Country Stars Chris Janson and ERNEST Pay Tribute to Merle Haggard

The duo jammed on one of the country legend's hit songs after a writing session.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Country music stars Chris Janson and ERNEST recently got together for a writing session, and afterwards they decided to pay tribute to the late, great Merle Haggard. The two musicians posted a video of themselves playing and singing Haggard's 1981 hit "My Favorite Memory." Janson also took the opportunity to congratulate his daughter Georgia and her cheer team, who won the national championship in Orlando for the second year in a row.

Why it matters

Merle Haggard is considered one of the most influential and iconic figures in country music history, with a career spanning over five decades. By covering one of his hit songs, Janson and ERNEST are honoring Haggard's legacy and keeping his music alive for a new generation of fans. Janson's shoutout to his daughter's cheer team victory also highlights the personal side of the country star's life.

The details

In a social media post, Janson shared a video of himself and ERNEST playing and singing Haggard's 1981 hit "My Favorite Memory." The song was the lead single from Haggard's album "Big City" and went on to become his 25th number-one hit. Janson also congratulated his daughter Georgia and her cheer team, who won the national championship in Orlando for the second consecutive year.

  • On February 12, 2026, Janson and ERNEST posted the video of themselves playing Merle Haggard's song.
  • Georgia's cheer team won the national championship in Orlando this past weekend.

The players

Chris Janson

A country music singer and songwriter known for hits like "Buy Me a Boat" and "Fix a Drink."

ERNEST

A rising country music artist who has written songs for other artists and is also building his own solo career.

Merle Haggard

A legendary country music singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist who is considered one of the most influential figures in the genre, with a career spanning over five decades.

Georgia Janson

Chris Janson's daughter, who recently led her cheer team to a national championship victory in Orlando.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Post write Hag jam session with @ernest615”

— Chris Janson (Chris Janson's Instagram)

“Congrats to my sweet baby girl Georgia & her awesome cheer team who won the national championship in Orlando this past weekend! They have won 2 years in a row. Proud dad.”

— Chris Janson (Chris Janson's Instagram)

The takeaway

By paying tribute to the legendary Merle Haggard and celebrating his daughter's cheer team victory, Chris Janson is showcasing both his musical roots and his personal life, connecting with fans on multiple levels and honoring the country music icons who paved the way for artists like himself.