Country music legend Merle Haggard has reportedly died at the age of 79, according to ABC 23. Today was his birthday. No official cause of death is currently known although Haggard was hospitalized in December of 2015 for pneumonia. He was also recently hospitalized for pneumonia in March. Haggard cancelled his April slate of shows due to his ongoing battle with the illness.

Haggard accrued 40 #1 hits in his expansive musical career and was awarde the lifetime achievement and “outstanding contribution to American culture” from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2010. Haggard was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors by the likes of Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill and many others.

In a tweet, Charlie Daniels said that “country music has suffered one of the greatest losses it will ever experience.”