Kris Kristofferson Dies at 88: A Legend Remembered

Beloved country music icon and actor Kris Kristofferson has died at the age of 88. He passed away peacefully

at his home in Maui on September 28, surrounded by his family, according to PEOPLE. In a statement, his family said,

“We’re all so blessed for our time with him… when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”

Born June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas, Kristofferson was raised in a military family and earned a Rhodes Scholarshi

p to Oxford University. He later served in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot but left the military to pursue songwriting.

Struggling in Nashville during the 1960s, Kristofferson worked odd jobs—including as a janitor at Columbia Records—before

finding success with hits like “Me and Bobby McGee”, “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, and “For the Good Times.”

He helped define the “outlaw country” movement and joined The Highwaymen with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings.

Kristofferson also had a celebrated acting career, winning a Golden Globe for A Star Is Born and starring in

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid and Convoy. He retired in 2021, leaving behind a powerful legacy in music and film.