Renowned country music singer, songwriter and prolific actor Kris Kristofferson died at the age of 88 on Saturday, September 28, at his home in Maui, Hawaii, his family said in a statement, according to People. He added, “Thank you for loving him all these years, and when you see the rainbow, know that he’s smiling down on all of us.”
Kristofferson’s passion for country music began at an early age, and according to a 2013 interview with NPR, she wrote her first song, I Hate Your Ugly Face, at just 11 years old.
According to his official website, Christopherson attended Pomona College in California, where he played football, won a Golden Gloves boxing title and served as sports editor of the school paper. After graduating from Pomona with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, Christopherson earned a Rhodes Scholarship and completed master’s studies in English literature at Merton College, Oxford University in 1960.
After completing his academic pursuits, his parents urged him to join the army, where he became a helicopter pilot within five years. While serving in West Germany in the 1960s, Christopherson continued to explore his musical skills by forming a band with his fellow soldiers. He soon moved to Nashville, where he later explained in an interview that he immediately fell in love with the music community. Much to his parents’ dismay, Christopherson resigned from the Army in 1965.
In Nashville, Kristofferson did not find immediate success and worked as a bartender and night watchman at Columbia Studios. However, he continued to present his songs in the hope of success, including For the Good Times and Sunday Morning Comin’ Down.
The former track did not achieve mainstream success until Ray Price released his own version of it in June 1970, shortly after it appeared on Kristofferson’s debut album in April of that year. It was also famously covered by Al Green. Sunday Morning Comin’ Down attracted the attention of Nashville singer Ray Stevens and country music icon Johnny Cash.
Cash’s rendition of the song on his live album won Song of the Year at the CMA Awards in 1970 and topped Billboard’s country music chart.
Kristofferson enjoyed immense success as a songwriter in the following years, with notable covers of his songs, including Me and Bobby McGee and Help Me Make It Through the Night. The latter won him his first Grammy for Best Country Song. During the 70s, Kristofferson continued to release albums and singles, including Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again) and the twice-Grammy-nominated song Why Me. His collaboration with his second wife, Rita Coolidge, on From the Bottle to the Bottom earned him two Grammy Awards.
Kristofferson’s acting talents were showcased in films such as Cisco Pike, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid and Alice Don’t Live Here Anymore. In 1974, Kristofferson told Rolling Stone that he was confident of breaking into Hollywood despite his lack of formal training. He shared that he was advised to take lessons before signing on for Cisco Pike, but he believed that acting is about understanding a character and being as honest as possible in his portrayal.
His role as John Norman Howard in A Star Is Born (1976) alongside Barbra Streisand is world famous. His performance earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Piecing together his music career, Kristofferson formed the country supergroup The Highwaymen with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson. The band released three albums simultaneously: Highwayman, Highwayman 2, and The Road Goes On Forever.
During his decades-long career, Kristofferson has earned numerous awards and honors, including three Grammy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2014. He was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Christopherson is survived by his third wife, Lisa, his eight children, and seven grandchildren.
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