Though Keith Richards built his reputation as one of rock’s ultimate badasses, even he couldn’t help but be intimidated by a legend. Known for creating iconic riffs and his seemingly ageless spirit, Richards has always held his own, both on stage and off. But when he came face-to-face with country music icon Merle Haggard, the iconic Rolling Stones guitarist found himself shivering in his boots.
For Richards, country music was always a part of his rock background. Although his influences stemmed from rock and blues icons like Chuck Berry and Ray Charles, he admired the raw storytelling of country legends like Johnny Cash and Haggard, whose songs could break a heart and mend it again in just a few minutes. Richards had woven this style into the Rolling Stones’ music, and their twangy ballads carried the same emotional weight he found in classic country.
The Stones weren’t strangers to country. While Richards and Mick Jagger cultivated a wild image, they brought a depth to tracks like “Sway” and “Coming Down Again,” pouring their souls into each note. Richards’ fascination with country was no passing phase, and Merle Haggard’s work held a particularly revered spot in his mind. For him, Haggard was untouchable—a master of the genre whose heartache-infused songs set a standard for authentic storytelling.
Even though Richards didn’t pen “Love in Vain”—a Robert Johnson cover—the Stones’ rendition of the song is full of that same raw emotion found in country classics. When Richards first saw Haggard in person, he was completely starstruck. He recalled a moment in rehearsal with Jerry Lee Lewis, realizing mid-song that he was playing alongside Haggard himself.
“He’s wearing one of those straw Stetsons and a grizzled beard,” Richards said. “He looks at me and gives me a grin, and I give him a grin back. I play a few more bars, and suddenly it hits me—this is Merle Haggard! I almost lost it. I’m sitting next to one of the greats. He turns around, gives me a nod, and we keep going. I managed to make it through the song.”
For all his usual rock-solid confidence, Richards admitted to feeling like a music geek next to Haggard, someone whose music influenced the Stones’ country-tinged sound on tracks like “Dead Flowers.” Knowing the magnitude of Haggard’s impact on his own musical journey, Richards wasn’t sure if his hero felt admiration or jealousy, or whether he even liked what Richards had done with his own music.
Ultimately, music itself became the bridge between them. Richards saw the unspoken exchange as a reminder that sometimes the best connection with an idol is found through a shared language of melody and chords. Words may fall short, but creating something alongside one’s hero captures an understanding beyond expression, offering a glimpse into the heart and soul that fuel their art.
