Merle on the Mend

Country legend Merle Haggard is resting comfortably at his home near Redding, Calif., following recent surgery to have a malignant tumor removed from his lung.

Merle’s publicist reveals that the 71-year-old singer had non-small cell lung cancer, which has a better rate of survival than small cell cancer. Tests show that doctors were able to remove the affected tissue in the successful surgery, and that Merle has no more signs of cancer. “Due to the surgeon, Dr. Peck, the Tylenol pushers on the fourth floor of Memorial Hospital, and most of all, my wife Theresa, I’m feeling good ... better and better each day," Merle writes in a statement.

“I’d sure like to know who controls the largest shares of Tylenol. God forbid it be the oil companies!”

• November 17, 2008
• story by Bob Paxman
• photo by PAMELA SPRINGSTEEN/CAPITOL