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Merle Haggard Fighting Pneumonia, Cancels Two Weekend Concerts

Ben Haggard Says Father Still Recovering From December Illness

Merle Haggard has canceled two concerts this weekend in New Mexico as a result of a continuing battle with double pneumonia.

His son posted a message via social media regarding the Country Music Hall of Fame member's condition.

Haggard, who underwent lung cancer surgery in 2008, canceled a series of concerts in December after being hospitalized in California.

In a Dec. 16 phone interview which aired on Sirius XM's Willie’s Roadhouse channel, he indicated the severity of his illness.

“A couple of weeks ago, I came in the hospital here and I guess I was nearly dead,” he said. “They couldn’t tell whether the cancer had returned or whether I just had pneumonia. They had to wait until they got the pneumonia under control before we could tell. So it’s been kind of a tough couple of weeks. but I’ve got so many people to thank.”

Haggard's concert cancellations in New Mexico include Saturday (Jan. 30) at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino in Mescalero and Sunday at the Farmington Civic Center Ballroom in Farmington.

As of Friday morning, tickets were still on sale for Tuesday's performance at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside, California. Haggard and Kris Kristofferson are also scheduled to appear Wednesday for a sold-out show at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, California.

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