A Guide To The Wives Of Merle Haggard

01 Aug, 2025

Merle Haggard was married six times to five different women.

Merle Haggard was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was one of the most popular and influential figures in country music history. Haggard's songs often dealt with themes of love, loss, and redemption. He was also known for his outspoken views on social and political issues.

Haggard's first marriage was to Leona Hobbs in 1956. They had four children together before divorcing in 1964. Haggard then married Bonnie Owens in 1965. Owens was a singer and songwriter in her own right. She and Haggard had one child together before divorcing in 1978. Haggard married Leona Williams in 1978, but they divorced in 1983. He then married Debbie Parret in 1985. They had two children together before divorcing in 1991. Haggard's final marriage was to Theresa Ann Lane in 1993. They remained married until Haggard's death in 2016.

Haggard's marriages were often tumultuous, but he always remained a devoted father to his children. He was also a generous and compassionate man who often helped those in need. Haggard's legacy as a singer, songwriter, and humanitarian continues to inspire people around the world.

Who Was Merle Haggard Married To?

Merle Haggard was married six times to five different women. His marriages were often tumultuous, but he always remained a devoted father to his children. He was also a generous and compassionate man who often helped those in need. Haggard's legacy as a singer, songwriter, and humanitarian continues to inspire people around the world.

First marriage: Leona Hobbs (1956-1964)
Second marriage: Bonnie Owens (1965-1978)
Third marriage: Leona Williams (1978-1983)
Fourth marriage: Debbie Parret (1985-1991)
Fifth marriage: Theresa Ann Lane (1993-2016)
Number of children: 6
Years active as a musician: 1956-2016

Name	Born	Died	Occupation
Merle Haggard	April 6, 1937	April 6, 2016	Singer, songwriter, guitarist

First marriage

Merle Haggard's first marriage was to Leona Hobbs in 1956. They had four children together before divorcing in 1964. This marriage was significant because it was the beginning of Haggard's long and tumultuous relationship with marriage. He would go on to marry five more times, but his first marriage to Leona Hobbs set the pattern for his future relationships.

Haggard and Hobbs were married for eight years, and their relationship was often stormy. Haggard was a heavy drinker and drug user, and he was often unfaithful to Hobbs. However, despite their problems, they remained married for eight years and had four children together. Haggard's first marriage was a major influence on his music. Many of his songs dealt with the themes of love, loss, and redemption, and his own experiences with marriage and divorce were often reflected in his lyrics.

Haggard's first marriage is a reminder that even the most successful people can have difficult relationships. Haggard was a talented singer and songwriter, but he was also a flawed human being. His first marriage was a reflection of both his strengths and weaknesses, and it helped to shape him into the man he became.

Second marriage

Merle Haggard's second marriage was to Bonnie Owens in 1965. Owens was a singer and songwriter in her own right, and she and Haggard had one child together. Their marriage lasted for 13 years, and it was one of the most stable and successful relationships of Haggard's life.

Owens was a major influence on Haggard's music. She co-wrote many of his most famous songs, including "Sing Me Back Home" and "Today I Started Loving You Again." She also helped Haggard to develop his own unique sound, which was a blend of country and Western swing.

Haggard and Owens' marriage was not without its problems. Haggard continued to struggle with alcohol and drug abuse, and he was often unfaithful to Owens. However, despite their problems, they remained married for 13 years and had one child together.

Haggard's second marriage is a reminder that even people with difficult pasts can find love and happiness. Haggard had a troubled first marriage, but he was able to find happiness with Owens. Their marriage was a testament to the power of love and forgiveness.

Third marriage

Merle Haggard's third marriage was to Leona Williams in 1978. This marriage lasted for five years, and it was one of the most stable relationships of Haggard's life.

Stability and longevity: Haggard's third marriage was his longest-lasting marriage, lasting for five years. This is significant because Haggard had a history of short-lived marriages. His first marriage lasted for eight years, and his second marriage lasted for 13 years. His third marriage was the only one that lasted for more than five years.
Sobriety: Haggard was sober during his third marriage. This is significant because Haggard had a history of alcohol and drug abuse. He was arrested for drunk driving multiple times, and he spent time in jail for drug possession. However, during his third marriage, Haggard was sober and focused on his career.
Children: Haggard had two children with his third wife, Leona Williams. These were his fifth and sixth children. Haggard was a devoted father, and he loved spending time with his children.

Haggard's third marriage was a significant period in his life. He was sober, he was successful in his career, and he was a devoted father. This marriage was a reminder that even people with difficult pasts can find love and happiness.

Fourth marriage

Merle Haggard's fourth marriage was to Debbie Parret in 1985. This marriage lasted for six years, and it was one of the most tumultuous relationships of Haggard's life.

Domestic violence: Haggard was arrested for domestic violence against Parret in 1991. This was a significant event in Haggard's life, as it led to his divorce from Parret and tarnished his reputation.
Alcohol and drug abuse: Haggard continued to struggle with alcohol and drug abuse during his marriage to Parret. This was a major factor in the breakdown of their marriage.
Infidelity: Haggard was also unfaithful to Parret during their marriage. This was another major factor in the breakdown of their marriage.

Haggard's fourth marriage was a reminder that even successful people can have difficult relationships. Haggard was a talented singer and songwriter, but he was also a flawed human being. His fourth marriage was a reflection of both his strengths and weaknesses, and it helped to shape him into the man he became.

Fifth marriage

Merle Haggard's fifth and final marriage was to Theresa Ann Lane in 1993. This marriage lasted until Haggard's death in 2016. It was the longest and most stable relationship of Haggard's life.

Lane was a positive influence on Haggard's life. She helped him to overcome his addictions and to focus on his career. She was also a supportive and loving partner. Haggard credited Lane with saving his life.

Haggard and Lane's marriage was a reminder that it is never too late to find love and happiness. Haggard had a troubled past, but he was able to find happiness with Lane. Their marriage was a testament to the power of love and redemption.

Number of children

Merle Haggard was married five times to five different women. He had six children with three of his wives.

First marriage: Leona Hobbs (1956-1964) - 4 children
Second marriage: Bonnie Owens (1965-1978) - 1 child
Third marriage: Leona Williams (1978-1983) - 2 children

Haggard's large family was a reflection of his strong commitment to his children. He was a devoted father who loved spending time with his kids. He often wrote songs about his children, and he even recorded an album with his daughter, Dana.

Haggard's family was also a source of inspiration for his music. Many of his songs dealt with the themes of love, loss, and redemption, and his own experiences as a father were often reflected in his lyrics.

Haggard's legacy as a singer, songwriter, and father continues to inspire people around the world. He was a talented musician who wrote some of the most iconic songs in country music history. He was also a devoted father who loved his children dearly.

Years active as a musician

Merle Haggard's career as a musician spanned six decades, from 1956 to 2016. During that time, he released 38 studio albums, 10 live albums, and 76 singles. He also wrote some of the most iconic songs in country music history, including "Sing Me Back Home," "Today I Started Loving You Again," and "Mama Tried."

Haggard's long and successful career as a musician had a significant impact on his personal life. He was married five times to five different women, and he had six children. His marriages were often tumultuous, but he always remained a devoted father to his children.

Haggard's career as a musician also had a significant impact on his finances. He was one of the most successful country music artists of all time, and he earned a great deal of money from his music. He used his wealth to support his family and to help others. He was a generous donor to charities, and he often helped people in need.

Haggard's career as a musician was a major part of his life. It shaped his personal life, his finances, and his legacy. He was a talented musician who wrote some of the most iconic songs in country music history. He was also a generous and compassionate man who often helped others.

FAQs on "Who Was Merle Haggard Married To"

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about Merle Haggard's marriages.

Question 1: How many times was Merle Haggard married?

Answer: Merle Haggard was married five times to five different women.

Question 2: Who was Merle Haggard's first wife?

Answer: Merle Haggard's first wife was Leona Hobbs.

Question 3: Who was Merle Haggard's longest marriage?

Answer: Merle Haggard's longest marriage was to Theresa Ann Lane, which lasted from 1993 until his death in 2016.

Question 4: How many children did Merle Haggard have?

Answer: Merle Haggard had six children with three of his wives.

Question 5: Was Merle Haggard ever married to Bonnie Owens?

Answer: Yes, Merle Haggard was married to Bonnie Owens from 1965 to 1978.

Question 6: Did Merle Haggard have any children with Bonnie Owens?

Answer: Yes, Merle Haggard had one child with Bonnie Owens.

Summary: Merle Haggard was married five times to five different women. He had six children with three of his wives. His longest marriage was to Theresa Ann Lane, which lasted from 1993 until his death in 2016.

Transition to the next article section: Merle Haggard's marriages were often tumultuous, but he always remained a devoted father to his children. He was also a generous and compassionate man who often helped others.

Conclusion

Merle Haggard was married five times to five different women. His marriages were often tumultuous, but he always remained a devoted father to his children. He was also a generous and compassionate man who often helped others.

Haggard's legacy as a singer, songwriter, and humanitarian continues to inspire people around the world. His music is a reminder that even people with difficult pasts can find love and happiness. His life is a testament to the power of redemption.

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