MERLE HAGGARD MISSES COUNTY FAIR PERFORMANCE

Singer Merle Haggard abruptly left the Clark County Fair after an argument with his wife, missing an evening performance attended by 10,000 fans, a fair official said.

“We’re all just sick about it,” said Dolores Schmidt, public affairs officer for the fair. “This sort of thing has never happened before at the Clark County Fair.”

Schmidt said police had been alerted to be on the lookout for the famed country-western singer, who abruptly left the fairgrounds at 4:30 p.m. Monday after a two-hour performance.

Haggard boarded his motor coach with Alabama plates after an “emotional dispute” with his wife, leaving behind his band and stage crew, Schmidt said.

She said the singer’s manager went with him, but she could not say whether his wife had joined them.

A crowd of 10,000 showed up for Haggard’s 8 p.m. performance, but were told by entertainment coordinator Jack Roberts that the singer had left. The fans were issued free passes so they could return to the fair on another day.