Merle Haggard may have hated modern country music, but the singers loved him

Legendary country singer Merle Haggard wasn't shy about his thoughts on modern country music: He hated it.The majority of contemporary artists "sound like a bunch of [crap]," he said in an interview last fall. "They're talking about screwing on a pickup tailgate and things of that nature," Haggard added. "I don't find no substance. I don't find anything you can whistle and nobody even attempts to write a melody. It's more of that kids stuff."