Merle Haggard - Merle Haggard Back In Hospital

The 74-year-old singer was admitted to a medical facility in MACon, Georgia last week (beg16Jan12) with an undisclosed illness and it was later confirmed he was suffering from the potentially-deadly lung condition. He subsequently cancelled all of his January (12) tour dates.

Doctors also found the star had a number of other ailments including three stomach ulcers, eight polyps in his colon and diverticulitis of the oesophagus, according to the Associated Press.

He was discharged from the hospital on Friday (20Jan12) and began his trip back to his home in California on his tour bus, but the veteran star soon realised he wasn't fit enough to make the journey and checked himself back into the hospital to undergo further antibiotic treatment.

In a statement, Haggard says, "Thanks to all the wonderful people all over the world that prayed their special prayers... Another special thanks to the folks of MACon... for their kindness, intelligence and probably saving my life."

His representative Tresa Redburn adds, "(The pneumonia is) almost completely clear, while he is recovering from three stomach ulcers, the removal of eight polyps from his colon and diverticulitis in his oesophagus... He will be back up and running in 30 days (but he will be in the hospital for) at least a few more days."