MIAMI, United States. – Iconic American singer-songwriter and actor Kris Kristofferson passed away at the age of 88 at his home in Maui, Hawaii, surrounded by his family. The news was confirmed this Saturday, September 30, by a statement from his family. quoted by CNN and other international media: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved father,” the text indicates.
According to the family, Kristofferson died peacefully. The statement does not indicate the exact cause of death.
Kris Kristofferson, born in Brownsville, Texason June 22, 1936, was much more than a musician: he was one of the most influential figures in music country and folk in the 20th century, with a career that spanned music, film and poetry.
He was a recipient of the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, which allowed him to study at the University of Oxford. However, despite his promising opportunities in academia and the military, Kristofferson chose music, a decision that would define his legacy.
Kristofferson’s musical career began in Nashville, the birthplace of countrywhere he began to stand out as a composer. Among his most memorable successes are Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down, Me and Bobby McGee, Help Me Make It Through the Night and For the Good Times. Although he performed many of his songs himself, several of his compositions gained notoriety in the voices of other great artists, such as Janis Joplinwhich immortalized Me and Bobby McGeeand Ray Price, who made famous For the Good Times.
Kris Kristofferson was part of a generation of composers who changed music countryaligning himself with figures such as Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. In fact, his friendship with Cash was key to his rise to fame.
Throughout his career, Kristofferson not only excelled in music, but also in film. His performances in films like A Star Is Born (1976), along with Barbra Streisandand Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), directed by Martin Scorsese, established him as an actor.
He also participated in films such as Blade (1998), where he played the character Whistler. Throughout his life, he worked with some of the biggest names in the film industry, and his charisma on the big screen was as notable as his musical talent.
Kris Kristofferson’s work as a composer was widely praised throughout his life. “There is no better living songwriter than Kris Kristofferson,” said Willie Nelson at an awards ceremony in 2009, honoring his friend and collaborator. Kristofferson’s songs are noted for their poetry and emotional depth; They address themes of loneliness, love, heartbreak and life in general. These lyrics made him a figure of the counterculture of the 1970s, influenced by the folk of Bob Dylan and other greats of the time.
His work was so influential that, over the years, Kristofferson was recognized with multiple awards, including several Grammys.
In 2021, the artist decided to permanently retire from the stage, although he continued to make some sporadic appearances. Her last public performance was in 2023, during Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday, where she shared the stage with Rosanne Cash.
