Haggard and Lane Had Been Married Since 1993 And She’s About 20 Years Younger Than Him
Merle Haggard’s wife, Theresa Lane Haggard, was about 20 years younger than him. They were married in 1993 and were happily married until he passed away in 2016.
When they were married, she was in her 30s and he was in his 50s. Haggard said that at first he didn’t understand why someone younger wanted to be with him, The Boot reported. Lane and Haggard were still together when he passed away on his 79th birthday after a long series of health struggles.
Haggard and Lane’s first meeting had some drama around it, reported The Boot. Lane’s mother convinced her to go to one of Haggard’s concerts. She met his guitarist, Clint Strong, after the show. They were headed to Strong’s room when Haggard saw Lane. He told Strong to go get a guitar and meet them at the room.
When Strong arrived, Haggard had the door locked. Strong started banging on the door, Lane recalled. And Haggard said: “Get the f**** out of here! She’s my woman now. You don’t know how to treat a woman. Get the hell out of here, or I’m going to fire your a**.”
Haggard was married four times before Lane. First he was married to Leona Hobbs from 1956 to 1964 and they had four children. Then he married singer Bonnie Owens in 1965. He said that Owens helped him make his big break into country music. They divorced in 1978 but remained close, with Owens even serving as the maid of honor for Haggard’s third marriage to Leona Williams. He and Williams were married from 1978 to 1983. Then he married Debbie Parret in 1985, and they divorced in 1991.
Haggard and Lane had two children together.