Kris Kristofferson, Songwriting Legend and Actor, Dies at 88

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Photo: Marina Chavez; used with permission

Kris Kristofferson, a truly legendary singer-songwriter as well as actor, has died at the age of 88. The news of his passing at his home in Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday, September 28, 2024, was announced by his family on his Facebook page today (Sept. 29). Among his many career highlights are his composition “Me and Bobby McGee,” a #1 hit for Janis Joplin in 1971; his musical collaboration with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings as part of the Highwaymen; and his acting roles in such films as 1976’s A Star is Born and 1973’s Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid.

“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,” the family wrote. “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.”

Their sentiment was shared by many others; see below for tributes from Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, and others.

Kristofferson had been officially retired since 2020. That news, announced January 27, 2021, was revealed in an “oh, by the way” manner in a press release from Morris Higham Management (MHM), which represents Kristofferson’s estate. Kristofferson turned 88 on June 22, 2024.

Kris Kristofferson and Rosanne Cash at the Hollywood Bowl, April 29, 2023 (Photo: Joshua Timmermans)

The legend made an increasingly rare public appearance when he performed during both nights of the Willie Nelson 90th birthday concerts at the Hollywood Bowl on April 29-30, 2023. At the first show, he accompanied Rosanne Cash to sing his “”Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again).” The following night, he joined Norah Jones for “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”

Cash posted a tribute on her Instagram account. “Here was a man. A man I knew most of my life. A piece of my heart and family history. I expected he’d leave the planet fairly soon but it doesn’t change the magnitude of the loss. And yet we will always have him— his enormous legacy, his resonant spirit, the lasting power of his authenticity, his staggering gifts as a poet— in word, on screen, in his being. For the last several decades, there was no Kris without Lisa and her beauty and steadfastness is a constant inspiration. I send you all my love, Lisa. Travel safe, dear brother. I will always love you.”

Kristoffer Kristofferson was born in the border town of Brownsville, Tex., on June 22, 1936. Among his many unique accomplishments, Kristofferson was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, a college football player, a bartender, a Golden Gloves boxer, a forest fighter and an Army Ranger who flew helicopters.

Kristofferson achieved remarkable success as a country songwriter at the start of the 1970s. His songs “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down” and “For the Good Times” were all chart-topping hits. By 1987, it was estimated that more than 450 artists had recorded Kristofferson’s compositions.

Watch Kristofferson perform “Me and Bobby McGee” in 1979

The three-time Grammy winner recorded 30 albums, including three as part of the country music supergroup the Highwaymen.

Dolly Parton posted a tribute on her Instagram account:

What a great loss
What a great writer
What a great actor
What a great friend

I will always love you, Dolly

“Kris Kristofferson believed creativity is God-given, and those who ignore such a gift are doomed to unhappiness. He preached that a life of the mind gives voice to the soul, and his work gave voice not only to his soul but to ours. He leaves a resounding legacy.”
—Kyle Young,… pic.twitter.com/JMyZp6lJUr

— Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (@countrymusichof) September 29, 2024

Fellow songwriting great Jimmy Webb wrote, “We lost a fellow Highwayman today. Godspeed, Kris.”

What a gentleman, kind soul, and a lover of words. I am so glad I got to meet him and be around him. One of my favorite people. Rest in peace, Kris. pic.twitter.com/Qeqs44e4KZ

— Reba McEntire (@reba) September 30, 2024

Loved this man, his talent, his mind and his beautiful heart.
Journey well, my friend.#KrisKristofferson pic.twitter.com/DBypO6hKrj

— Melissa Etheridge (@metheridge) September 29, 2024

It is hard to imagine a world without Kris Kristofferson in it. Knowing and singing with him has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. I feel certain he will be holding court in heaven. RIP Kris. You will be missed.

: Reid Long pic.twitter.com/44l4Gz5vkx

— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) September 30, 2024

an epic human with the biggest heart you will be so, so missed. rest easy, my friend. #kriskristofferson pic.twitter.com/VUcUz3KFta

— leann rimes cibrian (@leannrimes) September 29, 2024

From Don McLean: “Kris and I shared a magical weekend together. We both were introduced by legends at The Newport Folk Festival in 1969. Johnny Cash brought him and introduced him. Pete Seeger brought me and introduced me. If that were not enough, other artists made their debut as well such as James Taylor and Van Morrison. To top it off we landed a man on the moon that weekend and everybody was writing songs. Whenever I saw him we would always talk about it. Kris was a fine man.”

It’s estimated that Kristofferson has acted in more than 70 films. In 1977 he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in A Star Is Born, opposite Barbra Streisand.

Streisand paid tribute to her co-star on her Instagram account. “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.

“In the movie, Kris and I sang the song I’d written for the film’s main love theme, ‘Evergreen.’

“For my latest concert in 2019 at London’s Hyde Park, I asked Kris to join me on-stage to sing our other A Star Is Born duet, ‘Lost Inside Of You.’ He was as charming as ever, and the audience showered him with applause. It was a joy seeing him receive the recognition and love he so richly deserved.

“My thoughts go to Kris’ wife, Lisa who I know supported him in every way possible.”

Watch the trailer for A Star Is Born

Kristofferson is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, winner of the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and was honored with the American Veterans Association’s “Veteran of the Year Award” in 2002. In 2009, BMI lauded Kristofferson with the Icon Award. In 2014, he was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the PEN Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence Award.

He said that poet William Blake was correct in asserting that anyone divinely ordered for spiritual communion but buries his talent will be pursued by sorrow and desperation through life and by shame and confusion for eternity.

“(Blake) is telling you that you’ll be miserable if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do,” Kristofferson said in Ken Burns’ documentary Country Music.

Many of Kristofferson’s recordings are available here.