Kris Kristofferson, Grammy Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter and Actor, Dead at 88
Kris Kristofferson, the legendary country music singer-songwriter who later found equal success as an actor, has passed away at the age of 88.
The late talent reportedly died "peacefully" at his home in Maui, Hawaii, with his family confirming the sad news and sharing a personal statement.
"It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at home," read a statement shared with Parade. "We're all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he's smiling down at us all."
No cause of death was shared, and Kristofferson's official Instagram account noted, "The family asks for privacy during this time" after sharing the official statement.
Friends and admirers of Kristofferson quickly started sharing personal notes and tributes in the wake of his death, with the estate of Waylon Jennings–who, along with Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, formed country supergroup The Highwaymen with Kristofferson–sharing a short but sweet message on Instagram writing "'We're Friends Forever….' Remembering Kris Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024 )."
John Rich of Lonestar and Big & Rich shared a throwback photo of the two of them, writing, "So sad to hear Kris Kristofferson has passed. He and I became friends over the years, and it was a distinct honor every time I got to work or hang out with him. He was one of the greatest lyricists to ever live, and a true class act. He set the bar so very high. Miss ya brother??."
His former co-star Barbra Streisand mourned the loss, calling him "something special" in a lengthy and emotional tribute shared to Instagram. "The first time I saw Kris performing at the Troubadour club in L.A. I knew he was something special. Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing, which eventually became A Star Is Born."
Fellow singer-songwriter Travis Tritt, who worked with Kristofferson on the film Outlaw Justice, also reacted to the news, sharing a photo from behind the scenes of the film and writing, "Sad to hear of Kris Kristofferson's passing. He was an inspiration to me and I was fortunate to get to know him on the set of 'Outlaw Justice' that we filmed in Spain in 1998. My heartfelt condolences go out to Kris's wife, Lisa and all of his family, friends and fans."
Dolly Parton later chimed in on the loss, calling Kristofferson a great writer, actor, and friend. She signed the post on social media "I will always love you, Dolly."
Lukas Nelson, rocker and son of Willie Nelson, said Kristofferson was "among the greats" and "one of the coolest men in music."
"Other than my father, he was my greatest inspiration," he added.
Kristofferson was born in Brownsville, Texas in 1936, and pursued a full education, though he was encouraged by his family to join the military, eventually doing as they asked after college. After a tour in Germany, he left the Army to work on songwriting, which led his family to disown him. It's unclear if he later reconciled with them.
He then moved to Nashville and worked hard to get attention on his music, finding initial success at the end of the 1960s and moving into the '70s. Kristofferson won the CMA Award for Songwriter of the Year in 1970 for "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," which he wrote for Cash. The same year, his debut album, Kristofferson, was released.
As time went on, Kristofferson continued to do well with both his personal singing career and writing songs for other big-name musicians, winning a number of awards including a few Grammys.
In the 1970s, Kristofferson expanded his world and ventured into acting. Just like with music, he was very talented in this area, and in 1976, he starred in the award-winning musical A Star Is Born opposite Streisand, taking home a Golden Globe for his performance.
Kristofferson went on to create a lot of award-winning and critically acclaimed music while also acting in many different projects over the years, with notable films including Blade, Payback and Heaven's Gate. Kristofferson has been honored many times for his artistic contributions, such as his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985.
The late singer is survived by his wife, Lisa Meyers, his eight children, and his grandchildren.
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