Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard Reunite for New Album

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard were two of the founding fathers of the outlaw country movement, and they have paired up again to release a new studio album collaboration.

"Me and Merle got a new album coming out called Django and Jimmie, and the title track is about Django Reinhardt and Jimmie Rodgers," Nelson says. "Both of those guys were very influential in both of our careers." The album will be released by Legacy Recordings on June 2.

Haggard adds there are both new songs and a couple of classics on the new album. The pair previously collaborated on Pancho & Lefty, a honky-tonk hit that reached No. 1 after its release in January 1983. The critically acclaimed title song cemented Nelson and Haggard's place as one of country music's great partnerships.

The pair completed a number of follow-up hits, including 1987's Seashores of Old Mexico and 2007's double album, Last of the Breed, with Ray Price.

Django and Jimmie includes 14 new recordings, including a dual tribute to jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and Jimmie Rogers, and the outlaw country tune "Unfair Weather Friend." Nelson and Haggard also pay musical tribute to each other through emotionally moving solo performances. Nelson recorded a cut of Haggard's "Somewhere Between," and Haggard covered Nelson's "Family Bible."

"It's good music," Nelson says of the new album. "I got a good feeling about it."

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