Merle Haggard Health Crisis As Star Cancels Concerts

78-year-old Merle Haggard is trying to reassure his fans after canceling every live show he had slated for April — as he attempts to recover from recurring double pneumonia! “I want to thank my fans for their prayers and well wishes," announced Merle. "I hope to be back on the road in May, but I’m taking it one day at a time."

That's a troubling announcement by the "Okie From Muskogee" singer, who's always kept up a busy touring schedule — but has finally conceded he may never hit the road again! As The National ENQUIRER revealed earlier this year, Merle had to cancel another slate of planned shows in February — and in 2008, The ENQUIRER covered his desperate battle against lung cancer!

Doctors found a spot on Merle's right lung in May of that year — but the stubborn star insisted it wasn't malignant, and refused to get treatment. Instead, Merle decided to pray!

"Merle's faith is strong and he decided he'd rather leave his fate in God's hands than the doctors' hands," an old friend told The ENQUIRER. " He said, 'Everyone wanted me at the Mayo Clinic - but I said, Well, I'm not gonna do anything!'" Merle, who has recorded 38 No. 1 country hits, was also secretly afraid that having surgery on his lungs could have ended his career, said a family insider.

Instead of going into the hospital, Merle defied his doctors and embarked on a grueling tour of more than 20 cities just a month after getting the frightening diagnosis. But frantic family members, including his fifth wife Theresa, refused to accept his decision not to have surgery.

"He finally decided his family was more important to him than his career," said the family insider. A biopsy revealed that Merle had lung cancer, and on Nov. 3 of that year, surgeons at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital in California removed the growth.

Merle's latest health scare comes after last year's release of a new album, "Django and Jimmie," that he recorded with fellow country legend Willie Nelson — who's currently dealing with his own deadly ailments! 

"Everybody hates the idea of Merle not being on the road," said a Nashville insider, "but we'd rather have him safe at home than ignoring his health again!"