OldiesButGoodies

Country

Dad told us he was gonna pass on his birthday, and he wasn’t wrong’: Heartbroken son of California country legend Merle Haggard reveals his father predicted day of his death

Merle Haggard's son Ben reveals his father predicted day of his death | Daily Mail Online

Introduction:

The grief-stricken son of country singer Merle Haggard, who died aged 79 on Wednesday, has revealed his father predicted that he would die on his birthday.

In a touching Instagram post, Ben Haggard, 23, wrote: ‘A week ago dad told us he was gonna pass on his birthday, and he wasn’t wrong.

‘A hour ago he took his last breath surrounded by family and friends. He loved everything about life and he loved that everyone of you gave him a chance with his music.

‘He wasn’t just a country singer… he was the best country singer that ever lived.’

The words were accompanied by a black-and-white photograph of father and son holding hands.

Ben was the guitarist in his father’s band, The Strangers.

Shortly afterwards, he shared a touching photo of himself as a child with his father. It was captioned: ‘Something you never get over.’

Stars including his long-term friend and collaborator, Willie Nelson, rushed to pay tribute after Haggard’s manager confirmed the news of his passing.

The death came just a few days after the singer cancelled his April concert dates after suffering from a recurring bout of double pneumonia.

He had a battle with lung cancer in 2008 – having part of a lung removed – but despite illness and his advancing age kept up an ambitious touring schedule.

Indeed, his 2015 tour schedule saw him perform in over 30 cities.

Amongst those paying to tribute was his close friend and collaborator Nelson, who said: ‘He was my brother, my friend. I will miss him.’

Stars including Carrie Underwood, Cassadee Pope, Dierks Bentley and Hillary Scott also shared their condolences.

A masterful guitarist, fiddler and songwriter as well as singer, Haggard recorded for more than 40 years, releasing dozens of albums and No. 1 hits.

The Country Music Hall of Famer’s repertoire included songs with traditional country music themes such as drinking and heartache but he also infused them with more insight and tenderness than most honky-tonkers. He also broadened the genre by writing about poverty, loneliness and social issues.

Related Post

Merle Haggard’s childhood was becoming increasingly chaotic when something entered his life that would eventually change everything: a guitar. His older brother Lowell gave him one when Merle was around 12. Merle began teaching himself, absorbing the records and styles of country heroes such as Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell and Hank Williams. There were no expensive lessons preparing him for Nashville. There was simply a troubled California kid listening closely and learning how another man’s sadness could live inside a melody. Merle would still make plenty of mistakes. Music didn’t instantly rescue him from running away, juvenile detention or eventually prison. But the guitar remained. Years later, millions would recognize Merle’s voice within seconds. Perhaps that’s because he wasn’t merely learning how to sing songs as a boy. He was slowly learning how to tell the truth about his own life.

Merle Haggard rarely needed to invent heartbreak. He had known it since childhood. In 1946, when Merle was only nine years old, his father, James Haggard, died following a stroke. For a boy who deeply needed his father’s presence, the loss became a turning point. His mother, Flossie, worked to support the family. Merle, meanwhile, became increasingly restless. He skipped school, ran away, got into trouble, and began a long journey through juvenile institutions that eventually led somewhere far darker. Looking back at his life, it is difficult not to see that nine-year-old boy behind many of the adult Merle Haggard’s songs. People later called him a rebel, an outlaw and a survivor. But before any of those labels existed, there was simply a grieving boy who had lost his dad—and never seemed to completely outrun that loss.

THE RAREST BEE GEES MOMENT OF ALL — FOUR GIBB BROTHERS, ONE SONG, ONE STAGE… AND A MEMORY FILLED WITH BOTH JOY AND HEARTBREAK.

You Missed

Oldies Music

A MOVING MOMENT: Barry Gibb brings fans to tears with a rare stage appearance alongside his wife.

Oldies Music

“FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, CLIFF RICHARD HAD BEEN ONE OF BRITAIN’S MOST BELOVED STARS — THEN CAMERAS FILMED A POLICE SEARCH OF HIS HOME, BEGINNING A NIGHTMARE THAT WOULD END IN A COURTROOM…” On August 14, 2014, Cliff Richard’s life took an unexpected and deeply distressing turn. Police searched his Berkshire home as part of an investigation into an allegation of historical sexual abuse. The search was filmed from a helicopter and broadcast by the BBC, bringing intensely personal and damaging publicity to a singer whose career had spanned more than five decades. Cliff denied the allegation. For nearly two years, uncertainty surrounded his reputation and future. Yet he was never arrested or charged. In June 2016, prosecutors announced that there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against him. But the story did not end there. Cliff challenged the BBC’s coverage, arguing that broadcasting the search had violated his privacy. In July 2018, the High Court ruled in his favor. For a man whose music had accompanied generations of British families, the experience marked one of the most painful public chapters of his life. It also raised difficult questions about privacy, journalism and the treatment of people under investigation. Cliff Richard had spent a lifetime performing before cameras. In 2014, cameras captured a moment he had never chosen to share.

Oldies Music

The story of Andy Gibb has gone untold for decades—now, his daughter has revealed a touching truth. It is a revelation that has deeply moved his fans.

Oldies Music

“RAIN HAD BROUGHT WIMBLEDON TO A STANDSTILL IN 1996 — BUT WHEN CLIFF RICHARD STOOD UP AND BEGAN SINGING, AN ORDINARY TENNIS DELAY TURNED INTO ONE OF THE MOST UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS IN THE TOURNAMENT’S HISTORY…” On a rainy day at Wimbledon in 1996, thousands of tennis fans found themselves waiting for play to resume. The famous grass courts were wet, the matches were interrupted, and the crowd had little to do but wait. Then something extraordinary happened. Among the spectators was one of Britain’s most recognizable entertainers: Cliff Richard. Rather than simply watching the rain, Cliff began singing. There was no planned concert, no elaborate stage, and no orchestra waiting to accompany him. Yet the moment quickly turned into an impromptu musical performance. As Cliff entertained the crowd, several tennis stars, including Martina Navratilova, joined the occasion. The spectators who had arrived expecting world-class tennis suddenly found themselves enjoying an unexpected show. Songs associated with Cliff’s long career echoed around Centre Court, bringing laughter, applause, and a welcome distraction from the disappointing weather. What made the moment so memorable was its spontaneity. Cliff had spent decades performing in theaters, concert halls, and stadiums. But this time, one of his most famous appearances happened because a tennis match couldn’t continue. For a few unforgettable minutes, Wimbledon stopped being about tennis — and became a Cliff Richard concert instead.