Nashville, TN – A day of birth and a day of death led to a night of celebration and remembrance of a music legend simply known to most as “Hag” (as noted on Willie Nelson’s hat during his performance). On the one year anniversary of his death, and what would have been his 80th birthday, Mayor Megan Barry declared April 6, 2017 “Merle Haggard Day” standing on stage alongside Haggard’s wife, Teresa, and his children. Sing Me Home: The Music of Merle Haggard brought together roughly two dozen rock and country artists, who gathered at the Bridgestone Arena Thursday night to a sold out crowd, all to pay tribute to the self proclaimed Okie from Muskogee.
Merle’s presence could be felt even before the show began. The Bridgestone traded the usually busy graphics and LEDS for a calmer, rustic set which included an American flag backdrop with Merle’s pencil sketched face front and center. Fans were taken back in time to the simpler days of staging, before fancy platforms and steps. A time when multiple musicians were evenly spaced and easily seen. A time when instruments like steel guitars, saxophones, and tubas were a must because it was all about the emotional journey of the music, not the overdone set pieces used in many of today’s shows.
The night appropriately began with Merle’s son Ben Haggard following in his father’s musical footsteps. Haggard, along with Merle’s band, The Strangers, gave a heartfelt and haunting performance of “What Am I Gonna Do (For the Rest of my Life).” Nineties favorites Tanya Tucker and John Anderson proved that traditional sound still carries heavy weight with renditions of “Farmer’s Daughter” and “Big City” respectively. Jamey Johnson and Alison Krauss shared the stage to pay homage to both Merle and Willie Nelson with, “If I Could Only Fly”, a song whose “sinking sun and another lonely night” conveyed loss that Merle dealt with so much in his life and willingly wrote about. Alabama’s harmonies on “Silver Wings” provided the perfect and somber mood that underlined some of Merle’s greatest compliations. Crowd pleaser Dierks Bentley introduced “If We Make It Thru December” by saying, “this is Merle’s version of a Happy Christmas song right here.” Another raw and gutsy ballad that could be and maybe should be remade into a hit today found a vulnerable, yet determined Miranda Lambert echoing the idea of mixing “Misery and Gin”.
.@mirandalambert wows the audience with a touching @merlehaggard ballad #MerleHaggardTribute pic.twitter.com/zJrm60cg9l
— The Country Note (@thecountrynote) April 7, 2017
That is not to say that the crowd was not on their feet stomping their boots and clapping their hands, especially when fireballs Chris Janson and Jake Owen took the stage. An unlikely pair normally, the two proved they although they are current, they both have a classic touch that resonates with all ages. Janson showcased his passion for Haggard with his famous and energetic harmonica skills when the pair sang “Footlights.” The rowdy “Bocephus” himself, Hank Williams Jr. received cheers and and toasts with his version of “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink.”
Country artists were not the only ones honoring the Workin’ Man as Merle’s honest lyrics and bluesy guitar chords influenced some of rock’s greatest performers. Southern favorite Lynard Skynard commanded the stage with “Honky Tonk Nighttime Man” while John Mellencamp introduced us to “White Line Fever”. Sheryl Crow’s soulful voice had us all on a “Natural High” which proved that Merle could write about more than just heartbreak and loss. One of the most memorable highlights of the night came from The Avett Brothers, when they covered quite possibly the biggest hit of Merle’s five decade career with “Mama Tried.”
And let’s not forget this was a night for duets. ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and famed guitarist Warren Haynes slayed the bluesy rifts on “Workin’ Man’s Blues” followed by Rolling Stone’s guitarist, Keith Richards tearing up the stage with Merle’s best friend, Willie Nelson. The pair certainly didn’t have “Reasons to Quit” when they paid homage to their bud and if that wasn’t a once in a lifetime moment, Willie joined Kenny Chesney for “Poncho and Lefty.” And no Merle Haggard tribute would be complete without Toby Keith, who helped out his dear friend when his health started to fail during the last show he would ever play, right before his death. Toby performed “Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)” solo early on in the show and returned to the stage for “Ramblin Fever” with Willie. “Okie from Muskogee” reunited all of the artists with Merle’s family, band, and host Earl Brown to pay their respects one last time to one of the greatest poets this world has ever known.
Flashback footage with videos, quotes, and pictures of Merle during interviews and with friends like Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, and George Jones also aired on screens during sets, making us feel like Merle was still in the room. Merle’s influence and realism could be felt backstage all the way to the top of the rafters as Merle never forgot where he came from and always wrote about what he knew- heartache, longing, struggle, family, and love. That love shone bright last night for thousands of concert goers all there for one reason—to celebrate the life and songs of Merle Haggard.
Artists like Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Dunn, Kasey Musgraves, Lucinda Williams, Bobby Bare, and Rodney Crowell also graced the stage, singing some of Merle’s biggest hits. Sing Me Home was taped for broadcast with air dates to be announced in the future.