Before becoming a country music legend, Merle Haggard was serving time at San Quentin when a woman he had never met began sending him letters. That woman was Bonnie Owens – a rising star and the ex-wife of Buck Owens. When Merle was released, he had almost nothing, while Bonnie had just won the first ACM Top Female Vocalist award. But instead of pursuing her own success, she quietly gave Merle her best songs, yielding the spotlight, singing backing vocals for 13 years, and letting the world forget her name. They divorced in 1978, but Bonnie remained by Merle’s side for another three decades. When asked why, her answer was simply a promise made in 1965 – and many believe it’s the most beautiful untold story about Merle Haggard.
Introduction: The Promise Bonnie Owens Kept Long After the Applause Faded Before Merle Haggard became one of the most respected…