Dolly Parton leads tributes as country music legend Kris Kristofferson dies at 88: ‘What a great friend’
Singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson has died at the age of 88, a family spokesperson has confirmed.
The A Star is Born actor died peacefully at his home in Maui, Hawaii on Saturday. Country stars such as Dolly Parton have led heartfelt tributes to the singer.
The statement from his representative described Kristofferson as “a peacenik, a revolutionary, an actor, a superstar, a sex symbol, and a family man”.
His family went on to state they were “so blessed” to have had him in their lives.
“Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all,” CBS News reports.
Parton, 78, took to X to pay tribute to the singer, posting: “#KrisKristofferson. What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend. I will always love you, Dolly.”
What a great loss
What a great writer
What a great actor
What a great friend
I will always love you, Dolly pic.twitter.com/AzbCvBlJiz
— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) September 30, 2024
Barbra Steisand, who starred alongside Kristofferson in the 1976 A Star is Born, also shared a tribute on her Instagram page.
Posting a photo of the two in the classic film, she wrote: “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.
“In the movie, Kris and I sang the song I’d written for the film’s main love theme, ‘Evergreen.’
“For my latest concert in 2019 at London’s Hyde Park, I asked Kris to join me on-stage to sing our other A Star Is Born duet, ‘Lost Inside Of You.’
“He was as charming as ever, and the audience showered him with applause. It was a joy seeing him receive the recognition and love he so richly deserved.
“My thoughts go to Kris’ wife, Lisa who I know supported him in every way possible.”
Kristofferson was born in Texas and began his music career in the 1960s.
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In the 1980s, he joined forces with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings to form country band The Highwaymen, releasing three albums.
Kristofferson won a Grammy Award for hit Help Me Make It Through The Night and in 1976 won the Golden Globe Award for best actor following his performance in A Star is Born.
The film was a remake of the original 1937 movie starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, which was also made into a musical starring Judy Garland and James Mason in 1954.
Since Kristofferson’s edition, one more remake starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga was released in 2018.
Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004.