Don Henley’s music has long blended country, rock and Americana rather than fitting neatly into one genre. The article argues that Merle Haggard was a particularly important influence, whose emotional delivery and lived experience helped define the kind of country music Henley admired.

Henley praised Haggard for recording “many, many hits” since the 1960s and said several of his songs were among his favourite country recordings. Although Henley had worked with artists including Dolly Parton and drew inspiration from many Nashville figures, he viewed Haggard’s rich baritone, humanity and deeply affecting ballads as uniquely powerful.