle Haggard
Credit: Tony R. Phipps/FilmMagic

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Merle Haggard With Paul McCartney and Bill T. Jones at the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors on December 4, 2010

Merle Haggard With Paul McCartney and Bill T. Jones at the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors on December 4, 2010
Credit: Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images

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Merle Haggard With Jason Aldean at the 2014 CMT Artists Of The Year in Nashville on December 2, 2014

Merle Haggard With Jason Aldean at the 2014 CMT Artists Of The Year in Nashville on December 2, 2014
Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

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Merle Haggard Performing at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California on April 24, 2015

Merle Haggard Performing at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California on April 24, 2015
Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

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    1 of 24 Merle Haggard's Life in Pictures
    2 of 24 Merle Haggard in 1964
    3 of 24 Merle Haggard in Los Angeles in September 1966
    4 of 24 Merle Haggard on The Johnny Cash Show on August 2, 1969
    5 of 24 Merle Haggard in 1970
    6 of 24 Merle Haggard on The Johnny Cash Show on January 21, 1971
    7 of 24 Merle Haggard in the Mid-1970s
    8 of 24 Merle Haggard Performing for President Richard Nixon and His Family on March 17, 1973
    9 of 24 Merle Haggard With Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond on Donny & Marie on January 14, 1977
    10 of 24 Merle Haggard on The Merv Griffin Show in the Late 1970s
    11 of 24 Merle Haggard With President Ronald Reagan on March 16, 1982
    12 of 24 Merle Haggard in 1985
    13 of 24 Merle Haggard at the Country Music Festival in London on April 1988
    14 of 24 Merle Haggard Performing at the Oakland Coliseum on January 19, 1990
    15 of 24 Merle Haggard and The Strangers at Tramps in New York City on June 23, 1993
    16 of 24 Merle Haggard With Vince Gill and Jane Seymour at the 29th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on May 3, 1994
    17 of 24 Merle Haggard on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on January 15, 1996
    18 of 24 Merle Haggard With Marty Stuart Filming the "Farmer's Blues" Music Video on August 31, 2003
    19 of 24 Merle Haggard With Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis and Kid Rock on May 5, 2004
    20 of 24 Merle Haggard at the Willie Nelson 4th of July Concert in San Antonio, Texas on July 4, 2008
    21 of 24 Merle Haggard at the 2nd Annual ACM Honors on September 22, 2009
    22 of 24 Merle Haggard With Paul McCartney and Bill T. Jones at the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors on December 4, 2010
    23 of 24 Merle Haggard With Jason Aldean at the 2014 CMT Artists Of The Year in Nashville on December 2, 2014
    24 of 24 Merle Haggard Performing at the Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California on April 24, 2015

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