Merle Haggard: Life in pictures
Merle Haggard tips his hat to the crowd as he performs at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio on April 24, 2015.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)Merle Haggard sits on his bus with Fanny Mae before performing at the Stagecoach Music Festival in 2010.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)Merle Haggard performs at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on Feb. 11, 2016.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)Kris Kristofferson encourages the band as he performs with Merle Haggard, left, at the Saban Theatre this year.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)Merle Haggard accepts the ACM Crystal Milestone Award during the Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 6, 2014.
(Ethan Miller / Getty Images)Merle Haggard poses with wife Theresa and son Ben at the 2014 Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Jan. 26, 2014.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)Merle Haggard performs with Blake Shelton, right, at the 2014 Grammys.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)Merle Haggard poses at his ranch at Palo Cedro, Calif., on Oct. 2, 2007.
(Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)Merle Haggard smiles during a May 28, 2003, news conference at the National Museum of American History in Washington, where he and his sister Lillian Haggard Hoge donated belongings taken on their family’s Dust Bowl-era move from Oklahoma to California.
(Rick Bowmer / Associated Press)Merle Haggard on his property in Palo Cedro in January 2009.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)The country singer during a photo shoot at the Muddy Moose Bar at the Sportsmen’s Lodge Event Center in 2004.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)Merle Haggard with a map at a 1985 news conference for the U.S.A. for America tour.
(Patrick Downs / Los Angeles Times)Merle Haggard in concert at Anaheim Stadium in 1980.
(George Rose / Los Angeles Times)Merle Haggard, right, and then Times writer Robert Hilburn at Anaheim Stadium in October 1980.
(George Rose / Los Angeles Times)Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens and Glen Campbell perform on a TV show in the mid-1970s.
(Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images)Merle Haggard performs with Johnny Cash on “The Johnny Cash Show” on Aug. 2, 1969.
(ABC Photo Archives / Getty Images)