Nearly 50 years since its release, Haggard's tune still resonates with listeners all over the United States — and perhaps even the world! In fact, even though that era seems remote, today's audience has many of the same concerns and issues as the people hearing the song for the very first time in 1969.

Haggard’s everyman anthem released in 1969 during the height of the counterculture revolution was meant to offer a differing perspective than the one most music of the era represented. The song is considered both iconic and controversial in its message, but what nobody argues is that it encapsulates a mindset in America that existed in 1969, and still does very much today. Merle offered conflicting accounts about what inspired the iconic song throughout his life, from being angry about anti-war protests, to being ironic about a dying mindset.

It's not enough just to be a good song; to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the song has to also be culturally significant:

To be considered for induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame, a song has to be at least 25 years old—allowing time to judge the merit of the song for it’s cultural and historical significance. Songs that just turned 25, including Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” also made the list.

We're thrilled to hear that “Okie From Muskogee” is being recognized for its cultural impact! Haggard was not only a country music legend, but also an incredibly talented songwriter — as well as being a bit of a rebel! We just wish he was around to see just how important his music was, and still is.

Article Source: Saving Country Music