Many who saw Eric Church‘s ACM 2015 performance noticed the theme was honoring the great country music legend Merle Haggard. Eric gives credit to the idea to his manager.
“That was my manager’s idea. He was watching footage from 50 years ago, and Merle Haggard won the Most Promising Male. He got the idea it would be cool to pay homage for the 50th anniversary. He thought it would never go, and it did!” Church tells Country Countdown USA.
“I just loved that we’re able, 10 years later, an album track gets to open the ACM Awards. It’s never been done before. We checked.”
Haggard is definitely deserving of the honor: The icon was the recipient of the ACM’s Crystal Milestone Award in 2014. He took home Most Promising Male Vocalist during the inaugural awards show in 1965, he won Entertainer of the Year in 1970, and he’s also been named Male Vocalist of the Year six times.
Good call from Eric Church‘s manager!!
Eric Church “Pledge Allegiance To The Hag”
