![Merle Haggard Predicted His Death, Son Says](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2015/12/merle-haggard-guitar-center-sessions.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Merle Haggard Predicted His Death, Son Says
Merle Haggard's son, Ben Haggard, has posted to social media in the wake of his father's passing, revealing that the country icon eerily predicted the date of his own death.
Haggard passed away on Wednesday afternoon (April 6), on his 79th birthday, and in a post to Facebook, his son — who also played in his band — shares that the ailing county legend knew his time was coming.
"A week ago dad told us he was gonna pass on his birthday, and he wasn't wrong," the younger Haggard writes. "A hour ago he took his last breath surrounded by family and friends."
He goes on to pay tribute to his father's life and enduring legacy.
"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."
The Country Music Hall of Famer canceled tour dates in December of 2015 after checking into a hospital and learning he had double pneumonia. He was hospitalized for two weeks and canceled shows scheduled for Jan. 30 and 31 after his double pneumonia returned. At the end of March, the singer-songwriter announced he was canceling all of his scheduled shows for April on doctor’s orders, revealing that his family had asked him to stop touring. Still, he remained hopeful that he would be able to return to the stage.
“I want to thank my fans for their prayers and well wishes. I hope to be back on the road in May, but I’m taking it one day at a time,” Haggard said at the end of March. Sadly, that was not to be; those few scattered shows in the early part of 2016 would prove to be the final live dates of his iconic career.
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