Editing Kris Kristofferson

{{Short description|American singer and actor (1936–2024)}}
{{Redirect|Kristofferson}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Kris Kristofferson
| image              = Kristofferson - 78.jpg
| caption            = Kristofferson in 1978
| birth_name         = Kristoffer Kristofferson
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1936|06|22}}
| birth_place        = [[Brownsville, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|2024|09|28|1936|06|22}}
| death_place        = [[Hana, Hawaii]], U.S.
| education          = {{ubl
  | [[Pomona College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
  | [[Merton College, Oxford]] ([[Bachelor of Philosophy|BPhil]])
  }}
| occupation         = {{hlist|Singer|musician|songwriter|actor}}
| works              = {{hlist|[[Kris Kristofferson discography|Discography]]|[[Kris Kristofferson filmography|filmography]]}}
| years_active       = 1959–2021, 2023
| spouse             = {{ubl
  | {{marriage|Frances Beer|1961|1969|end=div}}
  | {{marriage|[[Rita Coolidge]]|1973|1980|end=div}}
  | {{marriage|Lisa Meyers|1983}}
  }}
| children           = 8
| module2            = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
  | background      = person<!-- track if single person or group for hCard microformat: use value person or group_or_band. -->
  | instrument      = {{Hlist | Vocals | guitar}}<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
  | genre           = {{Hlist|
    | [[Country music|Country]]
    | [[folk music|folk]]
    }}
  | label = {{Hlist | [[Monument Records|Monument]] | [[Mercury Records|Mercury]] | [[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]] | [[New West Records|New West]] | [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]}}
  | past_member_of = [[The Highwaymen (country supergroup)|The Highwaymen]]
  }}
| website = {{URL|https://kriskristofferson.com/}}
}}

'''Kristoffer Kristofferson''' (June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor.<!--Keep most notable occupation in lead per MOS:ROLEBIO.--> He was a pioneering figure in the [[outlaw country]] movement of the 1970s, moving away from the polished [[Nashville sound]] and toward a more raw, introspective style. Some of his most famous songs include "[[Me and Bobby McGee]]", "[[For the Good Times (song)|For the Good Times]]", "[[Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down]]", and "[[Help Me Make It Through the Night]]", all of which became hits for other artists.

Kristofferson was born in Brownsville, Texas; the family relocated to San Mateo, California during his childhood and he was briefly drafted into military service in the early 1960s. After one single for [[Epic Records]], Kristofferson was signed by [[Monument Records]] in 1969. Throughout his career, he recorded a total of 10 albums for Monument, two albums for [[Mercury Records]], one album each for Justice Records and [[Atlantic Records]], and two albums each for New West Records and KK Records. In September 1971, Kristofferson made his film debut in ''[[The Last Movie]]'' and devoted much of the later decade to making Hollywood films. Some of his most famous films include ''[[Cisco Pike]]'' (1972), ''[[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' (1976), ''[[Convoy (1978 film)|Convoy]]'' (1978), ''[[Heaven's Gate (film)|Heaven's Gate]]'' (1980), and the [[Blade (franchise)|''Blade'' film trilogy]] (1998–2004).

Kristofferson was also a member of the [[country music]] supergroup [[The Highwaymen (country supergroup)|the Highwaymen]] between 1985 and 1995. He has charted 12 times on the American ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Country Songs]] charts; his highest peaking singles there are "Why Me" and "Highwayman", which reached number one in 1973 and 1985, respectively. He was inducted into the [[Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum|Country Music Hall of Fame]] in 2004 and received the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]] in 2014. He was a three-time [[Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] winner, out of 13 total nominations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kris Kristofferson {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/kris-kristofferson/9938 |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=grammy.com |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001063253/https://www.grammy.com/artists/kris-kristofferson/9938 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kristofferson died in 2024 at the age of 88, three years after announcing his retirement.

== Life and career ==
=== 1936–1965: early years and military service ===
Kristoffer Kristofferson was born in [[Brownsville, Texas]], the oldest of three children born to Mary Ann (née Ashbrook) and Henry Kristofferson, a [[United States Army Air Corps]] officer (later a [[major general]] in the [[United States Air Force]]).<ref name="Times, San Mateo">{{cite news |title=Death claims famed pilot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52168909/henry-christopher-kristofferson/ |access-date=May 26, 2020 |work=The Times |date=January 4, 1971 |location=San Mateo, California |page=3 |quote=Henry C. Kristofferson, 65, famed pilot and former division manager for Pan American World Airways when he was a resident of San Mateo, died... two sons, Kraig and Kris, who has recently won fame as a folk music and country-western singer. |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228010226/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/52168909/henry-christopher-kristofferson/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="PCM"/> Henry later worked as a manager for [[Saudi Aramco]] after retiring from the service.<ref name="AllMusicBio">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kris-kristofferson-mn0000774588|title=Kris Kristofferson biography|last=Collar|first=Matt|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 12, 2025}}</ref> During Kristofferson's childhood, his father encouraged him to pursue a military career.<ref name="oconnor">{{cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/kris-kristofferson-an-outlaw-at-80-20160606 |title=Kris Kristofferson Following his passions – wherever they may lead |publisher=dallasnews.com – Archives |first=Colleen |last=O'Connor |access-date=February 2, 2013 |archive-date=June 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622192919/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/kris-kristofferson-an-outlaw-at-80-20160606 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Kristofferson moved around frequently as a youth because of his father's military service, and the family settled in [[San Mateo, California]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Zompolis|first=Gregory N.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Y4A9uWMrAYC|title=Images of America, San Mateo|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2004|isbn=0738529567|location=Charleston, SC|pages=60–65}}</ref> He attended [[San Mateo High School]], where he graduated in 1954. At age 17, Kristofferson took a summer job with a [[dredging]] contractor on [[Wake Island]] in the western Pacific Ocean. He called it "the hardest job I ever had".<ref>interview on Hawaii Public Radio, June 2, 2011</ref>

Kristofferson went to [[Pomona College]] in Claremont, California, as a literature major. He studied under [[Frederick Sontag]], whom he considers an important influence in his life.<ref name="PCM">{{cite journal|url=http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/PCMWin04/FSkristofferson.shtml |title=Acts of Will |journal=Pomona College Magazine |issue=Winter 2004 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907031352/http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/pcmwin04/FSkristofferson.shtml |archive-date=September 7, 2013 }}</ref> His early writing included prize-winning essays: "The Rock" and "Gone Are the Days" were published in ''[[The Atlantic|The Atlantic Monthly]]''. These stories touch on the roots of Kristofferson's passions and concerns. "The Rock" is about a geographical feature resembling the form of a woman, while the latter was about a racial incident.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kriskristoffersonfan.com/sample-page/biography/kris-kristofferson-short-stories/|title=Kris Kristofferson Short Stories|website=Kris Kristofferson by Fans, for Fans|language=en-US|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=February 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228011429/https://kriskristoffersonfan.com/sample-page/biography/kris-kristofferson-short-stories/|url-status=live}}</ref> During this time, Kristofferson worked in various construction jobs and as a firefighter.<ref name="PCM"/> He appeared in the March 31, 1958, issue of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' for his achievements in collegiate [[rugby union]], [[American football]], and track and field.<ref name="sipobck">{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1958/03/31/670415/kristoffer-kristofferson |magazine=Sports Illustrated |title=Kristoffer Kristofferson |agency=(A Pat on the Back) |date=March 31, 1958 |page=80 |access-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001041031/https://www.si.com/vault/1958/03/31/670415/kristoffer-kristofferson |url-status=live }}</ref> He  and his classmates also revived the [[Claremont Colleges]] Rugby Club, and it remains a Southern California rugby institution. Kristofferson graduated in 1958, earning a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree, ''[[Latin honors#Distinctions|summa cum laude]]'', in [[literature]]. He was elected to the [[Phi Beta Kappa]] society his junior year.<ref name="PCM"/>

Also in 1958, Kristofferson was awarded a [[Rhodes Scholarship]] to the [[University of Oxford]] in Oxford, England,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholars-volunteers/rhodes-scholar-database/ |title=Kristofferson entry on Rhodes Trust database |access-date=April 24, 2022 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701093733/https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholars-volunteers/rhodes-scholar-database/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> studying at [[Merton College, Oxford|Merton College]].<ref name="MCreg">{{cite book|editor1-last=Levens|editor1-first=R.G.C.|title=Merton College Register 1900–1964|date=1964|publisher=Basil Blackwell|location=Oxford|page=505}}</ref> While performing his own songs there, Kristofferson signed with [[Larry Parnes]], best known for his work with [[Tommy Steele]]. Parnes was working to sell Kristofferson as "a Yank at Oxford" to the British public; Kristofferson was willing to accept that promotional approach if it helped his singing career, which he hoped would enable him to progress toward his goal of becoming a novelist.<ref>Schneider, Jason [https://archive.today/20120709062416/http://exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=137&csid2=9&fid1=41445 "Kris Kristofferson: the Pilgrim's Progress"] ''[[Exclaim!]]'' October 2009.</ref> He recorded for The Rank Organisation's Top Rank Records label as Kris Carson, but this early phase was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohboy.com/krisbio.html |title=Kris Kristofferson Bio |publisher=Oh Boy Records |access-date=April 10, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105011304/http://www.ohboy.com/krisbio.html |archive-date=November 5, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="AllMusicBio"/> In 1960, Kristofferson graduated with a [[B.Phil.]] in [[English literature]].<ref name="MCreg" /><ref>[http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/pcmwin04/FSkristofferson.shtml] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907031352/http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/pcmwin04/FSkristofferson.shtml|date=September 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/kris-kristofferson/biography/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226121614/http://www.cmt.com/artists/kris-kristofferson/biography |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 26, 2013 |title=Kris Kristofferson Bio |publisher=CMT |access-date=August 26, 2015}}</ref>

In 1961, he married his longtime girlfriend, Frances "Fran" Mavia Beer.<ref name="MCreg" /> Also in 1961, Kristofferson joined the [[United States Army]] and was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]]. He attended [[U.S. Army Ranger School]] and completed helicopter pilot training at [[Fort Rucker, Alabama]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/2538793/sports-heroes-who-served-singer-songwriter-actor-kris-kristofferson-is-also-an/|title=Sports Heroes Who Served: Singer, Songwriter, Actor Kris Kristofferson Is Also an Army Veteran|first=David|last=Vergun|website=Defense.gov|date=March 23, 2021|access-date=June 17, 2022|archive-date=September 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930021453/https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/2538793/sports-heroes-who-served-singer-songwriter-actor-kris-kristofferson-is-also-an/|url-status=live}}</ref> He relocated Beer and their newborn daughter to [[West Germany]], where he served as a member of the [[8th Infantry Division (United States)|8th Infantry Division]].<ref>{{Cite book|title = Kristofferson: The Wild American|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=FILwohIvXCMC&pg=PT70|publisher = Omnibus Press|date = December 17, 2009|isbn = 9780857121097|first = Stephen|last = Miller|access-date = January 2, 2022|archive-date = September 30, 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240930021525/https://books.google.com/books?id=FILwohIvXCMC&pg=PT70#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="AllMusicBio"/> During this period, Kristofferson was promoted to the rank of [[Captain (United States O-3)|captain]]  and resumed his music career, forming a band to play at service clubs. It was at this point that he met [[Marijohn Wilkin]], the aunt of his platoon commander.<ref name="AllMusicBio"/> In 1965, after his tour in West Germany ended, Kristofferson briefly taught English literature at the [[United States Military Academy]] in West Point, New York.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/kris-kristoffersons-rock-and-rules |title=Kris Kristofferson's Rock And Rules &#124; Clash Music Exclusive Interview |publisher=Clashmusic.com |date=July 27, 2010 |access-date=January 5, 2012 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232841/http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/kris-kristoffersons-rock-and-rules |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 1965–1972: early music and film career ===

In June 1965, while on a two-week leave from West Point, Kristofferson contacted Wilkin in Nashville, Tennessee, and decided to become a country music songwriter. He resigned from the Army and relocated his family to Nashville that year, exacerbating his relationship with his parents.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Cheryl McCall |url=http://people.com/archive/cover-story-cant-keep-kris-down-vol-16-no-10/ |title=Can't Keep Kris Down |magazine=People |access-date=November 8, 2016 |archive-date=February 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228010350/https://people.com/archive/cover-story-cant-keep-kris-down-vol-16-no-10/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/kris-kristofferson-177860#synopsis |title=Kris Kristofferson |publisher=Biography.com |access-date=November 8, 2016 |archive-date=November 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107172400/http://www.biography.com/people/kris-kristofferson-177860#synopsis |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Schrodt |first=Paul |url=http://www.esquire.com/features/what-ive-learned/learned-kris-kristofferson-0599 |title=Kris Kristofferson Interview – Quotes about his Kids, Sex, and Rock and Roll |journal=Esquire |date=January 29, 2007 |access-date=August 26, 2015 |archive-date=January 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113082747/http://www.esquire.com/features/what-ive-learned/learned-kris-kristofferson-0599 |url-status=live }}</ref> Wilkin signed Kristofferson to her publishing house Buckhorn Music and pitched his song "Talkin' Vietnam Blues" to singer [[Dave Dudley]]. Concurrently, Kristofferson held various jobs including as a bartender, a construction worker, and a railroad worker. He later worked as a janitor for [[Columbia Records]], which afforded him the possibility of talking directly with the artists and a presence during recording sessions.{{sfn|Hurd, Mary|2015|pp=22-23}} He released his debut single containing his songs "Golden Idol" and "Killing Time" in 1967 on [[Epic Records]].<ref name="AllMusicBio"/>

After his second child was born with esophagus issues in 1968, Kristofferson worked at [[Petroleum Helicopters International]] (PHI) in [[Lafayette, Louisiana]]. While flying workers to and from oil rigs in the [[Gulf of Mexico]], he would often write new songs. At weekends, he returned to Nashville, and for the following week he would pitch the songs around town before returning to Louisiana.{{sfn|Thibodeaux, Ron|2006}} The trips exhausted Kristofferson; his children were living with Fran in California and he felt his career as a songwriter was failing. PHI also admonished him for his increased alcohol consumption. Upon returning to Nashville the same week,{{sfn|Hurd, Mary|2015|p=23}} Kristofferson learned three of his songs had been recorded: "Jody and the Kid" by [[Roy Drusky]], "[[Help Me Make It Through the Night]]" by [[Jerry Lee Lewis]] and "[[Me and Bobby McGee]]" by [[Roger Miller]].{{sfn|Larkin, Colin|2006|p=28}}

Through [[June Carter]], Kristofferson first attempted to pitch material to her husband [[Johnny Cash]]. Carter took the demos, which were eventually lost in a pile of other material Cash had received.{{sfn|Edmondson, Jacqueline|2013|p=631}} At the time, Kristofferson worked on the weekends for the [[Tennessee Military Department|Tennessee National Guard]]. To attract Cash's attention, Kristofferson landed a helicopter in Cash's property.{{sfn|Hurd, Mary|2015|p=26}} Cash eventually invited Kristofferson to a "guitar pull" party in his house. Cash was impressed and invited Kristofferson to perform with him at the 1969 [[Newport Folk Festival]].{{sfn|Hurd, Mary|2015|p=27}} Unsatisfied by Buckhorn Music, Kristofferson decided to change labels. [[Monument Records]] director [[Bob Beckham]] invited Kristofferson to play songs for him and label owner [[Fred Foster]].{{sfn|Hurd, Mary|2015|p=27}} Kristofferson performed "To Beat the Devil", "Jody and the Kid", "The Best of All Possible Worlds" and "Duvalier's Dream"; Foster was impressed and signed Kristofferson to Monument as a recording artist and [[Combine Music]] as a songwriter. The ten-year contract required Kristofferson to submit ten records containing songs he had written.{{sfn|Hurd, Mary|2015|p=28}} Kristofferson was surprised he had been signed as a singer; he told Foster at the time: "I can't sing, I sound like a frog!"{{sfn|Hurd, Mary|2015|p=28}} Kristofferson later said Buckhorn Music had not allowed him to record demos of his compositions.{{sfn|Thomson, Graeme|2016}}

In 1969, Kristofferson divorced Beer and left Nashville to join the production of his first motion picture, [[Dennis Hopper]]'s ''[[The Last Movie]]'', in Peru. In his absence, Cash continued promoting Kristofferson's original songs with other singers. Upon returning to Nashville, Kristofferson learned of his new popularity and started to work on his debut album for Monument, ''[[Kristofferson (album)|Kristofferson]]''.{{sfn|Hurst, Jack|1970|p=3-5}} As his manager and producer, Foster had decided to keep some of Kristofferson's original material from being passed to other artists. The new material, as well as his songs that had already been recorded by other artists, were included in the recording sessions, which were held at [[Fred Foster Sound Studio|Monument Recording Studio]].{{sfn|Miller, Stephen|2009|p=129}}

Monument released ''Kristofferson'' in June 1970. Kristofferson wrote or co-wrote every song on the album. He collaborated with Marijohn's son, [[John Buck Wilkin]], on "Blame it on the Stones". Though ''Kristofferson'' was not a commercial success, it received positive reviews from critics. According to [[Robert Hilburn]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', the album "is able to combine lyric sophistication with country music's traditional interest in everyday problems".<ref>{{cite news|author=Hilburn, Robert|date=June 15, 1970|title=A Rhodes Scholar Finds Song Niche|work=Los Angeles Times|volume=89|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73300686/|via=Newspapers.com|page=19|access-date=December 31, 2024}} {{open access}}</ref> The commercial success of "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" led to the first of several industry awards nominations for the singer. Johnny Cash's rendition of the single earned Kristofferson his first [[Country Music Association]] award for [[Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] that November.<ref>{{cite news|author=Shipley, Nancy|date=November 23, 1970|title=Texas Singer Makes good|agency=Associated Press|publisher=The Shreveport Journal|volume=76|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73301268/|page=B5|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 31, 2024}} {{open access}}</ref>

Also in 1970, he made his debut performance as a singer at the Los Angeles nightclub [[Troubadour (West Hollywood, California)|The Troubadour]]. [[Fred Roos]], the casting director of [[Bob Rafelson]]'s ''[[Five Easy Pieces]]'', invited him to audition for his film debut for a leading role on ''[[Two-Lane Blacktop]]''. Kristofferson, who was signed to [[Columbia Records]], arrived to the appointment intoxicated and left. Kristofferson was next offered [[Bill L. Norton]]'s script for ''[[Cisco Pike]]'' by Columbia. His peers encouraged him to reject the role and to take acting lessons instead, but he accepted the part, and later said; "I read the script and I could identify with this cat" and that acting is "understanding a character, and then being just as honest as you can possibly be".{{sfn|Burke|1974}}

Kristofferson began an 18-month tour, during which he suffered a bout of [[Atypical pneumonia|walking pneumonia]], which was worsened by his alcohol consumption. While performing, he would not face the audience and mumbled the words to his songs. Eventually, he was hospitalized.{{sfn|Hurd, Mary|p=42|2015}} During the tour, Kristofferson performed on ''[[The Johnny Cash Show (TV series)|The Johnny Cash Show]]''. While in California, Kristofferson befriended singer [[Janis Joplin]].{{sfn|Streissguth, Michael|2013|p=87}} Upon returning to Nashville in early 1971, he received with his mail at Combine Music Joplin's posthumous album ''[[Pearl (Janis Joplin album)|Pearl]]'', which at the time was still unreleased. Joplin's album included a cover of his original composition "[[Me and Bobby McGee]]". The following morning, he returned to the studio and recorded his second Monument album, ''[[The Silver Tongued Devil and I]]'', which was released that July.{{sfn|Streissguth, Michael|2013|pp=88, 89}} He wrote nine of the album's 10 songs, including the single "[[Lovin' Her Was Easier (than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)]]". He collaborated with songwriter [[Shel Silverstein]] on "The Taker" and keyboardist [[Donnie Fritts]] on "Epitaph (Black and Blue)". Also included on the album was a cover of [[Bobby Bare]]'s "Good Christian Soldier". "Lovin' Her Was Easier (than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" reached number 46 on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] and number 4 on [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]]. These songs would later be used on the soundtrack for ''Cisco Pike'', which was released on January 14, 1972.

[[File:Kris Kristofferson Rita Coolidge.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Kristofferson with Rita Coolidge at the 1972 [[Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic#Dripping Springs Reunion|Dripping Springs Reunion]]]]

That February, Monument released his third album ''[[Border Lord]]''. The album was all-new material and sales were sluggish. He also swept the [[Grammy Awards]] that year with numerous songs nominated, winning country song of the year for "Help Me Make It Through the Night". Kristofferson's fourth album, ''[[Jesus Was a Capricorn]]'', initially had slow sales, but the third single, "[[Why Me (Kris Kristofferson song)|Why Me]]", was a success and significantly increased album sales. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a [[Music recording certification|gold disc]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] on November 8, 1973.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book| first= Joseph| last= Murrells| year= 1978| title= The Book of Golden Discs| edition= 2nd| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd| location= London| page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/330 330]| isbn= 0-214-20512-6| url-access= registration| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/330}}</ref> Kristofferson appeared with Rita Coolidge on the BBC television series ''[[The Old Grey Whistle Test]]'', performing "Help Me Make It Through the Night". [[Al Green]] later released his version of "[[For the Good Times (song)|For the Good Times]]" on the album ''[[I'm Still in Love with You (Al Green album)|I'm Still in Love with You]]''.

=== 1973–1985: commercial peak ===

In April 1973, Kristofferson received an honorary doctorate in fine arts from Pomona College during Alumni Weekend, accompanied by Cash and Coolidge.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2014 |title=1973 |url=https://www.pomona.edu/timeline/1970s/1973 |access-date=December 4, 2020 |website=Pomona College Timeline |language=en |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028055226/https://www.pomona.edu/timeline/1970s/1973 |url-status=live }}</ref> Four months later, Kristofferson married Coolidge. The duo released an album titled ''[[Full Moon (Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge album)|Full Moon]]'', another success buoyed by numerous hit singles and Grammy nominations.

His fifth album, ''[[Spooky Lady's Sideshow]]'', released in 1974, was a commercial failure, setting the trend for most of the rest of his musical career. Artists such as [[Ronnie Milsap]] and [[John Duncan (artist)|Johnny Duncan]] continued to record Kristofferson's material with success, but his distinctively rough voice and anti-pop sound kept his own audience to a minimum. Meanwhile, more artists took his songs to the top of the charts, including [[Willie Nelson]], whose 1979 LP release of ''[[Sings Kristofferson|(Willie Nelson) Sings Kristofferson]]'' reached number five on the U.S. Country Music chart and certified Platinum in the U.S.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

In 1979, Kristofferson traveled to [[Havana]], Cuba, to participate in the historic [[Havana Jam]] festival that took place on March 2–4, alongside Coolidge, [[Stephen Stills]], the CBS Jazz All-Stars, the [[Trio of Doom]], [[Fania All-Stars]], [[Billy Swan]], [[Bonnie Bramlett]], [[Mike Finnigan]], [[Weather Report]], and [[Billy Joel]], plus an array of Cuban artists such as [[Irakere]], [[Pacho Alonso]], [[Tata Güines]], and [[Orquesta Aragón]]. His performance is captured on Ernesto Juan Castellanos's documentary ''Havana Jam '79''.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

On November 18, 1979, Kristofferson and Coolidge appeared on ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', where Kristofferson sang "[[Help Me Make It Through the Night]]" with [[Miss Piggy]], Coolidge sang "[[We're All Alone]]" with forest animals, and the pair sang "[[Full Moon (Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge album)|Song I'd Like to Sing]]" with the Muppet monsters. They divorced in 1980.<ref>{{cite book | last=York | first=M. | title=The Highwaymen – Songs & Stories: The Mount Rushmore of Country Music | publisher=BookPatch LLC | year=2024 | isbn=979-8-88567-194-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_6MGEQAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 | access-date=September 30, 2024 | page=67 | archive-date=October 1, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001201857/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_6MGEQAAQBAJ&pg=PA67#v=onepage&q&f=false | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1982, Kristofferson joined [[Willie Nelson]], [[Dolly Parton]], and [[Brenda Lee]] on ''[[The Winning Hand]]'', a double album consisting of remastered and updated performances of recordings the four artists had made for the Monument label during the mid-1960s; the album reached the top ten on the U.S. country album charts. He married again, to Lisa Meyers, and concentrated on films for a time, appearing in the 1984 releases ''[[The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck]]'', ''[[Flashpoint (1984 film)|Flashpoint]]'',  and ''[[Songwriter (film)|Songwriter]]''. Nelson and Kristofferson both appeared in ''Songwriter'', and Kristofferson was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Original Score]]. The album ''[[Music from Songwriter]]'', featuring Nelson-Kristofferson duets, was a country success.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

=== 1985–2021: Highwaymen and later years ===

Nelson and Kristofferson continued their partnership, and by 1985, they added [[Waylon Jennings]] and [[Johnny Cash]] to form the [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] [[The Highwaymen (country supergroup)|the Highwaymen]]. Their [[Highwayman (The Highwaymen album)|self-titled first album]], released on May 6, was a success, and the supergroup continued working together for a time. The single from the album, a cover of [[Jimmy Webb]]'s "[[Highwayman (song)|Highwayman]]", was awarded the ACM's single of the year in 1985.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031224171729/http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/kristofferson_kris/bio.jhtml "Kris Kristofferson Biography"] "[[Country Music Television|CMT]]" 2004.</ref> In 1985, Kristofferson starred in ''[[Trouble in Mind (film)|Trouble in Mind]]'' and released ''[[Repossessed (album)|Repossessed]]'', a politically aware album that was a country success, particularly "They Killed Him" (also performed by [[Bob Dylan]]), a tribute to his heroes, including [[Martin Luther King Jr.]], Jesus, and [[Mahatma Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kristofferson |first1=Kris |title=They Killed Him |url=https://www.bobdylan.com/songs/they-killed-him/ |website=bobdylan.com |access-date=13 October 2024}}</ref> Kristofferson also appeared in ''[[Amerika (miniseries)|Amerika]]'' at about the same time, a miniseries that attempted to depict life in America under [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] control.<ref>John Corry, [https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/22/arts/tv-view-lessons-to-be-learned-from-amerkia.html ''TV VIEW; LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM AMERKIA'']. [[NYTimes]]. Feb. 22, 1987. </ref>

[[File:Kris Kristofferson SXSW 2006 crop.jpg|thumb|right|Kristofferson at the 2006 [[South by Southwest]] Festival]]
In spite of the success of ''[[Highwayman 2]]'' in 1990, Kristofferson's solo recording career slipped significantly in the early 1990s, though he continued to record successfully with the Highwaymen. ''[[Lone Star (1996 film)|Lone Star]]'' (1996 film by [[John Sayles]]) reinvigorated Kristofferson's acting career, and he soon appeared in ''[[Blade (1998 film)|Blade]]'', ''[[Blade II]]'', ''[[Blade: Trinity]]'', ''[[A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (film)|A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries]]'', ''[[Fire Down Below (1997 film)|Fire Down Below]]'', [[Tim Burton]]'s remake of ''[[Planet of the Apes (2001 film)|Planet of the Apes]]'', ''[[Chelsea Walls]]'', ''[[Payback (1999 film)|Payback]]'', ''[[The Jacket]]'', and ''[[Fast Food Nation (film)|Fast Food Nation]]''.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

The [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] inducted Kristofferson in 1985, as had the [[Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame]] earlier, in 1977. In 1999, ''[[The Austin Sessions (Kris Kristofferson album)|The Austin Sessions]]'' was released, an album on which Kristofferson reworked some of his favorite songs with the help of artists such as [[Mark Knopfler]], [[Steve Earle]], and [[Jackson Browne]]. He underwent [[coronary artery bypass surgery]] shortly after the album's release.<ref name="rollingstone.com"/>

In 1997, Kristofferson co-starred in the film ''[[Fire Down Below (1997 film)|Fire Down Below]]'' with [[Steven Seagal]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Fire Down Below (1997) |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/300445/fire-down-below#overview |website=Turner Classic Movies |publisher=Turner Classic Movies, Inc. |access-date=14 November 2024}}</ref> Kristofferson appeared in the [[Stephen Norrington]] film ''[[Blade (1998 film)|Blade]]'', alongside [[Wesley Snipes]], as [[Blade (character)|Blade]]'s mentor [[Abraham Whistler]]. He reprised the role in ''[[Blade II]]'' (2002) and again in ''[[Blade: Trinity]]'' (2004). In 1998 he starred in ''[[Dance with Me (1998 film)|Dance with Me]]'' along with [[Vanessa Williams]] and [[Chayanne]].

In 2003, ''[[Broken Freedom Song: Live from San Francisco|Broken Freedom Song]]'' was released, a live album recorded in San Francisco. That year, he received the "Spirit of Americana" free speech award from the [[Americana Music Association]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/20031009_americana_awards_honor_kristofferson_douglas_prine_and_phillips|title=Americana Awards Honor Kristofferson, Douglas, Prine and Phillips|date=October 8, 2003|website=BMI|access-date=April 4, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001201851/https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/20031009_americana_awards_honor_kristofferson_douglas_prine_and_phillips|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, he began experiencing memory problems which lasted for the next 11 years.<ref name="WashPostObituary">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/09/29/kris-kristofferson-actor-singer-dead/|title=Kris Kristofferson, rugged star of song and screen, dies at 88|last=Kienzle|first=Rich|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2024-09-30|access-date=2025-04-30|archive-date=September 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930044730/https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/09/29/kris-kristofferson-actor-singer-dead/|url-status=live}}</ref> That November, he was inducted into the [[Country Music Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deseret.com/2004/11/5/19859707/country-music-hall-to-induct-kristofferson/|title=Country music hall to induct Kristofferson|newspaper=Deseret News|date=2004-11-05|access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref>

On October 21, 2005, the movie ''[[Dreamer (2005 film)|Dreamer]]'' was released, in which Kristofferson played the role of "Pop", a retired thoroughbred horse trainer. The movie was inspired by the true story of the mare [[Mariah's Storm]] which won the Turfway Breeders Cup Classic. In 2006, he received the [[Johnny Mercer Award]] from the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] and released his first album full of new material in 11 years; ''[[This Old Road]]''. Also in 2006, Kristofferson starred with [[Geneviève Bujold]] in the film ''[[Disappearances (film)|Disappearances]]'' about whiskey running from [[Quebec]] to the U.S. during the [[Great Depression]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Holden |first1=Stephen |title=Realism, Both Magic and Downright Mean |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/11/movies/11disa.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 11, 2007 |access-date=13 October 2024 |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126125604/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/11/movies/11disa.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 21, 2007, Kristofferson won [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]]'s Johnny Cash Visionary Award. [[Rosanne Cash]], Cash's daughter, presented the honor during the April 16 awards show in Nashville. Previous recipients include Cash, [[Hank Williams Jr.]], [[Loretta Lynn]], [[Reba McEntire]], and the [[The Chicks|Dixie Chicks]]. "John was my hero before he was my friend, and anything with his name on it is really an honor in my eyes," Kristofferson said during a phone interview. "I was thinking back to when I first met him, and if I ever thought that I'd be getting an award with his name on it, it would have carried me through a lot of hard times."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/12/AR2007031200851.html|title=Kris Kristofferson to Receive CMT Award|first=John|last=Gerome|date=March 12, 2007|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-date=April 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428093413/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/12/AR2007031200851.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2007, Kristofferson was featured on [[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]]'s ''Studio 330 Sessions'' where he played many of his hits.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

On June 13, 2008, Kristofferson performed an acoustic in-the-round set with [[Patty Griffin]] and [[Randy Owen]] ([[Alabama (band)|Alabama]]) for a special taping of a [[PBS]] songwriters series aired in December. Each performer played five songs. Kristofferson's set included "The Best of All Possible Worlds", "Darby's Castle", "Casey's Last Ride", "Me and Bobby McGee", and "Here Comes that Rainbow Again". Taping was done in Nashville.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Kristofferson released a new album of original songs titled ''[[Closer to the Bone]]'' on September 28, 2009. It is produced by [[Don Was]] on the [[New West Records]] label. Prior to the release, Kristofferson remarked: "I like the intimacy of the new album. It has a general mood of reflecting on where we all are at this time of life."<ref name="Kris Kristofferson">{{cite web|url=http://www.newwestrecords.com/KrisKristofferson|title=Kris Kristofferson|publisher=newwestrecords.com|access-date=August 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215002823/http://newwestrecords.com/KrisKristofferson|archive-date=February 15, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> On November 10, Kristofferson was honored as a [[Broadcast Music, Inc.|BMI]] Icon at the 57th annual BMI Country Awards. Throughout his career, Kristofferson's songwriting garnered 48 BMI Country and Pop Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/538885|title=Kris Kristofferson to be Honored as Icon at 57th Annual BMI Country Awards|date=June 30, 2009|publisher=bmi.com|access-date=September 15, 2010|archive-date=October 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001201858/https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/538885|url-status=live}}</ref> He later remarked, "The great thing about being a songwriter is you can hear your baby interpreted by so many people that have creative talents vocally that I don't have."<ref name=cnnnov112009>{{Cite book|title='I never doubted once', country icon says|date=November 11, 2009|publisher=CNN|url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/11/i-never-doubted-once-country-icon-says/|access-date=November 12, 2009|archive-date=November 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113203801/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/11/i-never-doubted-once-country-icon-says/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kristofferson had always denied having a good voice, and had said that as he had aged, any quality it once had was beginning to decay.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/kris-kristofferson-on-being-an-aging-heartthrob-singer-and-actor/2014/02/03/603b4f0c-882d-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_story.html|title=Kris Kristofferson on being an aging heartthrob, singer and actor|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

[[File:Kris Kristofferson, 2014.jpg|left|alt=Kristofferson sitting|thumb|Kristofferson speaking at the 2014 PEN New England Song Lyrics Award ceremony held in Boston's [[John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum]]]]
In December 2009, it was announced that Kristofferson would be portraying Joe on the upcoming album ''[[Ghost Brothers of Darkland County]]'', a collaboration between rock singer [[John Mellencamp]] and novelist [[Stephen King]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mellencamp.com/?module=news&news_item_id=527 |title=John Mellencamp Official Site &#124; A Year-End Conversation with John |publisher=Mellencamp.com |date=December 15, 2009 |access-date=April 10, 2010 |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722083457/http://www.mellencamp.com/?module=news&news_item_id=527 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 11, 2010, [[Light in the Attic Records]] released demos that were recorded during Kristofferson's janitorial stint at Columbia. ''[[Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends: The Publishing Demos]]'' was the first time these recordings were released and included material that would later be featured on other Kristofferson recordings and on the recordings of other prominent artists, such as the original recording of "Me and Bobby McGee".{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

On June 4, 2011, Kristofferson performed a solo acoustic show at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, showcasing both some of his original hits made famous by other artists, and newer songs.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

In early 2013, Kristofferson released a new album of original songs called ''Feeling Mortal''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/entertainment/2013/08/08/kristofferson-feeling-mortal-but-good/46545323/|title=Kristofferson 'Feeling Mortal' but good|first=Tom|last=Conway|website=Southbendtribune.com|access-date=September 30, 2024}}</ref> A live album titled ''An Evening With Kris Kristofferson'' was released in September 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/an-evening-with-kris-kristofferson-the-pilgrim-ch-77-mw0002721642|title=An Evening with Kris Kristofferson: The Pilgri...|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=September 30, 2024|archive-date=October 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020041943/https://www.allmusic.com/album/an-evening-with-kris-kristofferson-the-pilgrim-ch-77-mw0002721642|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kristofferson voiced the character Chief Hanlon of the NCR Rangers in the hit 2010 video game ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/fallout-vegas-big-voice-talent/|title=Fallout: New Vegas Has Some Big Name Voice Talent|first=G. R.|last=Staff|date=August 10, 2010|website=Game Rant|accessdate=September 30, 2024|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112032310/https://gamerant.com/fallout-vegas-big-voice-talent/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In an interview for ''Las Vegas'' magazine Q&A by Matt Kelemen on October 23, 2015, Kristofferson revealed that a new album, ''[[The Cedar Creek Sessions]]'', recorded in Austin, would include some old and some new songs.<ref>{{cite web|title = Q&A: Kris Kristofferson|work=Las Vegas Magazine|url = http://lasvegasmagazine.com/interviews/qa/2015/oct/23/q-a-kris-kristofferson-pearl-palms/#/0|access-date = October 25, 2015}}</ref> Released on June 17, 2016, it would be his last studio album issued during his lifetime. That December, the album was nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Americana Album]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-grammys-2017-nominations-winners-list-20161205-story.html |title=2017 Grammy Awards: Complete list of nominees |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=December 6, 2016 |access-date=December 6, 2016 |archive-date=January 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114165448/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-grammys-2017-nominations-winners-list-20161205-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:2018 Kris Kristofferson - by 2eight - DSC4933.jpg|thumb|Kristofferson in June 2018]]
Kristofferson covered [[Brandi Carlile]]'s "Turpentine" on the 2017 album ''[[Cover Stories]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cover Stories: Brandi Carlile Celebrates 10 Years of the Story (An Album to Benefit War Child) by Various Artists|website=[[iTunes]]|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cover-stories-brandi-carlile-celebrates-10-years-story/1224696443|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115182012/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cover-stories-brandi-carlile-celebrates-10-years-story/1224696443|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 15, 2019|access-date=January 15, 2019}}</ref>

In August 2018, Kristofferson's final film, ''[[Blaze (2018 film)|Blaze]]'', opened. Three months later, on November 7, Kristofferson performed, with assistance from Carlile, the [[Joni Mitchell]] composition "[[A Case of You (song)|A Case of You]]", from the 1971 Mitchell album ''[[Blue (Joni Mitchell album)|Blue]]'', at the ''Both Sides Now – Joni 75 A Birthday Celebration'' to celebrate the 75th birthday of Mitchell.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://buffalonews.com/2019/04/04/jeff-simon-an-all-star-birthday-party-for-joni-mitchell-and-others/|title=Column: Jeff Simon: An all-star birthday party for Joni Mitchell and others|work=Buffalo News|date=April 4, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2019|archive-date=April 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404231053/https://buffalonews.com/2019/04/04/jeff-simon-an-all-star-birthday-party-for-joni-mitchell-and-others/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2019, Kristofferson was announced as being one of the supporting artists for a Barbra Streisand "exclusive European concert" on July 7 in London's [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] as part of the Barclay's Summertime Concert series.<ref>{{cite web |title=British Summertime Festival: Only Barbara Streisand could sing Silent Night in mid-Summer |url=https://www.kcwlondon.co.uk/2019/07/british-summertime-festival-barbara-streisand-sing-silent-night-mid-summer/ |website=kcwlondon.co.uk |publisher=KCW Today |access-date=October 21, 2021 |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023093237/https://www.kcwlondon.co.uk/2019/07/british-summertime-festival-barbara-streisand-sing-silent-night-mid-summer/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== 2021–2024: Retirement and death===

By January 2021, Kristofferson announced his retirement from performing, citing age and concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. According to manager Tamara Saviano, "It was an evolution, and it just felt very organic."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/kris-kristofferson-retirement-confirmed-1234894777/ |title=Kris Kristofferson Camp Confirms He Has Retired: 'It Just Felt Very Organic' |date=January 28, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=March 2, 2021 |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001201856/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/kris-kristofferson-retirement-confirmed-1234894777/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kristofferson's final performance was held in Los Angeles at the [[Hollywood Bowl]] on April 29, 2023, where he sang a cover of "Lovin' You Was Easier" with Rosanne Cash in honor of Willie Nelson's 90th birthday;<ref name="Maui">{{cite web|url=https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2024/09/a-tribute-to-longtime-maui-resident-kris-kristofferson/|last=Woodhouse|first=John|title=A tribute to longtime Maui resident Kris Kristofferson|work=The Maui News|date=September 29, 2024|accessdate=December 30, 2024|archive-date=November 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241101220253/https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2024/09/a-tribute-to-longtime-maui-resident-kris-kristofferson/|url-status=live}}</ref> the concert was later released as ''Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90'' that December.

On September 28, 2024, Kristofferson died at his home in Hana, Hawaii, at the age of 88.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morris |first=Chris |date=September 29, 2024 |title=Kris Kristofferson, Country Music Legend and 'A Star Is Born' Leading Man, Dies at 88 |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/obituaries-people-news/kris-kristofferson-dead-country-music-legend-actor-1236159472/ |access-date=September 29, 2024 |work=Variety |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001202351/https://variety.com/2024/music/obituaries-people-news/kris-kristofferson-dead-country-music-legend-actor-1236159472/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=US country music star Kris Kristofferson dies, aged 88 |date=September 30, 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjwd69n7xxgo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930022619/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjwd69n7xxgo |archive-date=September 30, 2024 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> He previously requested for the first three lines of [[Leonard Cohen]]'s "[[Bird on the Wire]]" on his tombstone:<ref>{{cite web |last=Schneider |first=Jason |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/kris_kristofferson-_pilgrims_progress |title=Kris Kristofferson The Pilgrim's Progress |website=Exclaim.ca |access-date=February 10, 2019 |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001202357/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/kris_kristofferson-_pilgrims_progress |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Cohen |first=Leonard |title=Greatest hits |date= |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/863239766 |at=CD booklet, p. 4 |publisher=Sony Music Entertainment Inc |oclc=863239766 |access-date=February 12, 2023 |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001202356/https://search.worldcat.org/title/863239766 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<blockquote>
Like a bird on the wire<br />
Like a drunk in a midnight choir<br />
I have tried in my way to be free
</blockquote>

== Personal life ==
In 1961, Kristofferson married his longtime girlfriend Frances "Fran" Mavia Beer, but they divorced in 1969.<ref name="MCreg"/><ref name=":1">{{cite web|last=Campbell|first=Courtney|date=August 30, 2020|title=Kris Kristofferson + Lisa Meyers: Inside Their 37-Year Love Story|url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/lisa-meyers-kris-kristofferson/|access-date=December 27, 2020|website=Wideopencountry.com|archive-date=October 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001202357/https://www.wideopencountry.com/lisa-meyers-kris-kristofferson/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cashmere |first1=Paul |title=Kris Kristofferson Dies at Age 88 |url=https://www.noise11.com/news/kris-kristofferson-dies-at-age-88-20240930 |website=Noise11 |date=September 29, 2024 |access-date=September 30, 2024 |archive-date=September 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930003622/https://www.noise11.com/news/kris-kristofferson-dies-at-age-88-20240930 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kristofferson briefly dated [[Janis Joplin]] before her death in October 1970.<ref name=":1"/> His second marriage was to singer [[Rita Coolidge]] in 1973, ending in divorce in 1980.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1"/> Kristofferson married Lisa Meyers in 1983.<ref name=":1"/>

Kristofferson and Meyers owned a home in Las Flores Canyon in [[Malibu, California]],<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{cite magazine |last=Strauss |first=Neil |date=June 6, 2016 |title=Kris Kristofferson: An Outlaw at 80 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/kris-kristofferson-an-outlaw-at-80-20160606 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=February 10, 2019 |archive-date=June 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622192919/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/kris-kristofferson-an-outlaw-at-80-20160606 |url-status=live }}</ref> and they also resided in [[Hana, Hawaii]] from 1990 until his death.<ref name=":1"/> Kristofferson had eight children from his three marriages: two from his first marriage, one from his second marriage, and five from his marriage to his third wife.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/105678%7C0/kris-kristofferson#family-companions |title=Family for Kris Kristofferson |website=Turner Classic Movies |date=June 22, 1936 |access-date=February 10, 2019}}</ref>

=== Political views and advocacy ===
Kristofferson was a vocal opponent of the [[Gulf War]] and [[Iraq War]] and a critic of a number of United States military interventions and foreign policy positions, including the [[United States invasion of Panama]] and U.S. support of the [[Contras]] during the [[Nicaraguan Revolution]] and of the [[Apartheid|Apartheid government]] in [[South Africa]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benitez-Eves |first=Tina |date=2024-03-18 |title=The Not-So-Subtle Political Commentary Behind Kris Kristofferson's 1990 Single 'Don't Let the Bastards (Get You Down)' |url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-not-so-subtle-political-commentary-behind-kris-kristoffersons-1990-single-dont-let-the-bastards-get-you-down/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US |archive-date=October 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001202356/https://americansongwriter.com/the-not-so-subtle-political-commentary-behind-kris-kristoffersons-1990-single-dont-let-the-bastards-get-you-down/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 

Kristofferson endorsed [[Jesse Jackson]]'s [[Jesse Jackson 1988 presidential campaign|presidential campaign]] in 1988 and [[Ross Perot]]'s [[Ross Perot 1992 presidential campaign|presidential campaign]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-07-ca-3918-story.html |title=Campaign '88 Gets the Star Treatment |work=Los Angeles Times |last=Easton |first=Nina J. |date=June 7, 1988 |access-date=January 13, 2025 |archive-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407013354/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-06-07-ca-3918-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/06/12/how-ross-perot-got-line-hollywood-celebs/ |title=How Ross Perot got a line on Hollywood celebs |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |last=Spotnitz |first=Frank |date=June 12, 1992 |access-date=January 13, 2025 |archive-date=December 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202003348/https://ew.com/article/1992/06/12/how-ross-perot-got-line-hollywood-celebs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Kristofferson's debut LP included a pro–[[Vietnam War]] song, but he said that he later became an opponent of the war after speaking with returning soldiers who had seen combat. Speaking about a soldier who had told him that he had witnessed other soldiers throwing people out of helicopters during interrogation, Kristofferson said, "The notion that you could make a young person do something so inhumane to another soldier—or even worse, a civilian—convinced me that we were in the wrong." Kristofferson called himself a "dove with claws" and remained proud of his military service in spite of his [[Anti-imperialism|anti-imperialist]] views. 

In a 1991 interview on New Zealand TV, he condemned media support for the Gulf War, saying "The lapdog media cranks out propaganda that would make a Nazi blush."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lehmann |first=Chris |date=2024-10-01 |title=How Kris Kristofferson Beat the Devil |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/kris-kristofferson-obituary/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |language=en-US |issn=0027-8378}}</ref> Kristofferson was a supporter of the [[United Farm Workers]] and appeared at several rallies and benefits for them, campaigning with [[Cesar Chavez]] for the passage of Proposition 14. He continued to play at benefits for the UFW through the 2010s. In 1987, he played at a benefit concert for [[Leonard Peltier]] with [[Jackson Browne]], [[Willie Nelson]] and [[Joni Mitchell]]. In 1995, he dedicated a song to [[Mumia Abu-Jamal]] at a concert in Philadelphia, and was booed by the crowd.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Browne |first=David |date=2024-10-02 |title=Kris Kristofferson Paid a Price for His Social Activism. He Didn't Care |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kris-kristofferson-activist-causes-farm-workers-1235120247/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=October 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002154326/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kris-kristofferson-activist-causes-farm-workers-1235120247/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

He performed in benefit concerts for [[Palestinians|Palestinian]] children, and said that he "found a considerable lack of work as a result." At a Bob Dylan anniversary concert shortly after [[Sinéad O'Connor on Saturday Night Live|Sinead O'Connor's protest on ''Saturday Night Live'']], he showed solidarity with her when she was booed by the crowd.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barton |first=Laura |date=2024-09-30 |title=Kris Kristofferson: the soldier turned star made a tough life into tender poetry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/30/kris-kristofferson-the-soldier-turned-star-made-a-tough-life-into-tender-poetry#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20found%20a%20considerable%20lack,you%20gotta%20support%20them%20everywhere.%E2%80%9D |access-date=2024-10-02 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=October 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002215948/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/30/kris-kristofferson-the-soldier-turned-star-made-a-tough-life-into-tender-poetry#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20found%20a%20considerable%20lack,you%20gotta%20support%20them%20everywhere.%E2%80%9D |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Main|Kris Kristofferson discography}}

;Studio albums
{{div col}}
* ''[[Kristofferson (album)|Kristofferson]]'' (1970)
* ''[[The Silver Tongued Devil and I]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Border Lord]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Jesus Was a Capricorn]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Full Moon (Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge album)|Full Moon]]'' <small>(with [[Rita Coolidge]])</small> (1973)
* ''[[Spooky Lady's Sideshow]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Breakaway (Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge album)|Breakaway]]'' <small>(with Rita Coolidge)</small> (1974)
* ''[[Who's to Bless and Who's to Blame]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Surreal Thing]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Easter Island (album)|Easter Island]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Natural Act]]'' <small>(with Rita Coolidge)</small> (1978)
* ''[[Shake Hands with the Devil (album)|Shake Hands with the Devil]]'' (1979)
* ''[[To the Bone (Kris Kristofferson album)|To the Bone]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Repossessed (album)|Repossessed]]'' (1986)
* ''[[Third World Warrior]]'' (1990)
* ''[[A Moment of Forever]]'' (1995)
* ''[[The Austin Sessions (Kris Kristofferson album)|The Austin Sessions]]'' (1999)
* ''[[This Old Road]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Closer to the Bone]]'' (2009)
* ''Feeling Mortal'' (2013)
* ''[[The Cedar Creek Sessions]]'' (2016)
{{div col end}}


== Filmography ==
{{main|Kris Kristofferson filmography}}
; Films starred
{{div col}}
* ''[[The Last Movie]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Cisco Pike]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Blume in Love]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore]]'' (1974)
* ''[[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|A Star Is Born]]'' (1976)
* ''[[The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Semi-Tough]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Convoy (1978 film)|Convoy]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Heaven's Gate (film)|Heaven's Gate]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Flashpoint (1984 film)|Flashpoint]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Big Top Pee-wee]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Lone Star (1996 film)|Lone Star]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Blade (1998 film)|Blade]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Molokai: The Story of Father Damien]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Planet of the Apes (2001 film)|Planet of the Apes]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Blade II]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Blade: Trinity]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Dolphin Tale]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Dolphin Tale 2]]'' (2014)
{{div col end}}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Association
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
|-
| 1970
| rowspan=3| [[Country Music Association Awards]]
| rowspan=2|[[Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]
| "[[Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down]]"
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=4| 1973
| rowspan=3| "[[Why Me (Kris Kristofferson song)|Why Me]]"
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Country Music Association Award for Single of the Year|Single of the Year]]
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Academy of Country Music Awards]]
| Song of the Year
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Awards]]
| [[BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer|Best Newcomer]]
| ''[[Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid]]''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| 1974
| [[Academy of Country Music Awards]]
| Song of the Year
| "[[One Day at a Time (song)|One Day at a Time]]"
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| 1976
| [[Golden Globe Awards]]
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Actor in a Musical]]
| ''[[A Star Is Born (1976 film)|A Star Is Born]]''
|{{won}}
|-
| 1984
| [[Academy Awards]]
| [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]]
| ''[[Songwriter (film)|Songwriter]]''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan=5| 1985
| rowspan=2| [[Country Music Association Awards]]
| [[Country Music Association Award for Single of the Year|Single of the Year]]
| rowspan="5" | "[[Highwayman (song)|Highwayman]]"
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Country Music Association Award for Video of the Year|Video of the Year]]
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan=3| [[Academy of Country Music Awards]]
| Single of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| Video of the Year
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| Album of the Year
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| 2003
| [[Americana Music Honors & Awards]]
| Free Speech Award
| rowspan=3| Himself
| {{won}}
|-
| 2005
| rowspan=2| [[Academy of Country Music Awards]]
| Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award
| {{won}}
|-
| 2013
| Poets Award
| {{won}}
|-
| 2019
| [[53rd Annual Country Music Association Awards|Country Music Association Awards]]
| [[Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award|Lifetime Achievement Award]]
| Himself
| {{won}}
|}

=== Grammy Awards ===
Kristofferson has won three competitive Grammys from thirteen nominations. He received the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award|Lifetime Achievement Award]] in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/kris-kristofferson/9938|title=Kris Kristofferson|date=November 19, 2019|website=GRAMMY.com|access-date=September 26, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240930022729/https://www.grammy.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
|-
| rowspan=5| [[14th Annual Grammy Awards|1971]]
| rowspan=2| [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]]
| "[[Me and Bobby McGee]]"
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan=2| "[[Help Me Make It Through the Night]]"
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan=4| [[Grammy Award for Best Country Song|Best Country Song]]
| {{won}}
|-
| "Me and Bobby McGee"
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| "[[For the Good Times (song)|For the Good Times]]"
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan=3| [[16th Annual Grammy Awards|1973]]
| rowspan=2| "[[Why Me (Kris Kristofferson song)|Why Me]]"
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance|Best Male Country Vocal Performance]]
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| rowspan=4| [[Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal|Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group]]
| "From The Bottle To The Bottom" <small>(with [[Rita Coolidge]])</small>
| {{won}}
|-
| [[17th Annual Grammy Awards|1974]]
| "[[Loving Arms]]" <small>(with [[Rita Coolidge]])</small>
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[18th Annual Grammy Awards|1975]]
| "[[Lover Please]]" <small>(with [[Rita Coolidge]])</small>
| {{won}}
|-
| [[28th Annual Grammy Awards|1985]]
| "[[Highwayman (song)|Highwayman]]" <small>(with [[The Highwaymen (country supergroup)|the Highwaymen]])</small>
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[33rd Annual Grammy Awards|1990]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals]]
| ''[[Highwayman 2]]''
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| [[57th Annual Grammy Awards|2014]]
| [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]
| Himself
| {{won}}
|-
| [[59th Annual Grammy Awards|2016]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Americana Album|Best Americana Album]]
| ''The Cedar Creek Sessions''
| {{Nominated}}
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kris-kristoffersons-talking-blues-241302/|title=Kris Kristofferson's Talking Blues|last=Burke|first=Tom|date=April 1974|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2025-03-16}}
*{{cite book|author=Edmondson, Jacqueline|year=2013|title=Music in American Life: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories that Shaped our Culture|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-39348-8}}
*{{cite book|author=Hurd, Mary|year=2015|title=Kris Kristofferson: Country Highwayman|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]]|isbn= 978-0-810-88821-0}}
*{{cite news|author=Hurst, Jack|date=September 6, 1970|title=Kristofferson Beats the Devil|work=The Tennessean|volume=65|number=131|pages=3–5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73300490/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 31, 2024}}
*{{cite book|author=Larkin, Colin|year=2006|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|publisher=MUZE|isbn=978-0-195-31373-4}}
*{{cite book|author=Miller, Stephen|year=2009|title=Kristofferson: The Wild American|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-857-12109-7}}
*{{cite book|author=Streissguth, Michael|year=2013|title=Outlaw: Waylon, Willie, Kris, and the Renegades of Nashville|publisher=Harper Collins|isbn=978-0-062-03820-3}}
*{{cite news|author=Thibodeaux, Ron|year=2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185002/http://www.nola.com/music/t-p/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fentertainment-0%2F116478236147900.xml&coll=1|archive-date=September 30, 2007|url=http://www.nola.com/music/t-p/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fentertainment-0%2F116478236147900.xml&coll=1|title=He made it through the night|work=New Orleans Times-Picayune|publisher=Georges Media Group}}
*{{cite news|author=Thomson, Graeme|date=June 22, 2016|title=Kris Kristofferson: "I'm sure I made some stupid mistakes..."|work=Uncut|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/kris-kristofferson-im-sure-made-stupid-mistakes-77521/|access-date=March 29, 2021}}

==Further reading==
* Bernhardt, Jack. (1998). "Kris Kristofferson". In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp.&nbsp;286–287.
* {{cite news|url=https://people.com/kris-kristofferson-dead-at-88-7496435|title=Kris Kristofferson, A Star Is Born Actor and Country Legend, Dies at 88|last1=Blackman|first1=Annie|last2=DeSantis|first2=Rachel|magazine=People|date=2024-09-30|access-date=2025-03-17}}
* {{cite news|url=https://www.today.com/health/news/kris-kristofferson-health-rcna173247|title=Kris Kristofferson dies at 88: What he and his family have shared about his health|work=Today|date=2024-09-30|access-date=2025-03-16|last=Kaplan|first=Anna}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.kriskristoffersonfan.com/index.php/latest-news/  Kristofferson fan website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070209135841/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C810914-1%2C00.html The Old Oxonion Blues] 1959 profile in ''Time''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060818061140/http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/inductees.aspx?cid=136 Kristofferson] at the [[Country Music Hall of Fame]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060705100247/http://www.newwestrecords.com/kris.php Kris Kristofferson] at [[New West Records]]
* {{Discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{TCMDb name}}
* [http://www.bmi.com/affiliate/C453/ Kris Kristofferson] at [[Broadcast Music, Inc.]]

{{S-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Johnny Cash]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[First Amendment Center]]/[[Americana Music Association|AMA "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award]]|years=2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Steve Earle]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Kris Kristofferson}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Kris Kristofferson
|list =
{{CMA for Song of the Year}}
{{2000s Country Music Hall of Fame}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Actor Motion Picture Musical or Comedy}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Country Song}}
{{Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{CMA Lifetime Achievement}}
}}
{{Highwaymen}}

{{Authority control}}

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