ACM Awards: Garth Brooks Honors Merle Haggard

Garth Brooks honored Merle Haggard at the ACM Awards by singing “Happy Birthday” to him.

Merle Haggard was present at the ACM Awards ceremony and he was given a standing ovation by the crowd. According to Merle “Country music’s been good to me.” He furthermore thanked all those present and bade them a very good evening as the program got underway. 

Garth Brooks is the king of country music and he presented an ACM Crystal Milestone Award to Merle. But everyone acknowledged that it was Merle Haggard that was the king of kings at the moment. 

He is a legend and iconic figure in his own right. While presenting the award, Garth Brooks spoke that Merle had always been an outsider and that was what set him apart. Then when Garth sang “Happy Birthday” it brought the house down. 

Meanwhile, George Strait and Miranda Lambert went ahead with several of Merle’s songs. “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive” and “Tonight the Bottle Let me Down” got performed in all their glory by the two. 

Haggard has received the Crystal Milestone Award and it proves his prowess. He is no ordinary person. Haggard was the creator of the Bakersfield Sound. And this time around he had completed half a century as a country musician of renown. 

Merle has previously broken records in his wonderful repertoire of achievements. In both 1965 and 1970 he received accolades. He had Billboard hits a total of 38 times in his long and legendary career. And to top it all, Merle has even acted a little in his days. 

An album has been compiled by various artists to further lend a salute to his excellence in music. Merle Haggard has reached the ripe old age of 77 and he still has some chutzpah in him to continue belting out those country numbers. 

Merle tweeted that he had a wish to be back to the good old days when he was 33 years of age. But he said he was 77. He thanked everyone for wishing him a very happy birthday. Merle remains the king! 

“I wish I could be thirty again” but instead I’m 77. Thank you all for the happy birthdays!— Merle Haggard (@merlehaggard) April 6, 2014