Kris Kristofferson, a towering figure in country music and Hollywood, passed away on Sept. 28, 2024, at the age of 88. With a career spanning decades, he collaborated with musical giants like Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson. Kristofferson also made his mark on the silver screen, most notably starring alongside Barbra Streisand in the 1976 classic A Star Is Born. Beyond his professional success, Kristofferson was a devoted family man, sharing a 40-year marriage with his wife, Lisa, and raising eight children. Here’s a look back at his incredible life in photos.
#1. Kris Kristofferson’s Early Days
Kristofferson performing circa 1970. Photo: Su Ingle/David Reffern/Redferns/Getty
Born on June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas, Kristofferson grew up in a military family. After earning degrees from Pomona College and Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, he joined the U.S. Army. His passion for music started early, writing his first song at age 11 and performing with fellow soldiers in West Germany.
#2. Nashville Beginnings
Kristofferson, circa 1970-1975. Photo: Archive Photos/Getty
After leaving the Army in the mid-1960s, Kristofferson moved to Nashville to pursue his love for music. While working as a janitor at Columbia Studios, he wrote songs like “For the Good Times” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” which would become classics. His debut album was released in 1970.
#3. Duet with Johnny Cash
Kristofferson and Johnny Cash on The Johnny Cash Show, 1976. Photo: Bettmann Archive
Kristofferson’s collaboration with Johnny Cash was one for the ages. Cash’s version of “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” won the CMA’s Song of the Year award in 1970 and hit No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart.
#4. Partnership with Janis Joplin
Kristofferson and Janis Joplin, 1970. Photo: John Byrne Cooke Estate/Getty
Kristofferson and Janis Joplin were close collaborators, and their song “Me and Bobby McGee” became one of Joplin’s signature hits. Featured on her 1971 posthumous album Pearl, the track earned two Grammy nominations.
#5. Hollywood Success
Kristofferson with Diane Ladd in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, 1974. Photo: Bettmann Archive
Kristofferson’s talents extended beyond music, earning him roles in major films like Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. His first acting credit came in 1971.
#6. A Star is Born
Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand in A Star Is Born, 1976. Photo: Snap/Shutterstock
Kristofferson’s breakout Hollywood role came in A Star Is Born (1976), where he starred opposite Barbra Streisand. His portrayal of John Norman Howard won him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in 1977.
#7. The Highwaymen
Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson, 1993. Photo: Jack Vartoogian/Getty
Kristofferson was also part of the country music supergroup The Highwaymen, along with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash. Together, they created legendary music that defined a generation.
#8. Grammy Wins
Kristofferson at the 1974 Grammys. Photo: CBS via Getty
Kristofferson won his first Grammy in 1972 for “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” Throughout his career, he was nominated for 13 Grammys, winning three.
#9. Marriage to Lisa Meyers
Kristofferson and Lisa Meyers in 1988. Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Kristofferson married Lisa Meyers in 1983, his third marriage after previous unions with Frances Beer and singer Rita Coolidge. The couple was together for over 40 years.
#10. Proud Father
Kristofferson with his kids Jesse and Tracy. Photo: Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage
Kristofferson was a father of eight. He shared two children, Tracy and Kris Jr., with his first wife, Frances Beer; one son, Casey, with Coolidge; and five children — Jesse, Jody, Johnny, Blake, and Kelly Marie — with Lisa Meyers.
#11. A Career Tribute
Reba McEntire and Kristofferson perform at The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson, 2016. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty
In 2016, Kristofferson was honored in a tribute concert featuring performances from Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, and Emmylou Harris at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
#12. Reunion with Barbra Streisand
Kristofferson and Streisand reunite during her concert in Hyde Park, London, 2019. Photo: Dave J Hogan/Getty
In 2019, Kristofferson reunited with Streisand on stage at her concert in London’s Hyde Park, where they performed their duet “Lost Inside Of You” from A Star Is Born.
#13. Lasting Legacy
Kristofferson with Brenda Lee at the Country Music Hall of Fame, 2023. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty
Kristofferson’s last studio album, The Cedar Creek Sessions, was released in 2016, and he officially retired from music in 2021 after being diagnosed with Lyme disease. He made a final public appearance in 2023 at the Country Music Hall of Fame ceremony.
Kristofferson passed away at his Maui home on September 28, 2024, surrounded by his family. He leaves behind an indelible legacy in both music and film, having influenced generations of artists and fans.
