Introduction:
Some songs simply move us — and then there are those that become part of who we are, echoing through our lives long after the final note. One such masterpiece is “Today I Started Loving You Again,” a country classic immortalized by the legendary Merle Haggard. Yet behind its familiar melody lies a story far more intimate: a chapter of Haggard’s life shaped by love, heartbreak, and the unwavering devotion of a woman who understood his artistry better than anyone else.
Not long after marrying Bonnie Owens, Haggard entered a remarkable creative surge. He later admitted that during this period he was writing “pretty good,” a spark he credited in no small part to Bonnie’s constant encouragement. If he so much as hinted at a lyric, she was there — pen in hand, notebook ready — capturing every fleeting thought before it slipped away. Her role was not incidental; it was indispensable. Without her presence, Haggard believed songs like “Mama Tried” and “Workin’ Man Blues” might never have existed.
Their creative bond was extraordinary. In 1968 or 1969 alone, the couple earned six BMI awards in a single year — all for songs transcribed by Bonnie. Among them was the jewel of their collaboration, “Today I Started Loving You Again.” The seed of the song was planted during a quiet layover at the L.A. airport, after a grueling Texas tour and with dozens more dates ahead. Turning to Bonnie, Haggard murmured, “Today I’ll start loving you again.” Without hesitation, she replied, “That’s a song.”
Weeks later, after a long night at Dewey Groom’s Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas and an argument that left him weary, Haggard returned to his hotel room, sat down with nothing but a paper bag, and poured out the song in a single burst of emotion. By the time Bonnie returned with a hamburger, the words were already written — a moment of raw vulnerability transformed into one of the most enduring ballads in country music history.
Though Haggard initially gave Bonnie half the royalties as a gesture of love, life’s turns ensured she received even more after their divorce. Yet the bond between them endured beyond marriage. Their friendship, rooted in music and mutual respect, lasted through the years, even into Bonnie’s battle with Alzheimer’s. In a moment of clarity during her illness, she once pointed to a photograph of them above her bed and told visitors with childlike sincerity: “He’s my favorite.”
“Today I Started Loving You Again” is more than a song; it is a living testament to a love that evolved beyond romance into a lifelong companionship. At its core is Bonnie Owens — the woman who never missed a word, never missed a moment, and who helped a legend turn passing inspiration into timeless music.