Country legend Merle Haggard has passed away on April 6, 2016, just as he turned 79 years old!
As revealed earlier by The National ENQUIRER, the hard-living star had shocked his longtime fans by suddenly canceling every live show he had slated for April — as he tried to recover from the recurring double pneumonia that took his life!
“I want to thank my fans for their prayers and well wishes,” Merle said at the time. “I hope to be back on the road in May, but I’m taking it one day at a time.” Tragically, the “Okie From Muskogee” singer had actually hit the end of his long road.
The ENQUIRER had earlier covered how the ailing singer had to cancel other tour dates at the end of 2015. He later said that he had been “nearly dead” before reluctantly giving up on the shows.
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The ENQUIRER also revealed in 2008 that Merle was trying to recover from lung cancer surgery that already had friends and family fearing for his life.
Doctors found a spot on Haggard’s right lung in May of that year — but the stubborn star insisted it wasn’t malignant, and at first refused to get treatment. Instead, Merle decided to pray!
Then he defied his doctors and embarked on a grueling tour of more than 20 cities just a month after getting the frightening diagnosis!
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Merle was a true superstar of country music, with 40 #1 hits. He had always planned to work up until the end — and received critical acclaim with last year’s release of a new album, “Django and Jimmie,” that he recorded with fellow country legend Willie Nelson.
The hard-living legend was defiant to the end, as well — having said that he was planning to head back on the road even as he went into hospice care in his final days. The California native passed away in his home state, at his residence in the small town of Palo Cedro.
