Kris Kristofferson, country music legend and Golden Globe winner for best actor, died at the age of 88 at his home in Hawaii, his family reported Sunday. According to the released statement, the Tejano artist died “peacefully” last Saturday and in his own home. “Thank you for loving him all these years, when we see a rainbow, we will know that he is smiling on us all,” the family details in the press release.
Kristofferson marked a milestone in country music, topping the charts in countries like the United States and being covered by dozens of artists. He was part of the group Highwaymenwho, with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, brought together in 1985 the best country singers of his time.
Once his death was announced, dozens of friends and colleagues did not hesitate to say a few words in tribute to him. Barbra Streisand, with whom he toured a star is borndedicated a few words to Kristofferson, speaking about her experience working with him and describing him as “special” and “charming.” Also the singer Dolly Parton, who dedicated a few words to the death of her professional colleague on her networks: “What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend. I will always love you, Dolly.
Born as Kristoffer Kristofferson in Brownsville, Texas, on June 22, 1936, the musician “changed the language of country music” by playing socially progressive songs, his rep noted. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine considered him “one of the greatest songwriters of all time” for extending his influence on country music beyond its limits. He got closer to music while working in maintenance at Columbia Records, the studio where some of the most recognized artists in music history, such as Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, recorded. This was after he abandoned a promising military career, which had taken him to Germany in the early 1960s and was due to family influence.
He studied literature at Oxford University, knowledge which surely helped him compose his songs once he gave up military life. Some songs that, after becoming famous in the late 60s, would have been performed by more than 450 artists within a decade, when they also made the big leap to the big screen.
Kristofferson was not only a singer-songwriter, but he also marked an era in Hollywood, where he appeared in more than 70 films, including a star is bornfrom 1976, in which he shared the screen with Barbra Streisand and won him the Golden Globe for best actor. He also participated in the saga Blade and in a series of important titles, although what really marked his life was music. To his credit there are classics like Sunday morning coming, Help me get through the night, for the good times And Me and Bobby McGee.
Kristofferson retired in 2021. His last acting role was in Flamberdirected by Ethan Hawke, and his latest album The Cedar Creek Sessions, published in 2016.
