GRAMMY-WINNING SINGER and actor Kris Kristofferson has been remembered as an “inspiration” who left a “resounding legacy” following his death at age 88.
The American country music star died “peacefully” at his home in Maui, Hawaii on Saturday, a statement issued on behalf of his family said.
During his career, the veteran musician wrote a host of classic standards which were covered by artists including Janis Joplin and Johnny Cash and he worked with film directors including Martin Scorsese.
His family also confirmed the news on his Instagram account, writing in the statement: “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 had a legion of fans in Ireland. He famously supported Sinéad O’Connor in 1992 when she was booed on stage during the Bob Dylan anniversary concert following her SNL appearance, where she tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II.
Born in 1936 to an Air Force major general, Kristofferson served as an army ranger who flew helicopters in the US Army during his own stint in the service.
He also studied literature at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar after finishing his undergraduate degree at Pomona College in California.
Kristofferson later pivoted his career to music and headed to Nashville to pursue being a professional songwriter.
He went on to write standards such as Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down, which became a hit for Cash, For The Good Times, which became a number one for Ray Price, and Me And Bobby McGee, which was covered by Joplin.
Kristofferson was awarded a Golden Globe for his work opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1976 remake of musical romantic drama A Star is Born.
Sharing a tribute on Instagram, Streisand said “I knew he was something special” the first time she saw him perform.
“Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing, which eventually became A Star Is Born,” 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.
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) September 30, 2024
In the movie, Kris and I sang the… pic.twitter.com/WDdU2zoUwD
The film scored the Oscar for best original song, for the song titled Evergreen.
Streisand continued: “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.
Country music legend Dolly Parton also shared a tribute on social media, writing: “What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend
“I will always love you, Dolly,” she concluded.
Sex And The City actress Kim Cattrall, who starred alongside him in the 1991 film Miracle in the Wilderness, shared a picture of them together on Instagram writing: “A truly exceptional and gifted man. Rest In Peace”.
US singer and actress Reba McEntire posted an image of the pair laughing on stage, describing Kristofferson as “one of my favourite people”.
“What a gentleman, kind soul, and a lover of words. I am so glad I got to meet him and be around him,” she added.
US star LeAnn Rimes also described him as “an epic human with the biggest heart”, on her Instagram story.
Grammy-winning singer Travis Tritt hailed Kristofferson as an “inspiration”.
He added: “I was fortunate to get to know him on the set of “Outlaw Justice” that we filmed in Spain in 1998.
“My heartfelt condolences go out to Kris’s wife Lisa and all of his family, friends and fans.”
Kristofferson performed in Ireland several times throughout his career, with his last tour here taking place in 2018.
Two years earlier, he donated the €50,000 proceeds of his concert in Dublin to the ISPCC’s Childline service. He also donated the box office takings of a Dublin gig in 2011 to the service.
Speaking about the moment where he supported Sinéad O’Connor on Saturday Night with Miriam in 2010, he said he was asked by organisers to “get her off the stage”, but “was not about to do that”.
“I went out and I said, ‘Don’t let the bastards get you down,’ and she said: ‘I’m not down,’ and she sang. It was very courageous,” Kristofferson told Miriam O’Callaghan.
“It just seemed to me wrong, booing that little girl out there, but she’s always had courage.”
Kristofferson later released a song called Sister Sinéad, which was dedicated to O’Connor.
“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.”
— Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (@countrymusichof) September 29, 2024
—Kyle Young,… pic.twitter.com/JMyZp6lJUr
In 2004, Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The chief executive for the Country Music Hall of Fame, Kyle Young, said: “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.”
With reporting from Press Association
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