Pardoned with Grace
For his crime, Merle Haggard’s was given a 15 year-sentence. He only got to serve two years because, in 1960, he was given a parole and in 1972, California Governor Ronald Reagan absolved him of his sentence. Even Merle was shocked at the turn of events. Ten years later, the governor became the US President and Merle was there to perform before him.
It’s easy to say that Merle’s fame contributed to his pardon. But if we’re to see it in depth, his success in music career would not have been possible without any help. In his later years, Merle affirmed that it was all because of God’s doing.