Dolly Parton, Jimmy Fortune, Oak Ridge Boys & Others Respond to Merle Haggard's Death

By Timothy Yap Apr 06, 2016 09:37 PM EDT

Country music legend and Oildale native, Merle Haggard has passed away today. Today also happens to be his 79th birthday. Haggard has died after a brief struggle with pneumonia. The singer will always be remembered as one of the pioneers of the Bakersfield sound. Haggard was also involved in the Outlaw Country movement.

Over the last few months, Haggard has not been well. On December 5 last year, Haggard was treated at an undisclosed hospital in California for pneumonia. He made a recovery, but postponed several concerts. In March of this year, Haggard was once again hospitalized with pneumonia. Concerts for April were cancelled due to his ongoing battle with double pneumonia.

We've lost one of the greatest writers and singers of all time. His heart was as tender as his love ballads. I loved him like a brother. Rest easy, Merle. -- Dolly Parton

We've lost another hero. Now he doesn't have to be in pain anymore. I know he's not suffering anymore. I just can't imagine a world without Merle. It's so hard to accept, but I'll continue honoring him on stage just as I do during every show. We played a lot of gigs together through the years, but some of my fondest memories were hanging out in a natural setting, like the time we sat there by the river in his backyard and ate bologna sandwiches. Merle was a simple man with incredible talent like no other. And now he's up there singing with George [Jones] and all the angels. Love you, Merle. -- Tanya Tucker

Merle Haggard was an original. Not just a singer, not just a songwriter, not just another famous performer. He was your common everyday working man. I remember when I was 15 years old on tour with Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard. They both were wondering which one of the two was going to make it. Well, they both made it. Today, ole Merle joined Waylon, George, and daddy to sing in the Heavenly choir. -- Hank Williams, Jr.

My heart is broken over the loss of one of the greatest country singers ever. He was an icon to me. He took me to school with his phrasing, his songwriting and style - and he was undoubtedly one of my greatest influences. Getting to sing with him several times over the years will be memories I cherish forever. He was such a great man, on stage and off. -- Gene Watson

Merle Haggard was one of the greatest songwriters, performers and story-tellers that ever lived. I grew up on his music and am I'm so saddened by his passing. -- Kiefer Sutherland

I am deeply saddened to hear of Merle's passing. He was a dear friend, I remember touring with him at various points throughout the 90's and those are memories that I will always cherish. I hate that he lived so far away from us these last few years, but definitely understand it. My hope is that he passed a happy and content man. I learned so much from this kind man about singing, when Merle Haggard sang you paid attention. He is about as close to perfection in country music as we will probably ever have. -- Lorrie Morgan

I am devastated over the loss of Merle Haggard. He was my absolute favorite of ALL time. I have listened to him since I was a kid. His poetry, his voice and his pure country music style will live forever. I am listening to him sing Sweet Jesus with The Oak Ridge Boys as I write this. SO honored to have recorded this Dove Award winning song with my HERO! Rest Easy Hag... Until The Day..."Jesus... Sweet Jesus...You love me just as I am... Jesus... Sweet Jesus... I've been washed in the Blood of the Lamb!" -- Joe Bonsall / Oak Ridge Boys

A few years ago Merle sent me a song he wanted The Oak Ridge Boys to record. He'd written it with Kenny Vernon. When I heard it, I felt there was no way we could do it unless we asked Merle to do it with us.vHis response was, "Anything you 'Boys' want."
So, we recorded "Sweet Jesus," and it won a Gospel Music Association Dove Award for Best Country Song. It was a huge honor to sing with one of our biggest heroes, Merle Haggard.
May he rest in peace in the arms of Sweet Jesus. -- Duane Allen / Oak Ridge Boys

Merle was a singer's singer, a musician's musician, and a songwriter's songwriter. He set the feelings of the everyday common man to music, creating songs that will outlive us all. I feel privileged to have toured with him and known him as both a great artist and as a friend. His passing leaves a big hole in country music and in the hearts of the millions who loved him and his artistry. -- Bill Anderson

Merle always treated me like a true friend treats his true friends. We had great fun every time we worked together. He was one of the good ones. Getting to see God's face on your birthday, what a wonderful gift! -- T. Graham Brown

George and I loved Merle so much. George would always say nobody could ever sing like Merle Haggard. Merle was one of our Country Heroes. Now, George and Merle are together again singing with the Angel Band. -- Nancy Jones

We join the world of the broken hearted hearing of the death of Merle Haggard. One of the first things John and I realized we had in common was our love of Haggard songs. What a blessing to have had a chance to get to know him and work with such a legend in our career. Merle, guess you finally are on the ultimate Natural High. We will have your music in our hearts and souls and honkytonk nights forever! God Bless the great Merle Haggard. May you fly with the Angels. -- 'Big Kenny' Alphin / Big & Rich

"Mighty" Merle Haggard was the greatest country songwriter of ALL TIME. We shared many great memories, and I will miss him. Merle set the bar so high no one will ever top it. He refused to bend and turn to the whims of the music industry throughout the decades, and instead remained a steady ship of constant greatness that every artist could look up to and aspire to be. I had the distinct honor of becoming his friend and spent priceless time picking guitars on the back of his bus, doing videos together, and I soaked up every drop of soul from him every chance I got. You take your hat off when you shake hands with Merle Haggard. You listen and pay attention and realize that you are in the company of one of God's prize creations. I will miss him. I bet Heaven has swingin' doors today. -- John Rich / Big & Rich

We've lost another great one. Merle leaves a great legacy behind, the songs, the styling, the phrasing....to study Merle's musical style was to immerse yourself in the heart of Country. For months we've been planning a Tribute to Merle, the guest have been invited and Merle had it on his calendar. We will miss him greatly. Now the tribute will be a honoring of the man his songs, his music and his life. -- Larry Black, Larry's Country Diner

He was the genius of the last half century in country music and we will all miss him and nobody can replace him. -- Leroy Van Dyke

It was a tremendous opportunity to be able to sing duets with Merle and for that to be a part of my life. What a great difference it made to me to be able to work on Merle's records. It was like a dream come true... I never would have imagined to be able to sing duets with all the great artists that I've worked with. Merle has been such a special part of my life, I'm just proud to have great memories of working with him. -- Janie Fricke

He's my hero and I'll never forget recording 'Don't Sing Me No Songs About Texas' with Merle. To hear hear him on the same track as me was amazing. Merle was the master. The ultimate writer, musician and singer. He did it all. And I will miss him so much. -- Moe Bandy

Merle Haggard's death not only signifies the passing of the greatest singer Country Music has ever known, but also resonates hard with us personally. At our house we considered Merle almost a family member, from the early days when our dad would wake us up for school by playing one of his albums to years later when we played many shows together with Merle on tour. The first show we played with Merle - he came barreling on to our tour bus looking for a place to hide while the police were searching his bus. By the time that incident got cleared up we'd become friends. We let him know he could hide out on our bus anytime he needed to and we continued to tour many more times with him and collect lots more Merle stories over the years. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today and may God rest his soul. -- David and Howard Bellamy, The Bellamy Brothers

He did our Statler Brothers TV show a few times and I got to know him over the years. He was one of the most influential people in this business. He is going to be sorely missed. Heaven's band just got another great member much like so many of our other heroes who have passed. We will miss him dearly. -- Jimmy Fortune

It's a very sad day for the world to lose the great Merle Haggard. I still can't believe it. The last time I saw him was just outside of the Station Inn here in Nashville. We stood in the middle of the road and laughed and talked. I can still see the sparkle in his eye. He had such a beautiful spirit. I treasure that memory. Even beyond his amazing songs and music, it was easy to see why Merle was so loved. He will missed forever. -- Deborah Allen

I have lost a dear friend, but Country music and its fans have lost one of its greatest treasures. One of my greatest memories of Hag was always speaking on Christmas and catching up, as well as having toured and sang with him. -- T.G. Sheppard

I am still sitting here processing the news I just learned of the passing of Merle Haggard and ironically on his birthday. Remembering precious memories of meeting him just one year ago, sitting on his bus, talking about how he continued to write songs each and every day. He even mentioned he had a song for me. How special it was, as he listened to us sing, and after he even played Hunter's fiddle. His music will live forever! Our sincere condolences to his family. Rest In Sweet Peace "Mighty Merle"!! -- Rhonda Vincent

Being that I was a huge Merle Haggard fan, he was one of the ones that I did a couple of shows with early in my career. He welcomed me into the music industry. It's extremely sad when you see people like "The Hag" leave us - he's been huge, the industry is what it is today because of great musicians/artists/songwriters like him. -- Mark Wills

My friendship goes back to 1963 when Merle was voted Most Promising Male Vocalist and I was voted Most Promising Female Vocalist by VIP, which later became the ACM Awards. When I first met Merle, I was a little intimidated because my mom warned me of anybody who had been in prison. I got over my fears and we became very close through the years. He recorded two of my songs "Life of a Rodeo Cowboy" and "My Love For You." And I sang backup for him on "Ramblin Fever" and "Always On A Mountain When I Fall." His passing is such a loss to not only me personally, but our entire industry. We all loved the Hag. --Jeannie Seely