Capitol RecordsCountry Music Hall of Fame member Merle Haggard doesn’t see a long future for hip-hop-inspired country music. In fact, he doesn’t seem to care for any current country act besides Sturgill Simpson, who caters more to the Americana format than to country radio.
Merle tells Fargo, North Dakota’s The Forum newspaper, ” As far as I’m concerned, he’s the only one out there. The rest of them sound like a bunch of [crap] to me. He comes out and does a great show.”
As for the rest of today’s modern country stars, Merle says he “can’t tell what they’re doing.”
“They’re talking about screwing on a pickup tailgate and things of that nature,” Merle continues. “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. It’s hot right now, but I’ll tell you what, it’s cooling off.”
Merle is playing a show with Sturgill and Kris Kristofferson Sunday night in North Dakota.
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