Entertainment this Morning with Gary and Bristol Thursday, April 7 [VIDEO]

Six days a week, Gary and Bristol get up before the sun shines to bring you the latest from Nashville, New York City and Hollywood with Entertainment this Morning!

Country legend Merle Haggard passed away yesterday on his 79^th birthday after fighting double pneumonia which he developed in December 2015 forcing him to cancel several shows, including the one scheduled at the Horseshoe Casino Riverdome in Bossier March 4, 2016. The singer had recently been in hospice care and died at his home in Redding, CA. During his career, he had 71 top 10 hits, 38 of which hit #1. Nearly 400 artists have covered his song Today I Started Loving You Again since its release in 1968. Haggard was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994, was married five times and leaves behind six children. A story shared by Entertainment Weekly says that Haggard was arrested when he was 20-years-old for breaking and entering a local roadhouse. After an escape attempt at Bakersfield Jail, he was transferred to San Quentin where he heard Johnny Cash play his first ever prison concert. Haggard credited music for saving him from a life of crime.

It’s down to the final two after Dalton Rapattoni was sent home last night for what they’re calling the ‘Farwell Finale’ tonight on American Idol. Expect tons of cameos on tonight’s show including past winners, judges and William Hung as La’Porsha Renae and Trent Harmon battle it out for the title of the final American Idol.

Idol alum, Carrie Underwood, says she can’t believe how the time has passed since she was on the show. Quote, "In some ways it feels like it was a million years ago and in some ways it feels like it was just yesterday. I know I'm blessed and I'm so happy that I still get to do what I love."

Do you remember Carrie’s Idol audition? She was so stinkin’ cute! Not only did she admit to having an extra ‘nipple’ that she had removed, she does a mean impression of a chicken!

Carrie will be in Kiss Country Friday, April 22 at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City. The opening acts are Easton Corbin and The Swon Brothers and we'll have more tickets for you soon!

Celebrity Birthdays April 7:
Jackie Chan 61
Russell Crowe 51