PALO CEDRO, Calif. (AP) – Kris Kristofferson was singing Merle Haggard’s song “Sing Me Back Home” at Haggard’s funeral when the wind blew his lyric sheet away. Marty Stuart joked that Haggard did that on purpose. The Bakersfield Californian reports Haggard was laid to rest on Saturday at his ranch in Palo Cedro, California, in a private ceremony. Stuart acted as officiant. Along with Stuart and Kristofferson, other performers included Stuart’s wife, Connie Smith, Haggard’s three sons and Willie Nelson’s son, Micah. The surviving original members of Haggard’s band, The Strangers, also were there. Haggard died last week at the age of 79.
