Kris Kristofferson, the much-loved actor and country music singer-songwriter, passed away at his home in Maui on September 28.
Kris Kristofferson, the famous actor and country singer-songwriter, has passed away at the age of 88.
A representative said he was surrounded by his family and died “peacefully” at his home in Maui on Saturday, September 28.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, his family said, “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our husband, father, and grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday. We feel so blessed to have had our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”
Kris Kristofferson was born on June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas. His parents were Mary Ann and Lars Henry Kristofferson, who was a Swedish immigrant and an Air Force general. Kris developed a love for country music early on and wrote his first song, “I Hate Your Ugly Face,” when he was just 11 years old. As a military kid, he moved a lot before his family settled in San Mateo, California, during his teenage years.
According to his website, Kris had two short stories published in Atlantic Monthly when he was 18. In 1954, he went to Pomona College in California, where he played football, boxed in Golden Gloves competitions, and was the sports editor for the school newspaper. He was even featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” issue in 1958. After graduating with a degree in creative writing, he earned a Rhodes Scholarship and completed his master’s in English literature at Oxford University in 1960.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, after college, Kris Kristofferson’s parents encouraged him to join the military. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and, within five years, became a helicopter pilot and reached the rank of captain. While stationed in West Germany in the early 1960s, he continued writing songs and formed a band with other soldiers. After his service, he was offered a job teaching English at West Point military academy.
However, during a visit to Nashville, Tennessee, while on leave, he rediscovered his love for music. This led him to leave the Army in 1965 and pursue a career in music full-time. In a 2010 interview, Kris said, “I just fell in love with the music community there. The older musicians really supported the newcomers, and it was a very soulful time. It was the best decision I ever made.”
In Nashville, Kris Kristofferson worked as a night janitor at Columbia Studios while submitting songs he wrote, like “For the Good Times” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” “For the Good Times” was first recorded by Bill Nash in 1968, but it became a hit when Ray Price released his version in 1970. The song appeared on Kristofferson’s debut album and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song in 1972. It was even covered by soul legend Al Green.
Kristofferson’s song “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” also from his first album, was picked up by Ray Stevens and Johnny Cash. Cash’s version became a hit, winning Song of the Year at the 1970 CMA Awards and reaching No. 1 on the country charts.
Another famous Kristofferson song, “Me and Bobby McGee,” co-written with Fred Foster, was released on Janis Joplin’s posthumous 1971 album Pearl. The song became a massive hit, reaching No. 1 on the pop charts and earning two Grammy nominations in 1972. That same year, Kristofferson won his first Grammy for Best Country Song for Sammi Smith’s version of “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”
Throughout the 1970s, Kristofferson released more albums and hits, including “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” and “Why Me,” which earned two Grammy nominations. He also worked with his second wife, singer Rita Coolidge, on several albums, winning two Grammys for their duets “From the Bottle to the Bottom” and “Lover Please.”
In a 1970 New York Times article, Kristofferson was described as “a poet more than a musician,” admired for his ability to connect country, pop, and underground music.
Kristofferson also became a successful actor, appearing in films like Cisco Pike (1972), Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (1973), and Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974). Despite having no acting experience, he felt confident about acting and took on roles based on his understanding of the characters.
His big break came with his role as a troubled rock star in the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born, alongside Barbra Streisand. This role won him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in 1977. He later became known for playing Whistler in the Blade trilogy with Wesley Snipes.
Music was always a big part of Kris Kristofferson’s life. He teamed up with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson to form the country supergroup The Highwaymen. Their first album, Highwayman, and its title song topped the country charts in 1985. The group released two more albums: Highwayman 2 in 1990 and The Road Goes On Forever in 1995.
Throughout his long career, Kristofferson received many awards, including three Grammys and a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2014. He was also nominated for an Oscar in 1985 for Best Original Song for the movie Songwriter, in which he starred with Willie Nelson. In 2004, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 2013, Kristofferson shared his struggle with memory loss. At first, doctors thought he had Alzheimer’s, but it turned out to be Lyme disease, according to CBS News. His wife, Lisa Kristofferson, explained that once he got the right treatment, his condition improved quickly.
“He was on all these medications for things he didn’t have, and they had side effects,” Lisa told Rolling Stone in 2016. “But after treatment, he came back. There are still tough days, but some days he seems perfectly normal, and it’s easy to forget he’s even dealing with anything.”
After releasing his final studio album, The Cedar Creek Sessions, in 2016, Kris Kristofferson officially announced his retirement from music in 2021. He also shared that Morris Higham Management would be handling his estate.
Clint Higham, president of the management company, praised Kristofferson, saying, “He is the artist that every artist wants to be. If there were a Mount Rushmore for songwriters, Kris would be on it.”
When asked about the secret to life in a 2017 interview with Men’s Journal, Kristofferson said, “I once made a list of rules. It said: Tell the truth, sing with passion, work with laughter, and love with heart. That’s a good place to start.”
Kris Kristofferson is survived by his wife, Lisa, along with his eight children and seven grandchildren.
He was first married to Frances Beer, and they had two children: daughter Tracy, born in 1962, and son Kris, born in 1968. With his second wife, Rita Coolidge, he had a daughter named Casey in 1974. Kris and Lisa have five children together: Jesse (born in 1983), Jody (1985), John (1988), Kelly Marie (1990), and Blake (1994).
I Met My Ex-fiancé Who Dumped Me Because I ‘Wasn’t Good Enough’ – He Was on a Date & My Revenge Was Hard
Hi everyone, I’m Nikki, and I want to share a story about how sometimes karma just needs a little nudge. It all began when I spotted my ex-fiancé at a fancy restaurant with another woman. What started as an ordinary night out for me turned into a delicious opportunity for sweet revenge.
Before we move on to the main story, here’s a bit of context. About five years ago, I was engaged to this guy named Mark. We had been together for three years and I was in love with him: you know, the kind where you cannot imagine your life without your favorite person. Luckily, Mark reciprocated my feelings and always assured me that he too felt the same way. We weredeep into our wedding plans and I was over the moon to start a new chapter of my life with him when, out of the blue, he called it quits. Yes, you heard that right. He broke up with me. His reasoning? I “wasn’t good enough for him.” Apparently, he’d landed a big promotion at work and suddenly felt like I didn’t fit his new image. Sounds crazy, right? According to him, he needed someone more refined, someone posh—basically, someone who wasn’t me. He claimed I lacked ambition and drive and that he wanted a partner who could match his “high standards.” It hit me hard. I was a total wreck, wallowing in self-misery for months. I knew I had to pull myself together, but I just didn’t know how. Everything reminded me of him, of us, and of the time we had spent together. It took me ages to move on from him, but the pain is still fresh in my mind, and so are the memories. It hit me hard, and it took me ages to move on from him. Fast forward to the present: I’m 35, delightfully single, and absolutely thriving in my career. Last Saturday, I decided to treat myself to dinner at a fancy new restaurant in town. Guess who I saw through the window as I approached the entrance? You guessed it: Mark! He looked just as smug as ever, laughing and enjoying dinner with some stunning woman. I knew I couldn’t let this opportunity slip by; I had to warn her in a way he’d never see coming. So, I stepped into the restaurant, feeling a surge of anger, and then, suddenly, inspiration struck. I called over the waiter and, with a sweet smile, asked if he could do me a favor. “Hello. I need your help. Do you see the man at that table? He’s my ex-fiancé,” I explained, keeping my tone light. “It would mean the world to me if you could help me pull off a little prank.” The waiter’s eyes twinkled with interest. “What did you have in mind?” he asked, leaning in slightly. “First, let’s send over a bottle of your most expensive champagne with a note,” I said, already feeling the thrill of my plan coming together. He nodded, taking mental notes. “What’s the note supposed to say?” “To Mark, who always settles for second best,” I replied, grinning. The waiter chuckled and walked away to arrange the first part of my revenge. From my table, I watched as the waiter presented the bottle and note to Mark. His face turned a brilliant shade of red, and the woman looked completely puzzled. I could see Mark trying to explain something, but she didn’t seem too convinced. Next, I decided to hit a bit closer to home. I called the waiter over again. “Now, I’d like to send them an appetizer,” I said. “Something he’s highly allergic to. And another note.” The waiter raised an eyebrow but didn’t question me. “What should this note say?” “Just a reminder of what you can’t have,” I replied, feeling a bit wicked. He nodded and went off to carry out my instructions. I watched with glee as the appetizer was delivered. The woman’s face shifted from confusion to irritation, and Mark looked like he was ready to explode. He was obviously trying hard to maintain his composure, but it was a losing battle. For the final act, I needed some outside help. I quickly called my friend Sarah, who lived nearby. “Hey, Sarah, I need a huge favor. Can you come to the new restaurant downtown? I need you to play a little part in my revenge plot.” Sarah arrived within 20 minutes, just as Mark was looking like he might crack under the pressure. She walked up to their table, pretending to recognize Mark. “Oh my God, Mark!” she exclaimed, loud enough for the whole restaurant to hear. “I haven’t seen you since you were at that dating seminar last month. How’s your fiancée? Did she finally agree to the open relationship?” The entire restaurant seemed to go silent. Mark’s date looked horrified. “What is she talking about, Mark?” she demanded. Mark stammered, trying to explain, but the damage was done. “Clara, it’s not what it sounds like,” he blurted out, his face turning an even deeper shade of crimson. “She’s just a friend, making a joke.” Clara wasn’t buying it. She narrowed her eyes, her face a mix of anger and disbelief. “A joke? About a fiancée and an open relationship? Really, Mark?” She grabbed her purse and stood up. “I can’t believe I wasted my time on you.” She stormed out, leaving Mark standing there, red-faced and furious. I watched from my table, savoring every moment of his downfall. As a cherry on top, I decided to go for one final blow.I walked over to Mark’s table, smiling sweetly. “Hi Mark,” I said, enjoying the look of shock on his face. “Guess I wasn’t so ‘not good enough’ after all, huh?” His mouth opened and closed like a fish, but no words came out. Feeling triumphant, I turned and left the restaurant. My heart was pounding, but it felt amazing. Outside, I took a deep breath of the cool night air, feeling lighter than I had in years. A few days later, I heard from a mutual friend that Clara had broken up with Mark that night. Apparently, he’s been trying to figure out how it all went so wrong ever since. He’s even been asking around, trying to piece together what happened. Meanwhile, I’ve moved on, happier than ever. And that’s my tale, folks. Revenge can indeed be deliciously satisfying, especially when garnished with a touch of humiliation. Don’t you agree? Thanks for reading! Much like Nikki, Phoebe’s seemingly idyllic life was shattered by a shocking discovery. Instead of letting pain and anger consume her, she decided to reclaim her freedom and secure her future, all while her husband remained blissfully unaware of her plans.
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