Honky Tonk Tales / The Life and Legend of Merle Haggard

From prison bars to country stars, Merle Haggard lived one of the most legendary lives in American music. In this in-depth episode of Honky Tonk Tales, Jimmy takes you on a ride through the wild, raw, and redemptive journey of the Okie from Muskogee.

Hear how Haggard went from juvenile delinquent to San Quentin inmate, and eventually, to the voice of the working man and a Hall of Fame icon. Along the way, we explore the birth of the Bakersfield Sound, the story behind “Mama Tried,” the controversy of “Okie from Muskogee,” backstage brawls, heartbreak, and a whole lot of Telecaster twang.

Biographical, humorous, and deeply human—this episode is a tribute to a man who didn’t just sing country music… he was country music.

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