Kris Kristofferson, a country music legend and actor, has died aged 88.
The singer, best known for his songs ‘Riders in the Sky’ and ‘Loving Her Was Easier’, passed away at his home in Maui on Saturday, his family revealed.
“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,” Kristofferson’s family said in a statement, as per the Independent.
“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,” it added.
Since the tragic news was announced, tributes have been pouring in for the late star from friends and fans who are devastated to have lost such a wonderful talent.
Dolly Parton took to X (formerly Twitter) to honor her beloved friend.
“What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend. I will always love you, Dolly,” she wrote.
Barbara Streisand, who starred with Kristofferson in the Oscar-winning 1976 movie A Star Is Born, also took to social media to publish an emotional tribute to her “charming” co-star.
“The first time I saw Kris performing at the Troubadour club in L.A. I knew he was something special,” she started her statement. “Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing, which eventually became A Star Is Born.”
She continued: “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.”
She concluded the post by writing: “My thoughts go to Kris’ wife, Lisa who I know supported him in every way possible.”
Reba McIntire, a fellow country singer and actor, also joined the chorus of tributes, adding: “‘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.”
Melissa Etheridge followed on, posting: “Loved this man, his talent, his mind and his beautiful heart. Journey well, my friend,” alongside the hashtag #KrisKristofferson.
Travis Tritt also stated that he was “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,” he continued, before adding: “My heartfelt condolences go out to Kris’s wife Lisa and all of his family, friends and fans.”
Filmmaker Mike Flanagan also took to X to state: “Very sorry to hear that Kris Kristofferson has passed away. Amazing career; his brilliant work in LONE STAR is my personal favorite.”
Hollywood actor Josh Brolin shared this statement on Instagram in the wake of the news, quoting one of the legend’s hits.
“Poet, lovely human being, road scholar redneck old schooler. ‘Comin’ close together with a feelin’ that I’ve never known before, in my time / She ain’t ashamed to be a woman, or afraid to be a friend / I don’t know the answer to the easy way she opened every door in my mind / But dreamin’ was as easy as believin’ it was never gonna end’ (Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again), 1971) Kris Kristofferson. RIP to another great,” Brolin wrote.
Kristofferson started his iconic career in the late ’60s when he wrote tracks like ‘Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down’, ‘Help Me Make it Through the Night’, ‘For the Good Times’, and ‘Me and Bobby McGee.’
He went on to write multiple other hits which earned him a handful of prestigious awards.
Kristofferson was the recipient of many awards, including four Grammys. He won Best Country Song in 1971 for ‘Help Me Make It Through The Night’, and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group twice with Rita Coolidge, whom he was briefly married to, in 1973 and 1975 respectively.
And later, in 2014, he was also awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his longstanding contributions to the music industry.
Kristofferson’s talents didn’t lie in just music though. He went on to expand into the world of acting, starring opposite Ellen Burstyn in director Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and, of course, with Barbra Streisand in the 1976 film A Star Is Born.
While the star formally retired from music in 2021, he still made occasional appearances on stage.
Kristofferson is survived by his wife, Lisa; his eight children, Tracy, Kris Jr, Casey, Jesse, Jody, John, Kelly, and Blake; and his seven grandchildren.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.
