Merle Haggard to receive ACM Crystal Milestone Award on CBS
Country music legend Merle Haggard is set to receive a prestigious honor.
Haggard will be presented with the Crystal Milestone award at this year's Academy of Country Music Awards, CBS (the network which broadcasts the ceremony) announced Thursday.
Previous recipients of the award include Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Jennifer Nettles and Gayle Holcomb.
Haggard, 76, is being given the honor to celebrate his 50th year in the music industry.
Haggard is one of only five country stars to receive the ACM Triple-Crown Award, an honor bestowed to solo artists who have won top new male/female vocalist, top male/female vocalist and entertainer of the year. Haggard became the first artist to ever receive the Triple-Crown title, when he won entertainer of the year in 1970. Carrie Underwood was the last person to receive the honor, in 2010.
Over the course of his lengthy career, Haggard has landed 39 No. 1 country hits, including "Swinging Doors," "The Bottle Let Me Down," "I'm a Lonesome Fugitive," "Branded Man" and "Sing Me Back Home."
Co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Black Shelton, the 49th annual ACM Awards will air April 6 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.