Merle Haggard lent his rough-hewn baritone to then country newcomer Eric Church’s ode to the Bakersfield legend in 2006.
“Pledge Allegiance to the Hag” was a cut on Church’s 2006 debut album “Sinners Like Me.”
“He came in and sang on the last verse. What was ironic about that was that I didn’t get a chance to meet him until after we did that,” Church said Wednesday, not long after news broke of Haggard’s death in California. He died Wednesday on his 79th birthday.
Church said he met Haggard a number of times after that collaboration, including appearing with him last July 4 at Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July picnic in Austin, Texas.
“I remember he walked out that night and he had the shades on and he just had that swagger,” Church said during a phone call from Las Vegas. Church, who will headline this weekend’s Country Thunder festival in Florence, was spending a few days in Vegas after Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards; he won best video for “Mr. Misunderstood.”
“One of the best shows I saw Merle do, he did ‘Poncho and Lefty’ with Willie and I had never seen them do it live and it was fantastic. It sounded great. That’s a memory I will always have.” Church added.
Some country music observers have called Church the modern-day Haggard or Nelson for his independent streak. It’s a comparison that Church doesn’t really embrace.
“The reverence I have for those two guys is true reverence. Willie and Merle and all those guys are one of a kind. They are truly unique. I think that’s what made them special,” he explained. “They are not like anybody else and I don’t think there’s anybody like them. That’s what made them who they were., that made them icons. I have always been inspired by their work and I have always been inspired because they always did things their way. That is something we’ve tried to emulate. Sticking to your guns and making your music and not compromising on that. When you see guys like that it certainly inspires you to do the same.”
Church will perform at 9 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at Country Thunder, 20585 E Price Station Road at Country Thunder West in Florence. Click here for ticket information and details.
