Merle Haggard: A Life in Pictures

Merle Haggard at his ranch at Palo Cedro, Calif., Oct. 2, 2007. He died Wednesday at age 79. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson accept their Duo of the Year award at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Oct. 10, 1983. AP Photo/Mark Humphrey
Merle Haggard performs in Chicago, Oct. 27, 1996. Paul Natkin/Getty Images
Merle Haggard, circa 1964. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Merle Haggard, Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis and Kid Rock, 2004. M. Caulfield/WireImage for NBC Universal
Merle Haggard, 1987. CBS Photo
Merle Haggard performs at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tenn., in Oct. 1977. AP Photo/Mark Humphrey
Merle Haggard performs at the 2015 Big Barrel Country Music Festival in Dover, Del. Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP
Merle Haggard shares a moment with President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan during a barbecue lunch at Rancho Sierra Grande, Calif. on March 7, 1982. AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi
Merle Haggard performs at Countryside Opry, Chicago, Oct, 30, 1980. Kirk West/Getty Images
Merle Haggard and his band "Merle Haggard & the Strangers" in 1966. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Merle Haggard with Bonnie Owens during a late 1960's concert. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson perform rare concert together at the Wells Fargo Center on April 1, 2009 in Santa Rosa, Calif. Steve Jennings/WireImage
Merle Haggard, in Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 17, 1979. AP Photo
Merle Haggard performs during the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn., June 14, 2009. AP Photo/Dave Martin
Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens and Glen Campbell during a mid 1970's performance for a TV show. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Merle Haggard, Napa, Calif., 2010. Chris Felver/Getty Images
Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, March 25, 2007, Rosemont Theater, Chicago. Paul Natkin/WireImage.com
Johnny Paycheck and Merle Haggard at Countryside Opry, Chicago, Oct. 31, 1980. Kirk West/Getty Images
Merle Haggard is greeted by President Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon at the White House, March 19, 1973. AP Photo/Charles Tasnadi
Merle Haggard performs at the Aladdin Theater for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, March 10, 2007. AP Photo/Laura Rauch
Willie Nelson with Merle Haggard at the Aladdin in Las Vegas, 2007. AP Photo/Laura Rauch
Merle Haggard in New York on April 6, 1974. AP Photo
Miranda Lambert and Merle Haggard attend the 2014 CMT Artists Of The Year at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Dec. 2, 2014 in Nashville. Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Merle Haggard at his ranch at Palo Cedro, Calif., Oct. 2, 2007 AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
Merle Haggard during a rehearsal for the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in LA, Jan. 24, 2014. Matt Sayles/Invision/AP
Merle Haggard performs at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tenn. Oct. 10, 1983. AP Photo/Mark Humphrey
Merle Haggard at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, May 28, 2003, where he and his sister Lillian Haggard Hoge donated belongings taken on their family's Dust Bowl-era move from Oklahoma to California on Route 66. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
Merle Haggard and his wife Bonnie Haggard at Tramps, New York, June 23, 1993. Steve Eichner/Getty Images
Merle Haggard performing at the Felt Forum in New York on April 4, 1974. Waring Abbott/Getty Images
Merle Haggard performs in Fresno, Calif., April 19, 1986. Paul Natkin/Getty Images
Merle Haggard during day one of Stagecoach 2015, California's Country Music Festival. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stagecoach
Merle Haggard performs at the Mountain Winery on Sept. 18, 1991 in Saratoga Calif. Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
Merle Haggard performs at Tramps, New York, June 23, 1993. Steve Eichner/Getty Images
Merle Haggard, late 60s. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Merle Haggard at Bonnaroo, June 14, 2009. AP Photo/Dave Martin