Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard turned a 1960s prison stint into 38 number-one country hits, a count that exceeds #6 George Jones's total by 24. His song "Okie from Muskogee" sold over 1 million copies in its first year, an achievement 50% faster than the typical anti-establishment anthem of its time. Writing from working-class roots, Haggard's 1969 album "Okie" sold 2 million units, ranking him as the most prolific prison-to-stardom artist in country history.