Merle Haggard's Life in Pictures

Merle Haggard's Life in Pictures

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.

Merle Haggard in 1964

Merle Haggard in Los Angeles in September 1966

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

Merle Haggard in 1970

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

Merle Haggard in the Mid-1970s

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

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

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

Merle Haggard With President Ronald Reagan on March 16, 1982

Merle Haggard in 1985

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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