by Mick the Ram

Country music legend and decorated actor Kris Kristofferson has sadly died at his home in Maui, Hawaii, a spokesperson for his family has revealed.

A statement said he passed away peacefully at the weekend surrounded by his family, although no cause of death was given. He was known to have been struggling with memory loss for the past decade.

As an actor he shared top billing with Barbra Streisand in the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born and the actress was one of the first of many celebrities to pay a glowing tribute to the man, saying she “knew he was something special” the first time she saw him perform.  

In that movie they sang together on love theme “Evergreen”, which won an Oscar for best original song, and Kristofferson won a Golden Globe for his acting.

Throughout his career, Kristofferson released a total of 18 studio albums and had numerous number one hits including “Help Me Make It Through the Night” which went on to be covered by the likes of: Elvis Presley and Mariah Carey.

“So blessed”

The family statement was signed by his wife Lisa, his eight children and seven grandchildren, and read: “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.”

Deserved place in the Hall of Fame

Kristofferson was best known for his songwriting, notably credited for “Me and Bobby McGee”, and “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”  

Kyle Young, the CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum wrote on X: “Kris Kristofferson believed to his core that creativity is God-given, and that those who ignore or deflect such a holy gift are doomed to failure and unhappiness.”

Paying tribute to his writing, that earned the star his place amongst the country music greats, Mr Young continued: “He created a body of work that gave voice not only to his soul but to ours; he lived his life in a way that honoured and exemplified the values of each of those men, and he leaves a righteous, courageous and resounding legacy that rings with theirs.”

Humble at recognition

Kristofferson certainly became a leading figure in country music and had his take on why he would be voted into the Hall of Fame: “When I got started, I was one of the people hoping to bring respect to country music; some of the songs I had that got to be hits did that.

“I imagine that’s why somebody might vote me into a Hall of Fame, because I know it’s not because of my golden throat!”

Nashville sparked the direction change

Born in Brownsville, Texas, in June, 1936, Kristofferson studied writing at Pomona College in California and later went to Oxford and earned a masters degree.

Returning to the US he joined the army, but a visit to Nashville in 1965 altered the course of his life and within two weeks he had resigned from his army post and moved to the country music hub to pursue his music career.

Award winner

He won three Grammys for best country song, “Help Me Make It Through the Night” in 1972, and two separate duets with Rita Coolidge (1974, 1976), who he was married to around the same time.

As well as starring opposite Barbra Streisand in A Star Is Born, he also took on several high profile roles, including in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, and Lone Star.

Tributes

Leading the tributes, Ms Streisand took to social media remembering the first time she saw him perform in LA and said she knew immediately he was something special. She recalled identifying him as the perfect choice for a script she was developing, which became… A Star Is Born.

“For my latest concert in 2019 at London’s Hyde Park, I asked Kris to join me on-stage to sing another of our duets from the film: ‘Lost Inside Of You’ and he was as charming as ever.

“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’s wife, Lisa who I know supported him in every way possible.”

Dolly Parton also wrote with affection and gave a nod to one of her own well-known songs, when she said: “What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend… I will always love you.”