A somewhat troubled childhood led to years spent behind bars for Merle Haggard.

“Billy Paul was a friend of mine that caddied out at the golf club where I play golf. We had been friends for ... on one of his biggest influences, Merle Haggard, when writing “Billy Paul.” ...

Merle Haggard is a country music icon. He wrote, recorded, and released some of the most memorable songs in the genre’s history. Songs like “Mama Tried,” “If We Make It Through December ...