Merle Haggard photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Merle Haggard is on the mend from a bout of double pneumonia, reports Reuters. He was admitted to the hospital on January 17 when illness forced him to cancel a show in Macon, Georgia just moments before he was scheduled to take the stage. His spokesperson says he’s recovering from several health issues that have been discovered while he was being treated.

According to Tresa Redburn, Merle’s Los Angeles-based spokesperson, his pneumonia is almost completely clear. He is also recovering from three stomach ulcers, the removal of eight colon polyps, and diverticulitis in his esophagus. “He will be back up and running in 30 days,” Redburn said.

“Thanks to the wonderful people all over the world that prayed their special prayers,” Merle said in a statement. “I’m a new man. Another special thanks to the folks of Macon, Georgia, for their kindness, their intelligence and probably saving my life.” Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of Webster & Associates.

Between 1982 and 1986, Janie Fricke reeled off seven No. 1 singles as country music fans got to know her as more than a backing vocalist and in-demand duet partner (she also scored No. 1 hits with Charlie Rich and Merle Haggard in 1978 and 1985, respectively). Her run in the US alone through the 1980s consisted of 16 Top 10 singles with a brand of country/pop that paid homage to classic country.

Janie’s now honoring the pickin’ tradition while reworking 12 of her own hits on the new studio album, Country Side of Bluegrass. Backed by a group of seasoned players, including dobro player extraordinaire Randy Kohrs (Hal Ketchum; Hank Williams III) and fiddler Luke Bulla (Lyle Lovett; Jerry Douglas Band), Janie offers up stirring renditions of chart-toppers like “He’s A Heartache” and “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Baby” with a bluegrass twist.

Amidst standard bluegrass instrumentation, songs like the speedy “Do Me With Love” nail the elements of controlled chaos and precision found in the genre. Add in quintessential country double-meanings like, Words are cheap and ‘I love yous aren’t free/ So unless you mean it, well, don’t spend ‘em on me, and it’s clear that the combination can be entertaining and exciting. Hard-hitting classic country lyrics are all over the record, like on standout track “Tell Me A Lie,” where Janie’s voice pours out the emotion of a desperate woman while singing, Tell me a lie, tell me you’re not a married man, in her Indiana twang. Janie cranked up the tempo on the new version of “Tell Me A Lie,” a song that was originally done as a ballad.

Traditional country influence is heard throughout the record. On the steady-paced “Please Help Me, I’m Falling (In Love With You),” Janie’s voice rises and falls with aching honky tonk melodies as a fiddle yearns in the background. The slow dobro/acoustic guitar intro of the classic “It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Easy” makes way for a smooth chorus full of textured harmonies as the song’s loneliness seeps through the speakers.

The album is indeed full of lonesome songs. One of the best is Continue Reading

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Merle Haggard photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

The Associated Press (via The Washington Post) reports Merle Haggard is being treated for pneumonia in a Macon, Georgia hospital and has had to cancel the rest of his January concert dates.

Merle’s publicist, Tresa Redburn, told the AP she spoke to Merle by phone today in his Macon hospital room.

Merle, 74, was taken to the hospital on Tuesday after having to cancel a Macon show. He was supposed to perform at least four more shows this month. Tour manager Frank Mull told The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer that Merle has been sick since leaving his home in northern California last week.

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Willie Nelson photo by David McClister, courtesy of Lost Highway Records.

Willie Nelson will release Remember Me, Vol. 1 on November 21. The album is a collection of Willie performing some of country music’s most definitive songs, hand picked by Willie himself. Songs included on the album span 70 years of Billboard hits. Remember Me, Vol. 2 is scheduled to be released next year.

Ernest Tubb, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Rosemary Clooney, Porter Wagoner and Ray Price are just some of the artists and songwriters Willie chose to cover on volume 1. The first volume comes from Willie’s sessions with longtime friend and producer James Stroud, which yielded more than 30 songs. Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of Showboat Records.

GAC extends condolences to the family, friends and fans of songwriter Liz Anderson, mother of “Rose Garden” singer Lynn Anderson. Liz passed away October 31 at the age of 80 from complications of heart and lung disease. Liz and her husband Casey were successful songwriters, with Merle Haggard’s “(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers” and “(I’m A Lonesome) Fugitive” among their compositions.

Born in Roseau, Minnesota, Liz played mandolin as a child and sang in her local church choir. At 13, her family moved to Grand Fork, North Dakota and at 16, she married husband Casey. Lynn was born a year later. In 1957, the family moved to Sacramento, California where the limited popularity of country music led Liz to start writing songs. Casey was a member of the Sherriff’s Posse which was going to take part in the National Centennial Pony Express Celebration . He convinced his wife to write a song in honor of the Pony Express, which went on to be named the celebration’s official song.

Liz began publishing songs and made friends with the growing country music community in Bakersfield during the early 60s. Some of her earliest hits were “Be Quiet Mind” recorded by Del Reeves and “Pick of the Week” recorded by Roy Drusky. Many artists in the 1960s recorded at least one of her songs on their albums, including Charley Pride, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Kitty Wells, Connie Smith and Bill Anderson. She went on to publish more than 260 songs during her career and earned five BMI Awards. Continue Reading

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George Jones Photo Courtesy of Bandit Records.

George Jones turned 80 years old on September 12 with a birthday party at Rippy’s, a barbecue restaurant in downtown Nashville, before heading to the Grand Ole Opry for a star-studded birthday bash. George, who has battled addiction, is thankful to reach 80. “I am pretty sure this milestone means to me the same thing it means to anyone who reaches 80,” he told the South Bend Tribune. “Dang glad to be here.”

While he has earned the right to retire, George is still on the road, playing around 60 dates a year. He gives full credit to his fans for keeping him on tour. “I would say the secret for my longevity is the fans,” he said. “Country music fans are the most loyal fans in the world. They stick by you through thick and thin.”

Several of George’s brothers in music, including Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, have passed away. George, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson have been left to carry on the traditional country sound they are known for.

“I have always stayed true to my roots in country music because it is what I love,” George told the paper. “I am sad to have lost so many of my dear friends. We were like family back in the days when we were young and struggling to make a name for ourselves.” Continue Reading

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BMI will honor Bobby Braddock as a BMI songwriting Icon during its 59th annual Country Awards. The private ceremony is slated for Tuesday, November 8 at BMI’s Music Row offices in Nashville.

The Icon award is given to BMI songwriters who have had a “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” Braddock, who will be celebrated with an all-star musical tribute that evening, joins a list of past honorees that includes Billy Sherrill, John Fogerty, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Isaac Hayes, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, the Bee Gees, Ray Davies, James Brown and more.

At first glance, there seem to be two Bobby Braddocks. One writes heart-wrenching songs, such as “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” the sadness of which famously made George Jones wary; the other Braddock deals in wry hilarity, like his13th career No. 1, Billy Currington’s “People Are Crazy.” Continue Reading

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HOLLYWOOD - JUNE 5: Musician/actor Dwight Yoakam (L) and country western music legend Buck Owens attend a ceremony honoring Yoakam with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame June 5, 2003 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will open their new exhibition, The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country, on March 24, 2012 for a nearly two-year run. Narrated by Dwight Yoakam, the exhibit explores the roots, heyday and impact of the Bakersfield sound, the loud, stripped-down and radio-ready music Buck Owens and Merle Haggard are known for.

“From its earliest chapters on through to today, California has played a significant role in country music history,” Museum Director Kyle Young said. ”Long before the Outlaws or alternative country, the Bakersfield Sound evolved specifically to suit a time and a place, made an indelible mark on popular music, and spawned two of the most charismatic stars in the firmament.”

Buck and his band, the Buckaroos, first popularized the Bakersfield sound with 1960s hits like “Act Naturally,” “Love’s Gonna Live Here,” “Together Again,” “I’ve Got a Tiger by the Tail” and “Waitin’ in Your Welfare Line.” Merle wasn’t far behind with songs like “Sing Me Back Home,” “Mama Tried,” “Hungry Eyes,” “Workin’ Man Blues” and “The Fightin’ Side of Me.”  Between the two, they had almost 60 No. 1 hits. Continue Reading

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LeAnn Rimes' 2011 CD, Lady & Gentlemen. Photo courtesy of Curb Records.

On her new album, Lady & Gentlemen, LeAnn Rimes tackles some of the most recognizable country songs ever, all recorded by male artists. “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “When I Call Your Name,” and “Good Hearted Woman” are just some of the classic songs LeAnn features on her new album, songs many artists would leave untouched just because of their significance in music history.

“I wanted to pay homage to the originals, and make these songs my own at the end of the day, without offending the original men,” LeAnn told Billboard. “I never thought that it was a ballsy move. I’m just thanking these men for these great songs that are obviously huge hits, and made an impact back in the day.”

Read our review of Lady & Gentlemen >>

LeAnn sent the album to several of the artists she covered. Produced by Vince Gill, she was anxious to hear what the original voices had to say. “We sent these out to many of the men  – the ‘Gentlemen’ on the record, and to hear Merle Haggard say that I floored him, or to hear that George Jones listened to the album from front to back and was emotionally moved by these songs is humbling,” she said. “I guess it was a ballsy move, but I just thought in my heart that I love singing these songs, so why not do it. This kind of country music isn’t around anymore.” Continue Reading

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LeAnn Rimes' 2011 CD, Lady & Gentlemen. Photo courtesy of Curb Records.

On her 12^th studio album, Lady & Gentlemen, LeAnn Rimes offers a collection of classic country songs by the likes of Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, George Jones and Merle Haggard. Notice the absence of any female names on that list? Well, LeAnn did that on purpose, choosing to add a female voice to golden favorites originally performed by male country singers.

“This album was born out of the memories of when I first fell in love with country music,” says the 29-year-old Grammy-winner. “And in reflecting, I realized that almost all of my favorite country songs from back then were sung by men.” LeAnn, along with Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill and producer/songwriter Darrell Brown, serves as co-producer on the 14-song project (two of which are bonus tracks including the current single “Give”).

Lady & Gentlemen opens by cranking up the tempo on John Anderson’s number-one hit “Swingin’,” which he originally released in 1983. Working the title literally to produce a 1940s-swing vibe on the song, LeAnn’s vocal delivery shows off a lot of soul while also revealing a certain urgency underneath the quick melodies. LeAnn’s voice is bright and shines throughout the entire record, but this underlying fire is intriguing and can be heard on several songs, including her interpretation of “Only Mama That’ll Walk The Line.” With a little shake and a lot of twang, LeAnn covers the Waylon Jennings classic with attitude. Switching up the chorus to fit a woman’s perspective, she sings Continue Reading

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