Garth Brooks Pays Tribute To Merle Haggard At First Concert Following His Death

joedaly.com/conchcountry.com

The world lost a legend on April 6, 2016. Merle Haggard touched so many lives with his music, and we’re not sure if country music will ever get over the loss.

Country singers all over the country have been paying their respects with covers of his songs, but none had the stage quite like Garth Brooks did.

He is currently on his world tour and wanted to pay tribute to the man who broke down so many barriers.

A fan requested Brooks sing Haggard’s “Mama Tried”, and Brooks happily obliged.

“Mama Tried” was released in 1968 as the first single from Haggard’s album of the same name. It won the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999 and was selected by the Library of Congress to be preserved in the National Registry.

The news of preserving “Mama Tried’ came just 14 days before Haggard’s death, so performing the song at his concert seemed kind of perfect for Brooks.

 Upon singing the beginning lyrics, “The first thing I remember knowing/Was a lonesome whistle blowing“, the crowd went wild.

The crowd sang along at the chorus and it was magical!

Watch the tribute below.