Merle Ronald Haggard was born on April 6, 1937, in Bakersfield, California, United States. He was the son of James Frances and Flossie Mae (Harp) Haggard. Haggard's childhood was troubled after the death of his father, and he was incarcerated several times in his youth. At 12, his brother, Lowell, gave him his used guitar, so Haggard learned to play alone, with the records he had at home, influenced by Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell, and Hank Williams.
Haggrad graduated from the high school in Bakersfield. On June 14, 2013, the California State University, Bakersfield, awarded Haggard the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts.
Haggard started his career as a musician working with Capitol Records in 1963.
In 1967, Haggard recorded "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive with The Strangers," also written by Liz Anderson with her husband Casey Anderson, which became his first number-one single. In 1969, Haggard and The Strangers released "Okie From Muskogee," which became his main single during his long career.
In 1977, he went to Tally Records and Master of Computer Applications Records. Haggard's first record for Tally was "Singing My Heart Out" backed by "Skid Row"; it was not a success, and only 200 copies were pressed.
In 1981, Haggard started working with Columbia Broadcasting System Records. This year Haggard published an autobiography, Sing Me Back Home.
Between 1981 and 1985, Haggard scored 12 more top-10 country hits, with nine of them reaching number one, including "My Favorite Memory," "Going Where the Lonely Go," "Someday When Things Are Good," and "Natural High."
Haggard was hampered by financial woes well into the 1990s, as his presence on the charts diminished in favor of newer country singers, such as George Strait and Randy Travis. Haggard's last number-one hit was "Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star" from his smash album Chill Factor in 1988.
In 1989 Haggard went to Curb Records.
In 2000, Haggard made a comeback of sorts, signing with the independent record label Anti and releasing the spare If I Could Only Fly to critical acclaim.
In October 2005, Haggard released his album Chicago Wind to mostly positive reviews.
In April 2010, Haggard released a new album, I Am What I Am, to strong reviews, touring with it and his main singles till 2016.
Since 1973, Haggard was also a director of Hag Productions. Inc., and since 1990, he became the president of Shade Tree Music Public Company.
Haggard was also an actor in television productions, including Huck Finn, Doc Elliot, and The Waltons.
Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band the Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound - a genre of country music of the mid to late 1950s.
Haggard was inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977, Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994 and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 1997.
On November 6, 2013 The mayor of Winchester, Virginia awarded Haggard the Key to the City at the Patsy Cline Theatre after a sold out show by Bonnie Blue Concerts.
He is also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records and many encyclopedias.
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Haggard was married five times, first to Leona Hobbs from 1956 to 1964. They had four children: Dana, Marty, Kelli, and Noel. In 1965, he married singer Bonnie Owens. Haggard and Owens divorced in 1978, but remained close friends as Owens continued as his backing vocalist until her death in 2006.
In 1978, Haggard married Leona Williams. In 1983, they divorced. In 1985 Haggard married Debbie Parret; they divorced in 1991. He married his fifth wife, Theresa Ann Lane, on September 11, 1993. They had two children, Jenessa and Ben.
