Yallwire News

Already a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Merle Haggard received a Kennedy Center Honor alongside Oprah Winfrey, Sir Paul McCartney, choreographer Bill T. Jones and Broadway lyricist Jerry Herman.

Although he is not the first country artist to receive one of the Honors named after the venue, Merle Haggard was the first country artist to perform at the Kennedy Center less the a week after it opened in 1971.

Country stars George Jones, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Roy Acuff and Willie Nelson have all received the Honor prior to this weekend's ceremony.

The Kennedy Center Honors will be aired as a CBS special on December 28.