Kris Kristofferson, the legendary singer-songwriter, actor, and country music trailblazer, passed away at the age of 88 on September 28, 2024, at his home in Maui. The celebrated artist, known for his poignant songwriting and rugged film roles, was surrounded by family when he died peacefully, according to a statement shared by his loved ones.
“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. 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,” his family said.
Born on June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas, to Mary Ann (née Ashbrook) and Lars Henry Kristofferson, Kris came from a military family. His father was a Swedish immigrant and a U.S. Army Air Corps officer. Despite his family’s military background, Kris was drawn to music and literature from an early age, writing his first song, “I Hate Your Ugly Face,” when he was just 11 years old.
Kristofferson’s intellectual gifts were evident as a young man. After graduating from Pomona College with a degree in creative writing in 1958, he earned a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, where he completed a master’s degree in English literature. By 18, he had already published short stories in Atlantic Monthly and appeared in Sports Illustrated for his athletic achievements as a boxer and football player.
Though he seemed destined for an academic career, the pull of music was too strong. After serving as a U.S. Army captain and helicopter pilot, Kristofferson turned down a teaching position at West Point to pursue songwriting in Nashville. It was a gamble that would eventually pay off.
In the late 1960s, while working as a janitor at Columbia Studios, Kristofferson wrote some of his most famous songs. His melancholic ballads, including “For the Good Times,” “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” and “Me and Bobby McGee,” became anthems of a generation. Johnny Cash’s recording of “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” earned Kristofferson the prestigious CMA Song of the Year award in 1970, while Janis Joplin’s version of “Me and Bobby McGee” catapulted the song to No. 1 on the charts.
Kristofferson’s songwriting prowess quickly made him one of the most respected names in country music. In 1971, he took home his first Grammy for “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” performed by Sammi Smith. Known for his poetic lyrics and emotional depth, his songs crossed genres and appealed to fans of both country and pop music.
But Kristofferson’s talents didn’t stop with music. His smoldering charisma and natural screen presence launched him into a successful acting career. His portrayal of the troubled rock star John Norman Howard in the 1976 film A Star Is Born, opposite Barbra Streisand, earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor. Other notable roles include Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (1973), Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), and The Blade trilogy, where he played the grizzled mentor Whistler.
As one of the pioneers who bridged the gap between country music and Hollywood, Kristofferson became a cultural icon. In the 1980s, he joined forces with fellow country legends Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson to form the supergroup The Highwaymen. Their self-titled debut album and hit single “Highwayman” topped the country charts in 1985, cementing their place in the pantheon of country music’s greatest collaborations.
Kristofferson’s career spanned more than five decades, earning him numerous accolades, including three Grammy Awards, a lifetime achievement honor from the Recording Academy in 2014, and his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004. He also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for the 1984 film Songwriter, in which he starred alongside his longtime friend Willie Nelson.
Despite his larger-than-life public persona, Kristofferson remained grounded. He struggled with health issues later in life, including a misdiagnosis of Alzheimer’s, which was later confirmed to be Lyme disease. With treatment, his condition improved, and Kristofferson continued to perform into his later years, releasing his final album, The Cedar Creek Sessions, in 2016, before retiring from music in 2021.
Reflecting on his philosophy of life, Kristofferson told Men’s Journal in 2017, “I had a list of rules I made up one time. It says: Tell the truth, sing with passion, work with laughter, and love with heart. Those are good to start with anyway.”
Kristofferson is survived by his wife Lisa, eight children, and seven grandchildren. He was previously married to Frances Beer and fellow musician Rita Coolidge, with whom he shared three children. His family and legions of fans will remember him as a visionary artist, whose voice and words shaped the world of country music and beyond.
With his passing, the world has lost not just a country music legend, but an artist whose soul resonated in every song he wrote, every role he played, and every stage he stood on. His legacy will live on in the timeless music and unforgettable stories he leaves behind.