The Last Concert Merle Haggard Ever Gave
“Never speak ill of Toby Keith to me; thanks to him, Merle exited the stage with his dignity intact…”
This is the word of actor and musician W. Earl Brown who was at Merle Haggard’s show at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas on February 6th, 2016. After officially canceling all of his February tour dates, Merle surprised everyone by showing up to the casino to put on the show, despite his continued battle with a double pneumonia that eventually took his life on April 6th.
W. Earl Brown tells a very touching story about how Toby Keith, who just happened to be in town at the time to watch the Super Bowl, showed up to help Merle perform.
Merle’s Final Show. It was Super Bowl weekend. Merle had already cancelled months of shows, but this particular booking was a big payday. Merle had to pay his band and crew, so there was no calling in sick for this gig.
Toby Keith was in town with his wife to watch some football and have some fun. Toby got word that Merle was in Vegas, so he went to see him”¦ Merle was in bad shape. He needed to be in a hospital – not on a stage; but The Show Must Go On. Merle would not take charity from anyone, but he did turn to Toby and say, “How many songs of mine do you know?”
“All of ’em” answered T.
“All of ’em?”
“Yep. And I won’t need a teleprompter.”
“Well, stay nearby.” After four or five songs, Merle’s infected lungs were spent. He couldn’t draw enough air to sing any longer. “We’ve, uh, we’ve got a special guest here tonight”¦” Toby came out and sang the rest of the show. Merle gave his last concert. The Strangers got paid. And the audience, while not realizing it at the time, saw something special.
Never speak ill of Toby Keith to me; thanks to him, Merle exited the stage with his dignity intact.
The story has now been shared on Facebook nearly 100,000 times, and websites like Taste of Country and others have picked it up. But despite it being a touching tribute to Merle and a great story, the Mandalay Bay concert with Toby Keith was not the final concert Merle Haggard ever played as is being reported.
After cancelling a February 2nd show at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside, CA and announcing the cancellation of all February tour dates, Merle went on to play Mandalay Bay on Feb. 6th with Toby Keith, as well as a series of other shows in California, despite the announcement of the cancellations.
Merle Haggard played a show Thursday, February 11th at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA, where he was joined on stage by Kris Kristofferson. Randy Lewis of the LA Times was on site and wrote a review of the show that happened in the aftermath of the loss of another musical great, David Bowie.
But if his voice was not quite 100% a week after he postponed a previously booked L.A. tour stop, his mood was chipper, his guitar playing crisp and his time on a stage shared with one of the few songwriters who can claim to be his equal was an inspiring session of give and take.
Haggard is 78 and Kristofferson is 79, and the vibrancy of their performance felt especially comforting after the numbing series of high-profile musicians’ deaths in recent weeks.
Both men have looked at the big picture throughout their lives, and when Kristofferson served up his latter-day “Feeling Mortal” near the end of the show, he stared down one of the biggest themes of all:
Soon or later I’ll be leaving
I’m a winner either way
For the laughter and the loving
That I’m living with todayGiven the losses music fans have experienced of late, those words couldn’t have come at a better time.
Merle then went on to play at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts on February 10th in Santa Rosa, CA.
Then Merle played his final public show at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, CA on February 13th. Though no reviews or reports from the show exist, Saving Country Music did confirm with the publicist of the Paramount Theatre, Marshall Lamm, Merle Haggard did take the stage, and did perform. Unless there was another private, unannounced show, or a show Merle played that was either not scheduled, or announced as canceled but still played, the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, CA on February 13th would have been the end of the performing road for Merle.
READ – Merle Haggard: The Living Embodiment of the American Experience
Merle went on to book numerous other shows, hoping he would recover enough to play them, but never did. It’s reported that even though Merle Haggard was not feeling 100%, he wanted to continue to play shows because it made him feel better to perform.
Saving Country Music was unable to find any video from Merle’s final performance in Oakland at the Paramount, but hopefully now that the word spreads this was Merle’s final show, some will surface.
***UPDATE***UPDATE****UPDATE***
W. Earl Brown has since amended his story to say:
I have been informed that Merle played a couple of shows after Vegas, so this was not the FINAL show. I knew he and Kris were set to play a rescheduled LA on Feb 3, because I was missing it due to my travel schedule. I had no idea it was postponed a second time.
Whether Vegas was the last show, second-to-last, or whatever, the fact remains that when Merle needed a helping hand, he got one, and the audience was not left wanting. Merle was an artist and a showman until the end.
The reason I know about it, is that I phoned T after the Super Bowl to talk football. That’s when he told me what happened. Knowing what a Merle fan I am, he sent me this pic. I asked permission to share the photo before I did so.
April 7, 2016 @ 9:23 am
OK, but did Toby take over for him at the concert mentioned?
April 7, 2016 @ 9:35 am
From the videos I’ve seen, and the reports that I heard about the concert after it happened, yes, Toby Keith did take the stage, and help Merle Haggard sing and complete the concert, and good on him for doing that. There’s no reason to think anything W. Earl Brown said wasn’t true, except for the small part about it being Merle’s final show.
April 7, 2016 @ 9:36 am
Yes and here is four of those songs on a playlist from a cell phone. Not the greatest audio but great non the less. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQa-Bi08F9Oc6-Mq31VjdlReE49EoVXsm
April 7, 2016 @ 9:43 am
Aww. Thanks for sharing the link. I love how Toby points to the mic first to make sure he wants him to sing for him. I think this shows so much class and respect that he would do this and never mention a thing about it.
April 15, 2016 @ 12:49 pm
I like that he tucked behind the guitar player during the keyboards of Ramblin Fever. He knew it was still Merle’s concert.
I also like How many songs of mine do you know?”
“All of ”™em”
A person can’t give a better an answer than that.
April 8, 2016 @ 9:00 am
Holy shit. I don’t care if it was technically Merle’s last show, or his second to last, or third to last, that was fantastic. I almost lost it at my desk listening to “Sing Me Back Home.” And Merle got off a nice little guitar solo in there too. I’ve always liked a lot of Toby Keith’s stuff, but this just elevated him to a whole new level. He’s the real deal.
April 7, 2016 @ 9:33 am
Just so it’s said, my point was not to in any way impugn W. Earl Brown or even any of the other outlets reporting this story. It’s a great, touching story about Toby Keith and Merle, and I’m glad so many folks are sharing it. It’s just the journalist in me didn’t want the record to state the the wrong concert was Merle Haggard’s final one. Hopefully someone who was at the final concert can step up and tell that story as well.
Also, I’ve seen a lot of folks jumping down Toby Keith’s throat, Florida Georgia Line’s throat, and other newer artists as they pay tribute to The Hag. This is not the time and place for that. I think it’s good that the country music is coming together to pay tribute. There will be a time and a place to criticize contemporary country and renew battles, but the death of Merle Haggard shouldn’t be that event. He didn’t like a lot of new country either, but let’s spend our energy honoring Merle at this time, not using his death as an excuse to air grievances.
April 7, 2016 @ 2:36 pm
Far as I’m concerned, this story earned a bit of respect back for Toby Keith with me. He might have blackballed the Dixie Chicks, helped forward the “CONSERVATIVE ‘MURICA” stereotype of country and made too many drinking songs, but he’s shown other times that he can be a class act (such as this one). People have every right to dislike Keith’s music for who he is or what they feel he stands for (or whatever their perception), but I think his friendships with the old guard like Merle, Willie and DAC (among others) should speak to his true character as far as music is concerned. It’s such a shame that he’s become such a controversial figure in and out of country music. He might very well start cutting classics as he gets older, but no one will ever give him a chance again. He’s country music’s preeminent “villain” to a disturbing amount of people.
April 5, 2023 @ 11:02 pm
only to the far left liberal panty waist
April 7, 2016 @ 9:43 am
Video clip of Merle and Kris at the Saban https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EskPZF53yUI
April 7, 2016 @ 9:56 am
Merle mentioned in multiple interviews how fond of Toby Keith he was. They appeared to be genuine friends. I think one thing Merle always appreciated about Toby, even when the quality of his music started to dip, was that he did things his way regardless of what others might think.
April 7, 2016 @ 10:24 am
Brown has added this addendum to his original post.
* I have been informed that Merle played a couple of shows after Vegas, so this was not the FINAL show. I knew he and Kris were set to play a rescheduled LA on Feb 3, because I was missing it due to my travel schedule. I had no idea it was postponed a second time.
Whether Vegas was the last show, second-to-last, or whatever, the fact remains that when Merle needed a helping hand, he got one, and the audience was not left wanting. Merle was an artist and a showman until the end.
The reason I know about it, is that I phoned T after the Super Bowl to talk football. That’s when he told me what happened. Knowing what a Merle fan I am, he sent me this pic. I asked permission to share the photo before I did so.
April 7, 2016 @ 10:32 am
Trigger I don’t want to sound like a fanboy, but your writing, your commitment, and has to be love of music impress me more day by day. I just want to thank you for the class you have shown through this years deaths and illnesses which seem to be daily almost. Man I just want to say Thanks
April 7, 2016 @ 11:39 am
Thanks for reading Grady.
April 7, 2016 @ 10:39 am
How are we ever gonna get new legends
When you keep on tellin’ the truth
We could be goin’ down in history
You keep askin’ for proof
April 7, 2016 @ 11:16 am
Say what you will about Toby Keith, but not many modern country stars could finish a Merle Haggard show. Mr. Keith showed a lot of class. RIP Hag…
April 7, 2016 @ 11:31 am
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv2O7cM7ZHA
Just wanted to post this- this is my favorite live performance by Merle.
April 7, 2016 @ 11:51 am
I have friends who went to the Oakland show, it was oddly billed with the SF Jazz fall line up. One said originally Merle was supposed to perform an entire set of Johnny Cash songs. But I guess knowing he wasn’t going to able to tour much longer changed the set to perform his greatest hits.
My friend was at first miffed but then after his death was glad he got to hear Merle sing his own words. And he says Merle showed no signs of illness and the band was in top form. So a trooper til the end.
April 7, 2016 @ 12:28 pm
Country killers
April 7, 2016 @ 1:37 pm
Stuff like this is why, whatever else he’s done, I’ll always like Toby Keith.
April 7, 2016 @ 2:42 pm
Me too. Not at all ashamed to have all of his records (even the duds). It’s extremely unlikely, but perhaps he’ll benefit from something of a reappraisal in the future that focuses on the man’s musical contributions (of which there are several good ones) instead of the armchair politician he is commonly viewed to be.
April 7, 2016 @ 2:45 pm
Especially considering that he’s pretty much apolitical, haha.
The guy was a registered Democrat for years and years, including when he wrote “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” People just do a terrible job from separating a song’s speaker from the man singing it.
April 7, 2016 @ 2:54 pm
People also have a habit of dismissing the song and some of Toby’s albums as “ignorant.” To outsiders more often than not it’s just because he’s making country music and that’s the thing to say about it, but for actual country fans to say that surprises me a bit. Is it ignorant? Perhaps; it’s certainly not enlightening in a political context as it lacks subtlety. What Keith tapped into with these recordings is the anger and frustration people felt after 9/11. Liberals love to point out that it’s America’s foreign policies that led to this terrorism in the first place, but knowing why doesn’t undermine the threat. More to the point, it’s asinine to expect angry/hurt people to think with clear heads. That’s what Toby was getting at, regardless of whether he wholeheartedly agreed with everything he sang, pandering or not.
April 7, 2016 @ 1:46 pm
Not a fan of Toby’s music but thats a fucking cool story. Some things transcend whether or not you like somebodies music and Toby taking the time to do this does just that. Very cool and sweet story. Good on you Toby
April 7, 2016 @ 2:44 pm
I just gained some respect for toby keith
April 7, 2016 @ 2:57 pm
Trigger, any news of any posthumous new material from Merle coming out? Rolling Stone claimed he was working on four albums worth of new material in 2014 that don’t seem to have materialized (though one of those was probably Django and Jimmie).
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/merle-haggard-working-on-four-new-albums-at-age-77-20140826
April 7, 2016 @ 3:16 pm
No news that I’ve seen at the moment. I’m sure all that stuff is to come.
April 7, 2016 @ 3:44 pm
I suppose we’ll see then. I’m never happy to see anyone go, much less one of my favorite artists/public figures, but at least their untimely exit from this world often reignites an almost perverse interest in their music or other art (and Hag is no exception). Like most country artists, some of Merle’s material is a little hard to come by, and he’s a big enough name that the labels might even feel some PRESSURE to get his stuff back out there. I suppose we’ll see, and you’ll presumably be keeping us updated along the way.
April 7, 2016 @ 3:37 pm
Shame really, I was suppose to see the Hag at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside. I Rocked the jukebox with non-stop Haggary at my local watering hole yesterday in memory of the legend.
April 7, 2016 @ 5:23 pm
I was at the Paramont show on February 13. He apologized that he was short of breath saying: “if it seems like I’m out of wind, you got that right.” He told some dirty jokes, including one about Dolly. He played for about 90 minutes, playing songs including mama tried, if I could only fly, fugitive, Okie from Muskogee, and Big City. He played fiddle. His son played awesome guitar leads. He walked off very slowly and did not play an encore. I will always treasure these memories of his last show.
April 8, 2016 @ 11:56 am
you nailed it kris. I was there too and man were we lucky to see a legend play his final show. I’ve been to hundreds of concerts but I’m gonna call that my best. He was a trooper till the end.
May 7, 2016 @ 4:40 pm
I was also at the February 13th show. 2nd row. Got some good video of the fiddle show before i was told to put down my phone. Overall, i’ve never been happier being at a concert than i was that night. Thank you,
Merle!
April 7, 2016 @ 5:50 pm
“How many songs of mine do you know?”
“All of ”™em” answered T.
“All of ”™em ?”
“Yep. And I won”™t need a teleprompter.”
how beautiful is THIS ?
April 7, 2016 @ 10:03 pm
I also attended that show at the Paramount. It began with his son leading the band playing a handful of songs. Then Merle came on. Kris’s description is pretty accurate, he also played Fightin Side of Me, Silver Wings, Farmer’s Daughter, and a Bob Wills song he credited but I did not know. He noted he had been hospitalized recently for pneumonia. His voice was a bit rough but his singing and musicianship (fiddle one song, Telecaster most of the rest) were strong. The Strangers were awesome.
April 7, 2016 @ 10:10 pm
Great story, yes. It’s very touching and it definitely gives me more respect for Toby Keith…but why was this brought up on the same day he died? So many people who probably have never even listened to Merle were sharing this on Facebook saying what a class act Toby Keith is. Out of all the touching stories about how Merle has touched lives and inspired country artists, this is basically about how great Toby is. It just really rubbed me the wrong way. I spent yesterday heartbroken. It’s just not really what I wanted to read.
And I know that Toby didn’t share this, so I’m not bashing him at all. Honestly, it’s a beautiful story.
April 7, 2016 @ 11:55 pm
The Tennessean newspaper had a beautiful spread on Haggard today. For those who didn’t see it, the front cover featured a picture of Merle along with the lyrics from the chorus to “Silver Wings.” On the inside there were multiple pages of Merle coverage (as is obviously befitting the death of a great artist), featuring a beautiful obituary written by Juli Thanki, photos, tributes from other artists, a list of Merle’s number one hits, a shot of fans gathering around Merle’s plaque at the Hall of Fame, and so on. A lot of these things can be found online, but I went out and bought a physical copy, and plan to hold on to it as a keepsake.
A lot of people like to bitch about the Tennessean, and perhaps rightfully so, since it’s a big corporate conglomerate owned-rag, but I do think they do a pretty good job of honoring country music when it comes down to it.
April 8, 2016 @ 5:00 am
Take a read at Brian mansfields post about his former newspaper and what he went through. I forget exactly where he is currently as he quit and went elsewhere but he was the writer for USA today. How he had to explain to them and fight in the early 90’s why Conway twisty deserved the front page and a huge spread when he passed in ’93.
April 8, 2016 @ 10:28 am
Is it fine if you provide a link to Brian’s post please? Thanks, not having much luck finding it though granted I only did two seconds worth of searching.
April 8, 2016 @ 11:18 am
It’s taken from his public Facebook page as in Brian Mansfield. All I can do is copy and paste. He then provided the cover photo of the Tennesseean and a link to their article on Merle.
The Tennessean is a very different place than it was when I worked there in 1993. Back then, some of us had to bring in the previous music reporter to explain to the top editors why Conway Twitty dying just as Fan Fair started was front-page, top-of-the-fold news. (There was also the “Buck Owens ”” who’s he?” moment with an editor when Buck was diagnosed with throat cancer.)
I’m not crazy about all the changes that have happened at my hometown newspaper in the 23 years since I worked there. That said, Lord, this is a beautiful front page.
April 9, 2016 @ 5:17 am
Convict Charlie,
I can’t find the Brian Mansfield post you’re referring to, but thanks for the behind the scenes info about the Tennessean. Also, man, you’d think almost everybody would have heard of Buck Owens at some point. How pitiful.
Personally, I have mixed feelings about current state of the Tennessean, but it does seem like they made an editorial decision at some point to at least attempt to cover country music in depth, and I think they currently do a better job in that area than most. Also, I noticed that like Merle, both George Jones and Little Jimmy Dickens got a full, front page spread when they passed away, which I thought was very respectful.
Also, Trigger –
The people who bitch about the Tennessean are basically just certain local Nashville people, including some who prefer “alternative” publications like the Nashville Scene. At least, I’ve noticed a lot of animosity directed at the Tennessean from that particular publication.
And yeah, those click-through things are a pain in the butt, LOL. I could actually avoid those by signing in, since I do have a subscription, but often I’m too lazy, so I just answer the stupid little questions.
April 9, 2016 @ 10:36 am
In 2015, Gannett, the parent company of The Tennessean, USA Today, and a ton of other local newspapers, gutted their workforce. Basically, they laid off most of their older, expensive journalists, and hired in a new crop of more tech-savvy and hungry writers. Along with that I think has been a changeover in philosophy that really has them understanding that things like the death of Merle Haggard is a huge event, and that The Tennessean is in a position as the newspaper of Nashville to take the point on covering country music, not just locally, but for the world.
Who buys the paper anymore? Nobody does. But I bet people were buying multiple copies of that edition just for the Merle cover.
I don’t like the idea of laying off seasoned veterans en masse to cut payroll, but The Tennessean has put together an entirely new newsroom that is skilled, young, hungry, and understands the importance of being topical and timely.
April 8, 2016 @ 10:29 am
Brian Mansfield is working in publicity for Shore Fire Media now, like all the former great journalists.
April 8, 2016 @ 10:32 am
I’m not sure who’s bitching about the Tennessean, but in my opinion they’re the last bastion of true journalism in country music. Like any outlet (including SCM) they have their warts, but it’s about the only outlet I go to for info these days. Can’t stand the click-thru questionnaires though.
April 8, 2016 @ 12:52 am
I will also add that listening to WSM last night was a real treat. The station played nothing but Haggard music for a good while, but later that night, Eddie Stubbs had Marty Stuart and Chris Scruggs (who is apparently the newest member of the Superlatives) join him in the studio. Their visit was already planned, but in light of yesterday’s events, they obviously took the opportunity to pay tribute to Merle. Let me tell you, listening to these three country music super-aficionados swap stories and country music trivia was entertaining as well as educational. Talk about a meeting of the minds. I won’t recap their entire conversation, but of course Marty told some stories about Haggard, and talked about Merle’s decision to leave the hospital behind and head home to Redding one last time, where he apparently stayed in the driveway on his tour bus, where he felt most at home. (Judging by Marty’s comments, I’m guessing that at least some of the folks in Haggard’s inner circle knew what was coming for at least a while ahead of time.)
They also talked about Merle’s passion for paying tribute to his musical idols, and Eddie Stubbs expounded on the idea that it’s our job as fans to similarly carry on the legacy of Haggard’s music. Marty also mentioned that the walls of Haggard’s studio are lined with rolls of tape and said he had a lot of music already in the can that we can look forward to hearing at some point. Also, Marty emphasized the need for traditional country music to carry on and forge a new future. To this end, he praised Chris Scruggs’ authentic traditional country band the Stone Fox Five. He also got to talk about a bunch of new projects coming down the pike for himself and the Superlatives, including a possible new TV show, and the Marty Stuart Museum and Cultural Center in Philadelphia, Mississippi which is being worked on as we speak, though it will take several years to complete. Anyway, I’m drifting even farther off-topic, but I found the whole conversation fascinating. Hopefully it will pop up online on the WSM website somewhere, so everybody can hear it.
To get back to the subject at hand, I’ll say thanks to Trigger for setting the record straight about Haggard’s final show, and also thanks to the two commenters who attended the Paramount show for sharing. Y’all really got to see something special. Kudos to Toby Keith too, for being a real class act in this case. Man, what an amazing moment to be able to come through for one of your musical heroes likes that. I’m sure he’ll treasure that memory forever.
April 8, 2016 @ 6:04 am
I listened to the broadcast as well and loved hearing the stories and listening to them laugh. It made me laugh as well through my tears. (Merle was always a tie to my dad, he raised my sisters and me on Merle, Willie and Waylon) Marty mentioned that Merle had planned out his funeral and what songs Connie Smith and Marty would sing and Marty would preside over the service which would be private.
I’ve seen Chris Scruggs and his band, with Kenny Vaughn on guitar, and they are carrying on the history of traditional country music . He is also a great addition to the Fabulous Superlatives. Long live Country Music and long live Hag.
April 8, 2016 @ 11:46 am
Hey, when the U.S.A. Olympic hockey team beat the Soviet Union National Team in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid in the Miracle on Ice, it was not the Gold Medal game. It was a semi-final. The U.S. had to play two nights later and beat Finland for the Gold.
How many people know that?
April 9, 2016 @ 8:53 pm
Sometimes the fiction is maybe better than the truth.
April 8, 2016 @ 12:37 pm
I really like that Big Toby Dog. Especially, now.
May 29, 2016 @ 6:00 pm
I was at the final show in Oakland at the Paramount. There was a lot of confusion if the show was on or off. Website said his shows were cancelled, but tickets were still being sold. So I called the SF Jazz number and they said the show was still on. They said Merle’s people didn’t know why the web said this show was cancelled and it was still on. It was a rescheduled from December. Also they said about 1/3 of the tickets were refunded because of the confusion. So it was about 65% full. Merle did sound weak, and did play a hits setlist. I and some other’s did post his setlist online. Also we did post all the Videos and Pictures from the show online. Search Facebook. I have not posted them on Youtube yet. Great show. He did play Beverly Hills, Santa Rosa, and finally Oakland after the Vegas show. There was so much confusion about what shows were cancelled or not that the people wouldn’t even let the T-shirt guy in to sell Merch. because he was late and confused if it was on. I was mad cause I wanted a shirt. I heard this waiting by Merles bus after show hopping to meet Merle or find out about buying a shirt. We talked to a road crew guy he said sorry and handed me and another guy a Merle guitar pick each. Then I asked the bus driver if Merle was still here he said no they left, and so did we. It was a great show considering he sounded real weak, but he gave it his all. The crowd went super crazy for him with standing Ovations knowing deep inside this would probably be our last chance to see him. That’s why I kept trying to see this show or the one in Beverly Hills. I got cancelled out of the 2 Dec shows and would not miss this one February 13th 2016 Paramount Theatre Oakland CA. RIP Merle Haggard. Any questions more about this show let me know. See Setlist online search this show, or search Merle Haggard final show on Facebook on videos.
May 29, 2016 @ 6:10 pm
Here is the the link for the Setlist I added and edited with the help of a few other’s for Merle’s true final concert in Oakland 2-13-2016 Paramount.
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/merle-haggard/2016/paramount-theatre-oakland-ca-43f3770f.html#sfmses2ba3dc8a
February 13, 2021 @ 2:37 pm
I asked Toby about that show. Here’s the link
https://youtu.be/o0cs436EsCs
October 21, 2022 @ 3:43 pm
I was the only professional photographer at Merle’s final show at The Paramount.