95% of the album is my writing, by choice, because it seems to be what the distributors want.
And then I have two children by Theresa, one boy 10 and one girl 13.
And then, of course, there's a couple that claim to be, but I haven't done any DNA tests or anything.
And there's some Latino music I like, and some reggae music.
At my age, I don't buy but a half a loaf of bread, you know?
But out of that misery came music that we all identify with; country music, blues, jazz. Earthy music seemed to have its origination point in and around that period and that event.
'Cause I was already a smoker, it was easy to get addicted. The one thing that they don't teach you about marijuana is how addictive it is.
Diana Krall knocks me out. I like jazz and I like her simple approach.
Everybody likes Johnny Cash. I think the sad part of it is his health is givin' him problems.
HAG Records, is a company that I've owned. I've had a couple of gospel releases on it. We developed a pretty good distribution setup there and we do have something to use in case they don't want to sign us.
I enjoy the videos with the sound off, where you can look at the belly buttons and everything. Really some pretty girls, but I don't know about the music.
I had some surgery on my feet, which has helped my back some.
I haven't had any problems with my back since I got the foot surgery.
I refer to her as my current wife. No, her and I have been together almost 15 years, and married about 10 years. Looks like it may be a steady deal.
I think I'm most proud of my family right now. I'm more into that then I've ever been. It also gives a new area to draw from in creativity with my songs.
I was 48-years old before anybody talked me into it for medicinal purposes, instead of some of these drugs that they give you that will lead you to heart surgery and things of that nature.
I'm just writin' about my little ol' love affair.
I'm sure that's why I had to get in trouble, and have divorces and all that stuff, so I'd have the well to draw material from.
I've got one young family by the first wife, with four children.
I've got two families.
I've smoked Camels for more years than I care to mention, but I haven't had a cigarette since '91. I haven't had a joint since '95.
In 1960, when I came out of prison as an ex-convict, I had more freedom under parolee supervision than there's available... in America right now.
It makes my wife mad, you know, she wants me to stay home all the time. But its what I've done all my life and I think when I quit doing it I'll probably go away pretty quick.
It sounds like something from a Woody Guthrie song, but it's true; I was raised in a freight car.
It's been said that Bill Gates has come up with something that'll be released in December that's gonna put a lid on counterfeiting. If that's a fact then it's really interesting to own your own product - with all the potential methods of downloading.
It's easier to force feed people than it is to give 'em what they want. It makes more money.
My 10 year old son likes it. He's trying to play guitar and everything. He likes that kind of music.
My second wife Bonnie Owens and I worked together after we divorced for a period of maybe 20 years. And I managed to stay friends with another wife. And then there's one that I don't mess with. Everybody's got one of those.
No, I had a back injury early on in my life.
Oh, I think I'm most proud of my music and my children, and my current wife. She's been very supportive and probably responsible for me being here.
Sometimes if you get 'em too drunk they don't pay no attention to what you're doin' anyways, so you might as well just do old songs. But if you get one that's paying attention, sometimes we'll do some new material.
The only thing that I miss lately in all music is somebody that will put out a melody that you can whistle. It doesn't seem like there's anything happening like that.
There's a rumor that there may be an attempt at organizing a possible script for a series on my life, which, when you look at my police record, you'd have to have more than one hour to tell the story.
There's been periods of broadcasts in the past where you could see all ages of entertainers, ranging from George Burns to Shirley Temple. That's not the condition now.
They shaved a little piece of bone off my small toe. You see, you balance yourself a certain way and this toe had grown under the other ones. So he cut it loose, where I could balance myself and it makes me walk straight.
We're gonna call it Haggard. That'll be the name of the album. It's all new songs.
We've got Capitol Records that wants to sign us, and Epitaph wants to sign us. So there's two or three options.
Well, I'm kinda like George Carlin. I think that there ought to be a time where everybody should have all the drugs they want and there'd be nobody in charge, sort of like... now!
When I grew up there wasn't air-conditioning or anything of that nature, and this old car had a wall thickness of about ten inches. So we had a little warmer house in the winter and a little cooler in the summer.
When you get to readin' about where the music and John Steinbeck and all those people like that come from, the further you go the more interesting it becomes.
Years ago there was a lot of people that did that. They bought refrigerator cars and converted them into living quarters.
Merle's favorite artists from his youth are Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell, and Hank Williams.
In 1994 Merle had a autobiographical self-starring movie called Merle Haggard: An American Story. The movie also featured several more country and rock 'N roll stars, such as Clint Black and Alan Jackson.
Merle's songs were covered by several famous modern Country singers: Reba McEntire, Alabama, Pam Tillis, and Jack Ingram.
Merle's former wife, Bonnie Owens, died on April 24, 2006, in Bakersfield. She had an Alzheimer's disease, and was 76 when she died.
Merle was sent to prison for robbery crime in 1957. He was released in 1960, and was given a full pardon from Ronald Reagan in 1972.
In 1977, Merle was officially inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Merle is often nicknamed "The Hag."
Merle is featured in Gretchen Wilson's song Politically Uncorrect (2006). He also appears on the video for this song, singing from the signs.
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