Iconic songwriter and musician Kris Kristofferson has passed away at the age of 88. The influential artist, known for his contributions to country and rock music, was surrounded by his family when he died on Saturday, September 28.
While the family did not provide a specific cause of death, they expressed deep gratitude for the time spent with Kristofferson and the support of his fans over the years. In a statement, they said, “Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”
Kristofferson was born on June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas. Raised in a military family, his father was a U.S. Army Air Corps officer, and frequent relocations marked his childhood before the family eventually settled in San Mateo, California. Kristofferson’s academic talents earned him a spot at Pomona College, where he excelled as both a scholar and an athlete. He graduated with high honors in 1958, majoring in literature, and then went on to earn a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University.
It was during his time at Oxford that Kristofferson first dabbled in music, performing under the name Kris Carson. However, his early recordings were not successful. Despite his passion for writing and music, familial pressure led him to join the military after college, where he rose to the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army. But his love for music never waned. After forming a band while stationed in West Germany, Kristofferson chose to pursue songwriting full-time in Nashville, even though this decision caused his family to sever ties with him.
Once in Nashville, he worked odd jobs to make ends meet, including as a janitor at Columbia Recording Studios. His audacious and now-legendary act of landing a helicopter on Johnny Cash’s lawn earned him a chance to showcase his songwriting skills. Cash’s recording of Kristofferson’s “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” became a massive hit, winning a CMA Award and launching Kristofferson into the spotlight.
Over the next few years, his songwriting became highly sought after. He penned hits for major artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Faron Young, Ray Price, and Waylon Jennings. His classic songs “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night” solidified his place in music history, with the former becoming a posthumous hit for Janis Joplin.
Kristofferson’s solo career blossomed in the 1970s, with his albums receiving critical acclaim. His second album, The Silver Tongued Devil and I, featured the hit “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again),” and his song “Why Me” from Jesus Was a Capricorn became one of his best-known tracks.
In addition to music, Kristofferson made a significant mark in Hollywood, starring in films like A Star Is Born opposite Barbra Streisand, a performance that won him a Golden Globe. He also appeared in the Blade trilogy, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.
In the 1980s, Kristofferson joined forces with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash to form the supergroup The Highwaymen. Their collaboration produced chart-topping hits and cemented their legendary status in country music.
Throughout his career, Kristofferson was lauded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. He was inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. In his later years, despite battling health issues, including memory loss, Kristofferson continued to perform and record until his quiet retirement from music in 2020.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa Meyers, their five children, and three children from his previous marriages, as well as seven grandchildren.
