In observance of legendary outlaw country singer Merle Haggard’s birthday today, April 6, Jamey Johnson is honoring his memory with a cover of Haggard’s 2010 release, “Pretty When It’s New.” Produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys and recorded at The Moose Lodge, with T.W. Cargile serving as engineer, Johnson’s version of “Pretty When It’s New” is available everywhere now. Listen Below.
Haggard was born on this day in 1937 and died on this same date ten years ago at age 79. One of the most important figures in the history of country music, the California native was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1977.
Haggard also received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2010, and Johnson was among those who honored him, performing “Ramblin’ Fever” with Willie Nelson and Kid Rock.
Bobby Bare introduced Johnson to Haggard during a party in 2008, and later they were both booked on a show in Hodag, WI. Haggard invited Johnson to spend time with him on his bus and they became fast friends. Haggard would call him, sometimes at 3 a.m., to talk about music, musicians, fishing, the military, or whatever was on his mind.
Johnson performed with Haggard numerous times, such as the memorable collaboration during the 2012 Ohio State Fair, where Johnson joined Haggard on “Long Black Veil,” a performance that some said signified the passing of the torch—two generations of outlaw-leaning country artists sharing a classic. Around this time, the two also performed “Heaven Was a Drink of Wine” during a Haggard concert.
Haggard and Willie Nelson recorded “It’s All Going to Pot,” written by Johnson, Buddy Cannon and Larry Shell, for their 2015 album Django & Jimmie. The light-hearted song became a fan favorite from their final collaboration together.
Haggard and Johnson recorded “I Fall to Pieces” for Johnson’s 2012 album, Livin’ for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran.
Johnson often performed Haggard’s songs during his show, including “Mama Tried” and “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink.” After Haggard’s death, Johnson filled in for Haggard on the nine dates that had been planned with Nelson.
Rolling Stone asked Johnson to write a tribute to Haggard after his death and published it in April 2016.
Johnson wrote, “Merle Haggard was a mentor to me. But more than that, he cared about me. He wanted to make sure I learned something from him—not just the music, not just the lifestyle, but something good. You’ve heard it said, ‘You give a man a fish, he eats for a day. You teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.’ Merle taught me how to make music, and that’s how I make my living and feed my family today. I couldn’t owe anybody a greater debt of gratitude than I owe Merle Haggard.”
About Jamey Johnson
Award-winning singer/songwriter Jamey Johnson has served as country music’s north star for nearly two decades, inspiring a generation of artists with his unforgettable albums that have built a bridge connecting traditional country with the music of today.
The 10-time GRAMMY nominee has been called “one of the greatest country singers of our time,” by The Washington Post. As rock legend Don Henley says, Johnson is “the nearest thing” we have to late country icon George Jones. His music has garnered international acclaim and is embraced by fans of classic and contemporary country, as well as Americana and mainstream rock.
The Grand Ole Opry member is also widely regarded as one of the greatest country songwriters of his generation. He is one of only two people in the history of country music (along with Kris Kristofferson) to win two Song of the Year awards in the same year – for “Give It Away” and “In Color” – from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association
