Before “Okie From Muskogee” became his signature song and before “If We Make It Through December” became his biggest crossover hit, Merle Haggard’s best-known song was the one where he came clean ...

Ties with Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” as the best prison song ever. But this one offers a tenderness that the Cash classic can’t touch. And that has everything to do with “Mama.” ...

In his 1968 song Mama Tried, Merle Haggard sang of turning 21 in prison. Haggard, who died Wednesday in California on his 79th birthday, had done just that, though not, as he sang in the song, “doing ...

Willie Nelson is releasing "Workin' Man: Willie Sings Merle," his 78th solo album, as a tribute to Merle Haggard. The new album features 11 covers of Haggard's songs, including "Workin’ Man Blues" and ...