Introduction:
There are songs that rise from inspiration, and then there are songs that rise from life itself — born in moments so personal that they carry the heartbeat of the people who inspired them. For Merle Haggard, one of those songs was Today I Started Loving You Again, and behind it stood a woman who not only shared his life, but also helped capture the words that would become timeless.
Merle recalls a creative period shortly after marrying her. Whenever inspiration struck, she was there — pad and pen in hand — ready to write down every word before it slipped away. Without her, he insists, there would have been no Mama Tried or Workin’ Man Blues. In 1968 or 1969, the pair achieved a remarkable feat: six BMI awards in a single year, with her faithfully recording every song.
The seed for Today I Started Loving You Again was planted after a long tour in Texas. They had been on the road for nine days, then faced another 45-day stretch after a short break. Landing in Los Angeles, Merle turned to her and said, “We haven’t had much time to say hello… today I’ll start loving you again.” She immediately saw it as a song idea.
Three weeks later, in Dallas at Dewey Groom’s Longhorn Ballroom, the moment came to life. After a long night — including a dispute with Groom himself — Merle returned to his room, sat on the bed in his shorts, and asked her to get him a hamburger. While she was gone, he tore open a paper bag and wrote the song right there. An extra verse was left unused, but the heart of the song was complete.
It went on to become one of his most enduring works — financially and emotionally. Merle says half his royalties come from all his other songs combined, and the other half comes from Today I Started Loving You Again. Though he gave her half the rights from the start, their eventual divorce meant she gained even more. Still, there was no bitterness. Their love simply transformed into a deep friendship, lasting until her death.
Even after the marriage ended, their bond remained strong. His children adored her, and Merle continued to hold her in high regard. Years later, when she was living with Alzheimer’s, Merle visited her. She took him to her room, where a large photo of the two of them hung above her bed. She looked at the picture, smiled, and said proudly, “He’s my favorite.”
In that moment, Merle realized something profound — even when memories fade, the emotions they leave behind can linger, untouched by time. Today I Started Loving You Again wasn’t just a hit song; it was a reflection of a connection that endured through marriage, separation, and the fading light of memory. It remains a reminder that love, once real, can never truly be forgotten.