Less than a month after Merle Haggard’s death on April 6, 2016, longtime friend Toby Keith paid tribute to his buddy with a medley of the Hag’s hits at the American Country Countdown Awards on May 1. A few weeks later, Toby stepped onstage at the famed Grand Ole Opry on May 20 and saluted…… MORE
![Merle Haggard’s Final Recording – Kern River Blues [LISTEN]](https://www.nightswithelaina.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1311/2016/05/merle-125x125.png)
Merle Haggard’s final song has been released to the public. It’s called KERN RIVER BLUES, and it was written and recorded DURING his battle with pneumonia. In the song, Merle reflects on leaving Bakersfield, CA in the late 1970s.… MORE
// 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… Posted by Ben Haggard on Wednesday, April 6, 2016… MORE