Merle Haggard Recovering From Pneumonia in Georgia

Country icon also being treated for multiple ulcers

By Rolling Stone

January 25, 2012 8:55 AM ET

Merle Haggard performs as part of the Stagecoach Music Festival.

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Country legend Merle Haggard is recovering from pneumonia at a hospital in Georgia, according to the singer's spokeswoman. Haggard was admitted to the hospital on January 17th after illness forced him to cancel a gig in Macon, Georgia only moments before hitting the stage. In addition to suffering from double pneumonia, doctors discovered a number of other serious ailments, for which he is now being treated.

According to Haggard's representative, his pneumonia is "almost completely clear," and he is now recovering from "three stomach ulcers, the removal of eight polyps from his colon and diverticulitis in his esophagus," all of which were found by the Macon medical staff. Haggard is expected to be out of the hospital within a week, and the spokeswoman claimed that the 74-year-old will "be back up and running in 30 days."