Honoring “The Hag”
Following the death of Merle Haggard on April 6, 2016 country stars paid tribute to him by covering some of his greatest songs. One artist who made sure to honor “The Hag” during several of his shows in the weeks following his passing was Chris Stapleton.
Shortly after Merle’s death, Chris and his wife, Morgane, paid tribute to Merle by singing his song “Today I Started Loving You Again.”
As American Songwriter details, Haggard co-wrote “Today I Started Loving You Again” with his then-wife, Bonnie Owens. The couple was married from 1965-1978.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XYTSqC55DA
Chris and Morgane performed one of Merle’s most memorable songs, “Silver Wings,” during a concert in his home state of California on April 23, 2016. The crowd clapped and cheered as son as Chris started singing.
A Stunning “Silver” Tribute
Chris sang on his own most of the time. You can hear a hint of pain in his voice as he sings the beautiful words written by the legendary “Hag.”
Morgane joined in on the chorus. The combination of the couple’s voices created a haunting, emotional sound that was nothing short of breathtaking. There’s no denying the fact that the Stapletons make a great team onstage.
Chris finished their performance with a gentle stroke of his guitar. He didn’t say another word. Truthfully, no words needed to be said. His emotional performance with Morgane spoke volumes about how much respect they have for Merle.
Watch Chris and Morgane’s tribute performance of “Silver Wings” in the video below.
It’s still so hard to believe that Merle is gone. May he rest in peace.
