Country legend and ‘A Star Is Born’ star Kris Kristofferson has died, aged 88

Country music icon Kris Kristofferson has died at the age of 88.

Kristofferson’s death was confirmed by his family, who said in a statement on social media: “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.”

Kristofferson’s death comes nearly four years after he announced his retirement from the entertainment industry, having been a performer in country music and cinema for five decades.

In his solo career, Kristofferson was best known for songs like ‘Me and Bobby McGee’, ‘Jody and the Kid’, ‘Help Me Make It Through The Night’, ‘Why Me’ and more. He was also known for his work in the country supergroup The Highwaymen alongside Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson.

As an actor, Kristofferson was celebrated for his starring roles in films like A Star Is Born, Blade, and Heaven’s Gate.

Kris Kristofferson had been inducted into several halls of fame prior to his death, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Kristofferson’s last studio album came in the form of 2016’s ‘The Cedar Creek Sessions’, which earned him a nomination for Best Americana Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards. Throughout his career, Kristofferson released 20 studio albums as a solo musician, and three albums with The Highwaymen.

Following the news of his death, several musicians have paid tribute to the late country icon. Barbra Streisand, who starred in A Star Is Born with Kristofferson wrote on Instagram: “The first time I saw Kris performing at the Troubadour club in L.A. I knew he was something special. Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing, which eventually became A Star Is Born.”

See tributes from Dolly Parton, Carole King, Loni Love, Dallas Moore and more below.

“Kris Kristofferson believed creativity is God-given, and those who ignore such a gift are doomed to unhappiness. He preached that a life of the mind gives voice to the soul, and his work gave voice not only to his soul but to ours. He leaves a resounding legacy.”
—Kyle Young,… pic.twitter.com/JMyZp6lJUr

— Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (@countrymusichof) September 29, 2024

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