Merle Haggard might be one of the only country music stars to have the bona fides of being an outlaw. He started his musical career early with a guitar given to him at age 12 by his brother, but he was already starting his life in crime around that time, too.

When he was 20, Haggard tried to rob a roadhouse and got caught and sent to jail, then made an escape and was caught—and sent to San Quentin. As a prisoner at San Quentin, Merle Haggard saw a live performance by Johnny Cash, who sang “Folsom Prison Blues.” After his release from prison, Haggard followed in Cash’s footsteps and only sang about outlawing from then on.

I like Merle Haggard’s song “Mama Tried.” Also, this cover image cracks me up.

Sad-faced Merle Haggard wearing a conductor’s hat over his big hair and is that an image of a sad woman in a wheelchair, possibly the titular “Mama,” who tried?