Getty Ben Haggard
Ben Haggard, Merle Haggard’s youngest son, is an incredibly talented musician in his own right. He was the lead guitarist in his father’s band and it’s apparent from his many proud social media posts that Ben and his dad, Merle Haggard, were very, very close. Ben’s father, the iconic country music legend, passed away on his 79th birthday after a long health struggle. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Ben Haggard Shared a Touching Tribute to His Dad on Facebook
Ben Haggard shared a very touching tribute to his father on his Facebook page, which you can see above. He wrote that his father somehow knew that he was going to pass away on his birthday. And today, on his birthday, he took his last breath, surrounded his family and friends. Ben wrote:
He wasn’t just a country singer.. He was the best country singer that ever lived.
Ben’s half-siblings, Marti Haggard and Noel Haggard, are also very talented country artists.
2. Ben Is Merle Haggard and Theresa Lane’s Son
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 26: (L-R) Musician Ben Haggard, Theresa Ann Lane and musician Merle Haggard attend the 56th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Ben Haggard is Merle’s youngest son. He’s the son of Merle and Theresa Ann Lane. Merle and Lane were married in 1993. Lane was Merle’s fifth wife, but their marriage lasted and was incredibly happy and blessed. They had two children, Ben and Jenessa. Merle sometimes joked that people thought he was his young children’s grandfather. He said marrying Theresa was the greatest decision he ever made.
3. Ben Is an Incredibly Talented Musician
Ben is a very talented musician, with a voice that is very reminiscent of his famous father. In the above video, he’s singing a famous classic country song, “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” His talent in the video is very apparent. He once wrote on Twitter, “No, I’m not Merle… I’m Ben. A reflection of him but different in my own way.” You can see the video that accompanied that message below:
No, I’m not Merle.. I’m ben. A reflection of him but different in my own way.
Here’s another video of his music:
This one is for red.
4. He and His Dad Were Very Close
Dad carved his name in my Tele 👍🏻😀
Ben and his dad were very, very close. He shared the above photo on Twitter, excited about his dad carving his name into his new guitar. He also shared other photos about his dad frequently, such as this message about his dad’s childhood home bieng moved to a museum:
Go to my snapchat to watch my fathers childhood home being moved to a museum. SNAPCHAT benhaggard2 http://t.co/INGt88D2iy
5. He Was the Lead Guitarist for His Dad’s Band
Ben Haggard and his dad, Merle Haggard. (Twitter)
Ben Haggard has been building a musical career of his own, and his talent is easy to see. He was the lead guitarist for his dad’s band, Merle Haggard and the Strangers. Ben sometimes shares stories from their time on the road, such as this story about how his dad cried when he told him about a man praying behind their tour bus:
Told dad there was a guy praying behind the bus, he looked down and weeped.. Moved by the love from the fans!
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Ben Haggard, Merle’s Son: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know