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

Haggard, who died in 2016, spoke to Fresh Air in 1995 about his love of trains. When he became a star, he acquired his own observation car. Now that coach is part of the Virginia Scenic Railway.

When he sings, it’s as if he’s confiding,” author Tom Carter, who spent two years with the singer while they worked on the 2002 biography Merle Haggard’s My House of Memories: For The ...