Where to find Merle Haggard tributes on TV

His mom and dad were the Okies from Muskogee — not their Bakersfield-born boy — but the loping tune about small-town pride made Merle Haggard a country music icon. Today, radio stations around the world are playing the song — which spent four weeks in the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart in November and December of 1969 — to honor Haggard, who died today on his 79th birthday.

Merle Haggard dies at 79

Haggard’s manager, Frank Mull, confirmed that Haggard succumbed to the pneumonia that had plagued him for months, forcing him to cancer recent tour dates —  a foreboding sign to Haggard’s multi-generations of fans.

“When I quit doing them (tours), the next big event is the funeral,” he told the Associated Press in a 1990 interview. “They keep me young.” And he rarely stayed off the road.

Fans hoping to remember Haggard — who parlayed an impoverished sickly youth and some time in San Quentin into a prolific song-writing career with 38 No. 1 hits — have a number of TV options beginning with tonight’s special CMT Remembers Merle Haggard,” which premieres at  8:30pm ET/PT.  According to the network, the special will feature never-before-seen footage and interviews, vintage performance clips and commentary from Haggard himself as well as some of country music’s biggest stars including Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith, Florida Georgia Line, Vince Gill, Wynonna Judd, Dwight Yoakam, Brooks & Dunn and Bobby Bare.

Other highlights include:

  • His final 2013 interview with CMT in which he reflects on his time in prison as the pivotal point in his life and how it shaped him as a man and musician
  • The humorous side of the country music legend, such as Haggard on Glen Campbell’s Good Time Hour impersonating Buck Owen and Johnny Cash
  • Haggard sharing his thoughts with CMT about receiving country music’s highest honors throughout the years.

Tomorrow, CMT will air an all-day tribute “All Merle, All Day,” featuring Haggard’s greatest songs and videos on CMT and CMT Music.

On Friday, AXS TV honors Haggard with a special airing of Dan Rather’s “The Big Interview” at 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT. The special features Haggard’s candid conversation with Rather about everything from his time in prison to his political views, his time on the road with Bob Dylan, and his biggest fear in life. The episode originally aired on September 30, 2013. “The Big Interview” will encore Sat., April 9 at 9am ET and Sunday, April 10 at 8am ET.

Also on Friday, AXS will air  “Merle Haggard-Live at Billy Bob’s Texas” at 12:30 p.m./9:30 a.m. PT.  The concert features such songs as “Ol’ Country Singer,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Natural High,” among others.  The concert airs again on Sat., April 9 at 10 a.m. ET.

Tell us: what’s your favorite Haggard tune? Were you lucky enough to see him perform? Share your thoughts and memories in the comments section.

5 Comments

  1. 1965-66 stationed in Fairbanks,Alaska. Merle played with Bonnie Owens at the Silver Dollar Saloon .Many nights with them both. Sure enjoyed the musi c that he put out.Many laughs many dri ks with a very special person. Merle rezt in peace

  2. I saw you at Somerset Ky and it was a thrill to see you in person with your band. Thank you for giving us lots of country music while on this earth. You are my favorite. A fan who loved you.

  3. i saw merle in charlottville va in 2005 my first time seeing him in concert had seen willie and george but seeing merle was the hilite of all concerts i love country music i go to nashville everychance i get i will think of mh everytime i hear big city wz one of my favorite songs u will be missed but u are with your friends who have passed rip mh

  4. Saw Hag & the Strangers in Toledo in the early 80s on a winter heavy snow eve. Wife, 8 yr old and I decided to go last minute. Bought tickets at the window. Asked for front row no show tickets. Got 2 1st row orchestra seats. Daughter sat in my lap. Best seats, best concert. Awesome. Thank you Merle.

  5. Merle, I am one of the lucky ones, I got to see you many many times I will never forget the time we came to see you when you played in Nashville Brown County and I kept looking for my brother because he loved you and we knew you was getting ready to come on so we went searching for him guess where I was he was backing the bus talking with Merle Haggard and having Merle Haggard signed his Guitar. Now that sounds like David doesn’t it? I also saw you and Anderson Indiana and you are out by your bus Waiting And I asked you if I could take a picture with you and you told me yes Well my husband kept trying to get the picture To take but it wouldn’t for some reason I think he didn’t know that there wasn’t any more filming it at that time but I got to hug you and for that I am very glad and honored and I’d have to tell you my favorite song from you is Mama Tried. I recently lost my mom from Alzheimer’s August 24th and she loves you if for any reason that you can B near my mom please give her a hug for me and ask her to yodel for you LOL she was like that I miss her so much and I will never forget you either not ever today’s country there’s nothing quite like it was Back then it was you and Waylon and Willie and Hank Junior George Jones and there were a few more Vince Gill Tammy Wynette the list could go on and on Conway Twitty but I know one thing just like I said about George Jones who’s going to fill their shoes I say no one there will never be anybody like you I am just glad I got the opportunity to see you in person and speak with you I never did get to meet Willie Nelson and that has been a dream of mine forever, who knows what the future holds Jesus could be coming after us all they didn’t time and I cannot wait until I can make it to heaven to see my brother my mother and all of you guys up there down here this world is not my home I’m just passing through God bless you and your family I know that you were just an empty shell down here now but you are up there with Jesus shining and he has said to you welcome home my child God bless Okie from Muskogee so many beautiful songs that you did you are always very kind I cannot believe you are gone but I do know one thing that when we are born we have an appointed time to die. Rip Merle Haggard

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About Lori Acken 1195 Articles
Lori just hasn't been the same since "thirtysomething" and "Northern Exposure" went off the air.