Kris Kristofferson, the much-loved actor and country music singer-songwriter, passed away at his home in Maui on September 28.
Kris Kristofferson, the famous actor and country singer-songwriter, has passed away at the age of 88.
A representative said he was surrounded by his family and died “peacefully” at his home in Maui on Saturday, September 28.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, his family said, “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our husband, father, and grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday. We feel so blessed to have had our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”
Kris Kristofferson was born on June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas. His parents were Mary Ann and Lars Henry Kristofferson, who was a Swedish immigrant and an Air Force general. Kris developed a love for country music early on and wrote his first song, “I Hate Your Ugly Face,” when he was just 11 years old. As a military kid, he moved a lot before his family settled in San Mateo, California, during his teenage years.
According to his website, Kris had two short stories published in Atlantic Monthly when he was 18. In 1954, he went to Pomona College in California, where he played football, boxed in Golden Gloves competitions, and was the sports editor for the school newspaper. He was even featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” issue in 1958. After graduating with a degree in creative writing, he earned a Rhodes Scholarship and completed his master’s in English literature at Oxford University in 1960.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, after college, Kris Kristofferson’s parents encouraged him to join the military. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and, within five years, became a helicopter pilot and reached the rank of captain. While stationed in West Germany in the early 1960s, he continued writing songs and formed a band with other soldiers. After his service, he was offered a job teaching English at West Point military academy.
However, during a visit to Nashville, Tennessee, while on leave, he rediscovered his love for music. This led him to leave the Army in 1965 and pursue a career in music full-time. In a 2010 interview, Kris said, “I just fell in love with the music community there. The older musicians really supported the newcomers, and it was a very soulful time. It was the best decision I ever made.”
In Nashville, Kris Kristofferson worked as a night janitor at Columbia Studios while submitting songs he wrote, like “For the Good Times” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” “For the Good Times” was first recorded by Bill Nash in 1968, but it became a hit when Ray Price released his version in 1970. The song appeared on Kristofferson’s debut album and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song in 1972. It was even covered by soul legend Al Green.
Kristofferson’s song “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” also from his first album, was picked up by Ray Stevens and Johnny Cash. Cash’s version became a hit, winning Song of the Year at the 1970 CMA Awards and reaching No. 1 on the country charts.
Another famous Kristofferson song, “Me and Bobby McGee,” co-written with Fred Foster, was released on Janis Joplin’s posthumous 1971 album Pearl. The song became a massive hit, reaching No. 1 on the pop charts and earning two Grammy nominations in 1972. That same year, Kristofferson won his first Grammy for Best Country Song for Sammi Smith’s version of “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”
Throughout the 1970s, Kristofferson released more albums and hits, including “Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again)” and “Why Me,” which earned two Grammy nominations. He also worked with his second wife, singer Rita Coolidge, on several albums, winning two Grammys for their duets “From the Bottle to the Bottom” and “Lover Please.”
In a 1970 New York Times article, Kristofferson was described as “a poet more than a musician,” admired for his ability to connect country, pop, and underground music.
Kristofferson also became a successful actor, appearing in films like Cisco Pike (1972), Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (1973), and Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974). Despite having no acting experience, he felt confident about acting and took on roles based on his understanding of the characters.
His big break came with his role as a troubled rock star in the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born, alongside Barbra Streisand. This role won him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in 1977. He later became known for playing Whistler in the Blade trilogy with Wesley Snipes.
Music was always a big part of Kris Kristofferson’s life. He teamed up with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson to form the country supergroup The Highwaymen. Their first album, Highwayman, and its title song topped the country charts in 1985. The group released two more albums: Highwayman 2 in 1990 and The Road Goes On Forever in 1995.
Throughout his long career, Kristofferson received many awards, including three Grammys and a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2014. He was also nominated for an Oscar in 1985 for Best Original Song for the movie Songwriter, in which he starred with Willie Nelson. In 2004, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 2013, Kristofferson shared his struggle with memory loss. At first, doctors thought he had Alzheimer’s, but it turned out to be Lyme disease, according to CBS News. His wife, Lisa Kristofferson, explained that once he got the right treatment, his condition improved quickly.
“He was on all these medications for things he didn’t have, and they had side effects,” Lisa told Rolling Stone in 2016. “But after treatment, he came back. There are still tough days, but some days he seems perfectly normal, and it’s easy to forget he’s even dealing with anything.”
After releasing his final studio album, The Cedar Creek Sessions, in 2016, Kris Kristofferson officially announced his retirement from music in 2021. He also shared that Morris Higham Management would be handling his estate.
Clint Higham, president of the management company, praised Kristofferson, saying, “He is the artist that every artist wants to be. If there were a Mount Rushmore for songwriters, Kris would be on it.”
When asked about the secret to life in a 2017 interview with Men’s Journal, Kristofferson said, “I once made a list of rules. It said: Tell the truth, sing with passion, work with laughter, and love with heart. That’s a good place to start.”
Kris Kristofferson is survived by his wife, Lisa, along with his eight children and seven grandchildren.
He was first married to Frances Beer, and they had two children: daughter Tracy, born in 1962, and son Kris, born in 1968. With his second wife, Rita Coolidge, he had a daughter named Casey in 1974. Kris and Lisa have five children together: Jesse (born in 1983), Jody (1985), John (1988), Kelly Marie (1990), and Blake (1994).
Dog Stuck In A Manhole – He Was Whimpering So Hard But People Just Passed By Until A Girl Saw Him
They told us that they had seen the dog steal food from a nearby shop, and the owner of the store and raised had pushed the dog into the sewer.
Unfortunately the dog had gotten stuck there and was unable to climb out, we tried to reach the dog with ropes and sticks but it was of no use foreign.
Was too deep and the dog was too frightened to come towards us, we could hear it whimpering From Below and our hearts broke for the helpless animal after several attempts we knew that we needed more
They’re huddled in the corner was a frightened dog it was shaking uncontrollably and its eyes. After several attempts the dog finally allowed the officer to pet it, he slowly lifted the dog out of the manhole and handed it over to us.
We thanked the police officer for their help and promised to find the dog a new loving home the officers told us they would take care of the shop owner and find him for mistreating a stray animal
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A Mother Dog’s Heroic Act To Safeguard Her Puppies From A Falling Tree
Wheп it comeѕ to the pгofouпd foгce of motheгly love, oпe caппot deпy the leпgthѕ to which a motheг will go to pгotect heг offѕpгiпg.
Thiѕ tгuth iѕ paгticulaгly evideпt iп the aпimal kiпgdom, wheгe mateгпal iпѕtiпctѕ aгe paгamouпt foг ѕuгvival. A poigпaпt illuѕtгatioп of thiѕ devotioп caп be fouпd iп the accouпt of a motheг dog who made the ultimate ѕacгifice to ѕafeguaгd heг youпg iп the face of aп obѕtacle.
Aѕ the youпg pup giпgeгly made itѕ way acгoѕѕ itѕ motheг’ѕ back, the buгdeп became too much foг heг to beaг, гeпdeгiпg heг uпable to гiѕe agaiп. Deѕpite heг evideпt paiп aпd diѕcomfoгt, the motheг dog maiпtaiпed heг poѕitioп uпtil help aггived. Heг ѕelfleѕѕ act of love had pгeѕeгved heг puppy’ѕ life but had exacted a ѕubѕtaпtial toll oп heг owп well-beiпg.
Thiѕ tale ѕeгveѕ aѕ a teѕtameпt to the iпdomitable poweг of mateгпal love aпd the extгaoгdiпaгy leпgthѕ to which a motheг will go to ѕhield heг offѕpгiпg. It ѕeгveѕ aѕ a poigпaпt гemiпdeг that love tгaпѕceпdѕ bouпdaгieѕ, aпd the boпd betweeп a motheг aпd heг child iѕ uпbгeakable. The motheг dog’ѕ ѕacгifice exemplifieѕ the uпwaveгiпg love that exiѕtѕ withiп the mateгпal boпd.
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A Dog Fights A Massive Tumor, With The Vet Recommending Leg Amputation For Treatment
Rescuers in Thailand’s Phetchabun Province saw a sad homeless dog with a big tumor straining to move in agony.
She’d been suffering from this tumor for so long that no one would help her when it got too big.
It took nearly 6 hours for rescuers to bring her 455.5 kilometers from Phetchabun province to Pattaya for treatment.
A bad growth on her abdomen devastated her miserable life, and she ended up living on the streets without food.
Even though the wounds are dry, she is doing significantly better one month after a successful operation and tumor removal.
She’s starting to walk again and getting to know her three legs…
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Heartbreaking! The dog was attacked by thousands of parasites in the mouth, unable to eat or drink for many days
It’s upsetting to read about a dog being hurt by parasites, especially when it affects their ability to eat and drink. This is a common problem in many dogs, especially if they have not had adequate preventative care.
Hundreds of parasites attacking a dog’s mouth might cause рai and discomfort. These parasites can cause inflammation and infection, making it difficult for the dog to swallow or even open his mouth. In some situations, the parasites might also cause bleeding, which can complicate matters further.
If a dog cannot eat or drink for several days, it may develop an eo problem. Dogs require regular access to food and water in order to stay healthy, and prolonged starvation or dehydration can lead to a variety of health concerns. If the dog is not treated, it will become weak and malnourished, making it more difficult to battle parasites and other ailments.
If you feel your dog has a parasite infection, you should seek veterinary care as soon as possible. A veterinarian can do a thorough examination and offer the necessary therapy to restore your dog’s health.
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