Merle Haggard’s Death: How did the Country Music Legend Die?

Country music legend Merle Haggard died on April 6, 2016 at his home in the San Joaquin Valley, California, after a brief battle with pneumonia. He died on his 79th birthday. The beloved country star recorded more than three dozen No. 1 country hits in a musical career, which spanned six decades through the 1960s and into the 2010s.

A&E is airing a tribute to Haggard on Monday, April 12 at 11 p.m. ET/10 p.m. CT. The description for the Haggard tribute reads, “Captures the most iconic moments from a one-night-only concert event honoring Merle Haggard and his music on what would have been his 80th birthday. Packed with captivating live performances, never-before-seen interviews and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage with some of music’s biggest superstars.”

Here’s what you need to know about Haggard’s death ahead of the A&E tribute:

Haggard Struggled With Respiratory Issues for Months Before His Death

A&E

Haggard had a history of illness leading up to his death, including clogged arteries and lung cancer. The country icon underwent angioplasty in 1995 to unblock his arteries, according to Cleveland.com. Several years later in 2008, Haggard was diagnosed with lung cancer and had part of his lung removed; however, he was back on his feet within two months of the lung procedure and continued to tour until shortly before his death.

In December 2015, Haggard was treated for a bout of pneumonia and although he recovered, he was forced to postpone several concerts. He was hospitalized again in March after he continued having issues breathing, and just a few short weeks later, Haggard died in his California home due to complications with the respiratory infection.

Haggard’s death was felt deeply across the globe, with millions of fans, celebrities and musicians paying tribute to the country star. However, fellow country music legend Willie Nelson took the news of Haggard’s death particularly hard, as the two were as “close as brothers,” according to a 2014 Rolling Stone interview with Haggard.

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“He was my brother, my friend. I will miss him,” Nelson captioned a photo of the two together on the day of Haggard’s death. He also added a link to a YouTube video of the beloved hit single “Poncho and Lefty,” which the two recorded together in 1983.

Haggard Predicted His Own Death, According to His Son

According to Haggard’s son Ben, the country music legend predicted his own death shortly before he passed. After canceling several of his April concerts due to continued complications with pneumonia, he told his son that he expected to die on his birthday, April 6. Ben Haggard took to Facebook to share the heartbreaking story alongside an emotional picture of the two holding hands on his deathbed.

“A week ago dad told us he was gonna pass on his birthday, and he wasn’t wrong. A hour ago he took his last breath surrounded by family and friends,” Haggard posted on Facebook the day of his father’s passing. “He loved everything about life and he loved that everyone of you gave him a chance with his music. He wasn’t just a country singer.. He was the best country singer that ever lived.”

Merle Haggard: Salute to a Country Legend airs Monday night at 11 p.m. ET on A&E. In the meantime, keep up with all the latest in TV coverage and entertainment news here.

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