Merle Haggard returning to Vegas

C'mon Hag, you owe us one.

Fans of the country and western-swing legend are happy just to have him around, after the 74-year-old legend beat lung cancer three years ago.

Still, that 45-minute show out in the suburbs last summer? Talk about "Working Man's Blues." We barely finished the third beer.

We're hoping Haggard lingers a bit longer at the Golden Nugget today to showcase "Working in Tennessee."

The October release finds him still writing songs that continue his rebel streak. The title track and "Too Much Boogie Woogie" both reference the current state of Nashville and his outsider status.

The album also finds Haggard remaking "Working Man Blues" with Willie Nelson and son Ben (one of several family members contributing to the project) and tackling the Johnny Cash classic "Jackson."

"I'm doing good. I'm probably in better health than when was I was 70," Haggard says in the new album's press bio.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.