Merle Haggard Net Worth

Table of Contents

• Merle Haggard Net Worth
  • • What is Merle Haggard’s Net Worth?
    • Highlights
    • Early Life
    • Career
    • Personal Life
    • Net Worth Over Time
    • Components of Net Worth

Merle Haggard Net Worth

What is Merle Haggard’s Net Worth?

Merle Haggard, an American country and western songwriter, singer, and instrumentalist, had a net worth of $5 million at the time of his death in 2016. Haggard, also known as “The Hag,” played a pivotal role in creating “the Bakersfield sound,” along with country legend Buck Owens and his band, The Strangers. The Bakersfield sound was characterized by the unique combination of traditional country steel guitar and the twang of a Fender Telecaster guitar. The sound incorporated a new vocal harmony style and a rough edge that differed from the more polished Nashville music industry. In the 70s, Haggard aligned himself with the outlaw country movement, which further contributed to his success. Throughout his career, Haggard achieved 38 #1 hits on the country charts.

Highlights

Merle Haggard’s career was filled with numerous highlights. He won the Top Male Vocalist award seven times between 1966 and 1970. In 1994, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and in 2006, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Haggard was also recognized as a BMI Icon at the 54th annual BMI Pop Awards in the same year. In 2010, he accepted a Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime contribution to country music.

Early Life

Merle Haggard was born on April 6, 1937, in Oildale, California. His parents, Flossie Mae and James Francis Haggard, had relocated to California from Oklahoma during the Great Depression. Haggard’s father worked for the Sante Fe Railroad and converted an old boxcar into a house for the family. Tragedy struck when Haggard’s father died of a brain hemorrhage in 1946, leaving a profound impact on the nine-year-old Haggard.

At the age of 12, Haggard began playing the guitar after receiving one from his older brother. He was influenced by artists such as Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell, and Hank Williams. However, his rebellious streak led to trouble, and he was sent to a juvenile detention center for his involvement in theft and other offenses. After being released, Haggard ran away to Texas with his friend Bob Teague, and his youth continued to be marked by repeated encounters with the law, mostly related to stealing. In 1958, he was sentenced to prison at San Quentin for attempting to escape from the Bakersfield Jail. It was during his time in prison that he was inspired to turn his life around.

Career

Following his release from prison in 1960, Haggard started performing with Tally Records and dug ditches for his brother’s electrical contracting company. His style of music fell under the Bakersfield sound, a subgenre of country music that emerged as a reaction to the overproduced Nashville sound. Haggard caught a break in 1964 when he recorded Wynn Stewart’s song “Sing a Sad Song,” which became a nationally recognized hit. He continued to release successful tracks, eventually experiencing both artistic and commercial success with his 1967 album “Branded Man.”

Throughout the late 1960s, Haggard achieved several number-one hits, including “Mama Tried,” “The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde,” “Hungry Eyes,” and “Sing Me Back Home.” In 1969, his release of “Okie from Muskogee” became a massive hit, topping the country charts for a month. The song, along with “The Fightin’ Side of Me” and “I Wonder If They Think of Me,” were viewed as anthems of the Silent Majority in America, promoting a patriotic trend in American country music.

In the following decades, Haggard’s career continued to flourish. He appeared on the cover of TIME magazine in 1974 and dominated the country charts throughout much of the decade. However, personal troubles and drug use hampered his success in the late 1980s and 1990s, leading to financial difficulties and even declaring bankruptcy in 1992.

Personal Life

Merle Haggard was married five times throughout his life. He first married Leona Hobbs in 1956, and they had four children together before divorcing in 1964. In 1965, he married singer Bonnie Owens, who played a significant role in helping him launch his career as a country artist. They divorced in 1978 but remained close friends until Owens’ death in 2006. Haggard then married Leona Williams in 1978, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1983. In 1985, he married Debbie Parret, but they divorced in 1991. Finally, in 1993, Haggard married his fifth wife, Theresa Ann Lane, with whom he had two children named Jenessa and Ben.

Net Worth Over Time

Merle Haggard’s net worth throughout his life was influenced by several factors. Despite his musical success and numerous awards, Haggard faced financial difficulties due to spousal and child support payments resulting from multiple divorces. In 1992, he declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As a result, he lost a significant portion of his property and holdings, including his California ranch, which was reduced to 200 acres.

Components of Net Worth

Haggard’s net worth consisted of his musical earnings, which included royalties from record sales, concert performances, and songwriting. He also generated income from his various roles in the entertainment industry, such as acting and producing. However, his financial situation was impacted by his personal life, including divorces and financial obligations related to his marriages and children.

In conclusion, Merle Haggard was a highly influential figure in country music, contributing to the creation of the Bakersfield sound and achieving numerous chart-topping hits. Although his net worth was estimated at $5 million at the time of his death, his financial journey was not without challenges. Despite facing bankruptcy and personal struggles, Haggard’s musical talent and enduring legacy as an artist continue to shape the world of country music.

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