--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Merle…" description: "\"Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard and Keith Whitley - guys like that were huge influences.\" — Sturgill Simpson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/sturgill-simpson-8888_haggard_willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggar_1218317.jpg" --- # Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard and Keith… ![“Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard and Keith Whitley - guys like that were huge influences.” quote by Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/sturgill-simpson-8888_haggard_willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggar_1218317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/sturgill-simpson-8888_haggard_willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggar_1218317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/sturgill-simpson-8888_haggard_willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggar_1218317.jpg) > “Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard and Keith Whitley - guys like that were huge influences.” [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker credits several classic country artists as major influences on his style. **In simple terms:** He names four country legends as huge influences. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and study your artistic influences. Themes music inspiration heritage Mood appreciative inspirational Type testimonial musical When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - career development Key Concepts musical lineage genre evolution Questions to Reflect On - Who are your creative role models? - How do you blend influence with originality? A Different Perspective Influences are one factor among many shaping an artist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“I continued toward Atlanta with a Merle Haggard C.D. playing on the stereo. They weren't great hosts, but those guys in The Ted Kaczynski…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcclellan/i-continued-toward-atlanta-with-a-merle-haggard-c-d-playing-on-the/) Ian McClellan > [I listen more to music when I'm on my computer. I'm into the latest YouTube thing. I'm a nanosecond kind of listener, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mccoy/i-listen-more-to-music-when-i-m-on-my-computer-i-m-into-the-latest/) [Jason McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mccoy/) > [Around 14, I was turned on to Shania, Reba, Merle Haggard, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood... and I've followed it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bell-bundy/around-14-i-was-turned-on-to-shania-reba-merle-haggard-garth-brooks/) [Laura Bell Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bell-bundy/) > [The records in the house I really remember were, well, Glen Campbell's 'Wichita Lineman' and 'Galveston.' Even as a kid, I knew these songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-urban/the-records-in-the-house-i-really-remember-were-well-glen-campbell-s/) [Keith Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-urban/) > [I just got into it like a lot of people through the rock 'n' roll bands in the late '60s that turned to country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-just-got-into-it-like-a-lot-of-people-through-the-rock-n-roll-bands/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [It's cool when your husband starts to sing some old Merle Haggard song and I can pop in with a harmony and it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-yearwood/it-s-cool-when-your-husband-starts-to-sing-some-old-merle-haggard/) [Trisha Yearwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-yearwood/) > [And I think it's safe to say that the single very impressive figure to me was Merle Haggard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/and-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-the-single-very-impressive-figure/) [Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/) > [I think my brand of country music is that's been influenced by not just the rough-stock rodeo side or Ted Nugent's "let's get crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-johnson/i-think-my-brand-of-country-music-is-that-s-been-influenced-by-not/) [Cody Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-johnson/) > [I had always loved music. I grew up listening to classic country, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard. My dad loved Vern Gosdin and Keith Whitley.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/i-had-always-loved-music-i-grew-up-listening-to-classic-country/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [If I'm listening to country, it's Hank Williams, George Jones, Merle Haggard and stuff like that. If people out there don't take that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-osborne/if-i-m-listening-to-country-it-s-hank-williams-george-jones-merle/) [Buzz Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-osborne/) > [There's just enough drinking and cheating songs around without me adding to them. Unless you've got something better than "Misery and Gin" by Merle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-watson/there-s-just-enough-drinking-and-cheating-songs-around-without-me/) [Aaron Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-watson/) > [My music comes from country music. Merle Haggard is God, and I do believe that. I'm not too tuned in to country music. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/my-music-comes-from-country-music-merle-haggard-is-god-and-i-do/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [I listen to Lil Wayne, and then I listen to Merle Haggard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-farr/i-listen-to-lil-wayne-and-then-i-listen-to-merle-haggard/) [Tyler Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-farr/) > [I really like Alan Jackson, in Country Music. I think he's really very, very talented along with George Jones, and Merle Haggard, the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-tucker/i-really-like-alan-jackson-in-country-music-i-think-he-s-really-very/) [Tanya Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-tucker/) > [God bless Merle Haggard. He did all the things that Johnny Cash was supposed to have done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-grizzard/god-bless-merle-haggard-he-did-all-the-things-that-johnny-cash-was/) [Lewis Grizzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-grizzard/) ## More by Sturgill Simpson > [London's been really good to me - England as a whole - but the Scots and the Irish especially are very appreciative because that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/london-s-been-really-good-to-me-england-as-a-whole-but-the-scots-and/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I had a great job with the railroad, a good salary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-had-a-great-job-with-the-railroad-a-good-salary/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I knew I loved playing bluegrass, so I'd end up down there on Sunday nights at the bluegrass jam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-knew-i-loved-playing-bluegrass-so-i-d-end-up-down-there-on-sunday/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I've been reading about the idea of cyclical lives - it matches up to the idea of string theory and a multiverse. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-ve-been-reading-about-the-idea-of-cyclical-lives-it-matches-up-to/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [It's hard enough to sit at a table and talk to most people as it is. But we can go to some town, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/it-s-hard-enough-to-sit-at-a-table-and-talk-to-most-people-as-it-is/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I needed a writing space to get out of my house with the little guy. Because any time I try to write or sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-needed-a-writing-space-to-get-out-of-my-house-with-the-little-guy/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I don't pretend to be an astrophysicist or anything, even though I do read about certain things like metaphysics and cosmology that I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-don-t-pretend-to-be-an-astrophysicist-or-anything-even-though-i-do/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I didn't graduate from college, so I might as well be on Atlantic Records, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-didn-t-graduate-from-college-so-i-might-as-well-be-on-atlantic/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [Everybody is on drugs . . . just give 'em what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/everybody-is-on-drugs-just-give-em-what-they-want/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I just have to do what it is going to make me happy, first and foremost - what is honest and what is sincere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-just-have-to-do-what-it-is-going-to-make-me-happy-first-and/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I'll never get tired of being told I sound like Waylon Jennings, but I don't hear it myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-ll-never-get-tired-of-being-told-i-sound-like-waylon-jennings-but-i/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I someday hope to find the time and coin to invest more of my creative energy towards the visual media side of releasing music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-someday-hope-to-find-the-time-and-coin-to-invest-more-of-my/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I believe framing reality is one of the only ways we can ever be sure it actually exists. In that regard, I feel as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-believe-framing-reality-is-one-of-the-only-ways-we-can-ever-be-sure/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [There have been many socially conscious concept albums. I wanted to make a 'social consciousness' concept album disguised as a country record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/there-have-been-many-socially-conscious-concept-albums-i-wanted-to/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [Somebody told me once it takes an Americana song five minutes to say what a country song says in three - so I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/somebody-told-me-once-it-takes-an-americana-song-five-minutes-to-say/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) [Explore all 77 Sturgill Simpson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) ## More Haggard quotes > [New Rule: There is no devil, so stop blaming your screw-ups on him. Last week, one of the biggest evangelical leaders in America, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-there-is-no-devil-so-stop-blaming-your-screw-ups-on-him-last/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“I continued toward Atlanta with a Merle Haggard C.D. playing on the stereo. They weren't great hosts, but those guys in The Ted Kaczynski…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcclellan/i-continued-toward-atlanta-with-a-merle-haggard-c-d-playing-on-the/) Ian McClellan > [In your walks about London you will sometimes see bent, haggard figures that look as if they had recently been caught in some powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-your-walks-about-london-you-will-sometimes-see-bent-haggard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She is not old, she is not young, The Woman with the Serpent's Tongue. The haggard cheek, the hungering eye, The poisoned words that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-watson/she-is-not-old-she-is-not-young-the-woman-with-the-serpent-s-tongue/) [William Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-watson/) > [I really like Alan Jackson, in Country Music. I think he's really very, very talented along with George Jones, and Merle Haggard, the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-tucker/i-really-like-alan-jackson-in-country-music-i-think-he-s-really-very/) [Tanya Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-tucker/) > [“managed to break my nose on my own knee, which, although it was clearly an extraordinary achievement, had the same effect on me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/managed-to-break-my-nose-on-my-own-knee-which-although-it-was-clearly/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [ \[W.H.R.\] Rivers is the Rider Haggard of anthropology; I shall be the Conrad. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronislaw-malinowski/w-h-r-rivers-is-the-rider-haggard-of-anthropology-i-shall-be-the/) [Bronislaw Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronislaw-malinowski/) > [I listen to Lil Wayne, and then I listen to Merle Haggard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-farr/i-listen-to-lil-wayne-and-then-i-listen-to-merle-haggard/) [Tyler Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-farr/) > [My music comes from country music. Merle Haggard is God, and I do believe that. I'm not too tuned in to country music. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/my-music-comes-from-country-music-merle-haggard-is-god-and-i-do/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [May the merciful god, if indeed there be such, guard those hours when no power of the will, or drug that the cunning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/may-the-merciful-god-if-indeed-there-be-such-guard-those-hours-when/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [There's just enough drinking and cheating songs around without me adding to them. Unless you've got something better than "Misery and Gin" by Merle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-watson/there-s-just-enough-drinking-and-cheating-songs-around-without-me/) [Aaron Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-watson/) > [Acting might bring on emotional exhaustion, but writing tired your brains out. Writing led to depression and insomnia and walking around all day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-yates/acting-might-bring-on-emotional-exhaustion-but-writing-tired-your/) [Richard Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-yates/) > [If I'm listening to country, it's Hank Williams, George Jones, Merle Haggard and stuff like that. If people out there don't take that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-osborne/if-i-m-listening-to-country-it-s-hank-williams-george-jones-merle/) [Buzz Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-osborne/) > [I had always loved music. I grew up listening to classic country, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard. My dad loved Vern Gosdin and Keith Whitley.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/i-had-always-loved-music-i-grew-up-listening-to-classic-country/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [I think my brand of country music is that's been influenced by not just the rough-stock rodeo side or Ted Nugent's "let's get crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-johnson/i-think-my-brand-of-country-music-is-that-s-been-influenced-by-not/) [Cody Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-johnson/) Browse all 64 Haggard quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard and Keith Whitley - guys like that were huge influences.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sturgill Simpson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggard-and-keith-whitley-guys-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Haggard" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggard-and-keith-whitley-guys-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/sturgill-simpson-8888_haggard_willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggar_1218317.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/sturgill-simpson-8888_haggard_willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggar_1218317.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/sturgill-simpson-8888_haggard_willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggar_1218317.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard and Keith Whitley - guys like that were huge influences.” — Sturgill Simpson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sturgill Simpson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggard-and-keith-whitley-guys-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/willie-nelson-marty-robbins-merle-haggard-and-keith-whitley-guys-like/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```