Merle Haggard is about is “Country” as it comes but with his association with the respected Bakersfield Sound and Outlaw Country Movement, Haggard has found himself among the elite in terms of respect from his peers. If respect is enough to put him in to the Hall, he would be a lock but despite his massive success in Country he did not have the same crossover appeal that other Country artists had and this will probably keep Haggard out of the Hall.