Brandi Carlile, Barbra Streisand, Jeff Bridges & More Pay Tribute To Kris Kristofferson 

Dozens of artists have paid homage to Kris Kristofferson over the past few days, from his “A Star Is Born” co-star Barbra Streisand reminiscing about first seeing him perform barefoot at the Troubadour to Margo Price reflecting on how sharing the stage with Kristofferson was “one of the greatest honors of my life.” 

Kristofferson died at his home on Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday. He was 88. 

The acclaimed singer/songwriter and actor, who retired from performing and recording in 2021, took the stage for the final time as a special guest at Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday celebration at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in April 2023. During the first night of the event Kristofferson joined Roseanne Cash to duet on the “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again),” a song Kristofferson first released in 1971. The next night he and Norah Jones performed a rendition of his 1970 song “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” 

The estate of Kristofferson is represented by Morris Higham Management. Before he retired from touring, the most recent report submitted to Pollstar Boxoffice for Kristofferson was a Feb. 4, 2020, show at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that sold 1,127 tickets and grossed $68,563.

See below for a selection of the Kristoffesron tributes shared via official statement or social media. 

Duane Allen of The Oak Ridge Boys 
“When The Oak Ridge Boys were searching for a way to grow our career we listened to Kris Kristofferson’s music. The stories in his songs were things we were experiencing. Then, he wrote, ‘Why Me Lord.’ When we heard that song the message struck home. It assured us that we were on the right track.” 

Bill Anderson
Kris Kristofferson was the songwriter’s songwriter. We all looked up to him and wished we could have written with such “elegant simplicity.” His music will live forever, and I will forever treasure the times I got to spend with him. Rest in peace, my friend, knowing that you were the best.

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day
Rest easy to this legend. I was rehearsing backstage at the Grammys with Miranda Lambert for an Everly Brothers tribute. I turned around and lo and behold Kris Kristofferson was sitting there listening to us and he said “boy do I love those harmonies“ I was in awe. He told me he lived in Hawaii . I asked if he surfed. He said “not so much but I love mowing my lawn”.

Tim Atwood
“There are very few times in life you get to share the stage with a real hero. Kris Kristofferson was a hero of mine, and I can remember almost every detail of the night I played piano while Kris sang ‘Help Me Make it Through the Night’ on the Grand Ole Opry. What a writer.” 

Jeff Bridges 
Kris Kristofferson, I knew him. Our first crossing of paths was in 1972 on the movie Fat City. His song Help Me Make It Through The Night fit the tone of our film perfectly. His songs fit life perfectly, reflecting the pain, joys, and insights of being alive. Years later, in 1980, I got to work with him on Heaven’s Gate. He was perfectly cast as a man who would learn what cynicism & idealism cost. His combination of intelligence and physicality, and I gotta add humility, served him well. He was a wonderful actor. On Heaven’s Gate I also met Stephen Bruton, his dear, dear, friend and fellow musician. The two of them together created beautiful music, and an example of what friendship and talent can bring forth. Kris and I got a kick out of looking a bit like each other. It gave me the feeling we were brothers. I’ll miss you Kris on many levels. I’m blessed that our paths cross, my friend.

Brandi Carlile  
Just sitting in a hotel cafe and crying into my coffee today…

Yesterday I didn’t know how to talk about the passing of Kris Kristofferson. 

My feelings about it can’t be contained in these kinds of micro expressions. I do know we need them, and that engaging in the celebration of someone’s life over social media and on these tiny screens is righteous and necessary… it’s emotionally galvanizing for our community and it helps us all to process the loss of a great, great man. But I have to admit, it is hard to grieve this here. I’m missing my friends today.

I had the profound pleasure and honor of being in Kris’s band for a little while. The twins and I will never forget that shine we stood in when we played music next to him. Kris believed in me a long time ago when he agreed to act in my tiny little music video about addiction and forgiveness… for free by the way. He never told me why he did it and I never asked. I will never forget his chuckle and the twinkle in his eye when I asked him if he thought The Highwomen was a good idea…

Kris and Lisa literally brought me to Joni. They’ve changed my life in countless ways over the last fifteen years or so that we’ve been in one another’s life. I will never forget him and I’ll never forget a single shot of whisky with him, or a single time our voices locked together on “Bobby McGee”, “Sunday Morning Coming Down” or “A Case of You”…

My favorite thing to do for Kris and Lisa was to give him a kiss on the cheek, and wherever we were, I’d belt out an audaciously loud yodeling version of “Lovesick Blues” by Hank Williams. It was his favorite song! And Lisa and I would get such a laugh because it made Kris so damn happy to hear it! His memory got foggy later in life, and every time I sang it for him he was hearing it for the first time. Imagine that: getting to hear your favorite song for the first time forever…

That’s the world Lisa and his beautiful family created for and around Kris Kristofferson… a world of moments and memories that were potent, renewable and ALWAYS laughable. 

This family has been living in the moment for so long that their collection of moments rivals anything this ailing world has to offer. 

I can’t believe that they were generous enough to share a few of them with me.

I’ve got the lovesick blues today…but I’m so lucky to have known Kris Kristofferson. Above all things, Kris had (and will always have) a once-in-a-century family…the kind that history remembers. I love the life he had and the way it ended. 

What a ride, Kristoffersons! I hope you know we all love you so… and we are so grateful for the years you gave us with your once-in-a-lifetime man. 

Deep love and respect, 

X Brandi

Rosanne Cash
Here was a man. A man I knew most of my life. A piece of my heart and family history. I expected he’d leave the planet fairly soon but it doesn’t change the magnitude of the loss. And yet we will always have him— his enormous legacy, his resonant spirit, the lasting power of his authenticity, his staggering gifts as a poet— in word, on screen, in his being. For the last several decades, there was no Kris without Lisa and her beauty and steadfastness is a constant inspiration. I send you all my love, Lisa. Travel safe, dear brother. I will always love you.

Marshall Chapman
“I adored Kris Kristofferson. He was a beacon for everything I value most in this world. He is the only songwriter I know — and I’ve known most of them — who changed the entire landscape of country music through the sheer power of his poetry. 

Eric Church
Kris,
The ultimate life well lived. Thank you for being a beacon of light in a darkening world. You were my hero and my role model. And even then, you managed to exceed my expectations when you became my friend.

So long Captain. Till we meet again.

Sheryl Crow   
It is hard to imagine a world without Kris Kristofferson in it. Knowing and singing with him has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. I feel certain he will be holding court in heaven. RIP Kris. You will be missed.

Billy Ray Cyrus
The magnitude of Kris Kristofferson’s greatness is beyond words. As a man, a musician, a songwriter, a singer, an actor, and a humanitarian… he set the bar for what it means to live fully and authentically. His legendary impact on music and humanity will resonate forever.

Lacy J. Dalton 
In my opinion, Kris was one of the greatest songwriters ever. An incredible role model for me with my own writing. A hero and a great, great man. I will miss him terribly.

Melissa Etheridge
Loved this man, his talent, his mind and his beautiful heart. 

Journey well, my friend.

Janie Fricke
I’ll always cherish the memory of singing harmonies on “Why Me Lord” with Kris and Willie on the country homecoming show – I recorded that song he wrote and sing it at every concert I do – thanks to my friend Kris.

Lee Greenwood
Hard to believe my friend Kris Kristofferson has left us. He was successful in all areas of his life. A champion boxer, a world-class actor, a spectacular songwriter and singer, and a hero to everyone fortunate enough to know him. I will never forget his support for me when I received my first CMA Male Vocalist of the Year award – his friendship and encouragement helped validate my career in country music and my place in Nashville. My family and I send our deepest sympathy to Kris’ family. We lost a giant in our industry today!

Sammy Hagar
Hey now old friend. I hope the fishin’s good where you’re going. we’re all gonna miss you. RIP 🙏

Reba McEntire
What a gentleman, kind soul, and a lover of words. I am so glad I got to meet him and be around him. One of my favorite people. Rest in peace, Kris.

Sam Moore of Sam and Dave
I had the pleasure of knowing Kris and performing and participating at a few events with him over the years. He was absolutely a delight. He was also a genius.   

Tom Morello
“I was in Nicaragua with the Sandinistas. I’ve argued for Leonard Peltier, Mumia Abu-Jamal, the United Farm Workers. I’ve been a radical for a long time. I guess it’s too bad. I’d be more marketable as a right-wing redneck. But I got into this to tell the truth as I saw it” —Kris Kristopherson. Rest in peace singer, songwriter, veteran, working class hero.

Dolly Parton
What a great loss

What a great writer

What a great actor

What a great friend

I will always love you, Dolly

Margo Price
I’m lighting a candle for Kris Kristofferson & remembering every song he ever wrote. I’m thinking about how lucky I was to come into his orbit, if even for a short time, because he was one of the best songwriters to ever walk the face of the earth.

I first met Kris in 2016 at Willie’s 4th of July Picnic when I chased him down for a photo in the parking lot. But the second time I met him was the most memorable. Just a couple weeks later, I was backstage at Newport when my friends in the Texas Gentlemen called me. “Do you know the words to “Me and Bobby McGee?’’ they asked in a panic. “Like the back of my hand.” I replied. They proceeded to tell me that they were backing up Kris and that Patti Smith was supposed to come sing a Janis inspired vocal at the end but she got stuck in traffic. I immediately rushed to join them. Kris’s memory was starting to go and he looked a little confused as I stepped on stage. I knew he probably didn’t remember me from our brief encounter in Austin, but when I started singing the “Call him my lover, call him my friend, la-de-de-da part” he began to smile from ear to ear. He came closer as I kept singing and pulled me in for a big hug at the end of the song. I performed with Kris at Glastonbury Festival, I sat in with him also at The Basement East, at Bridgestone Arena I got him to autograph my guitar…. I have a sacred memory of the time we spent Thanksgiving at Willie & Annie’s in Maui last year. We also got to visit backstage at Hollywood Bowl at Willie’s 90th. His wife, Lisa, told me that when they were watching me sing side stage and Kris pointed to me on the stage and then leaned over to her and said, “I feel like I know her.” Lisa whispered back to him, “You do.”

Kris didn’t play by anyone else’s rules. He was country music, but he was also a folkie. Kris was politically charged, often outspoken and sometimes misunderstood but navigated his songs and career by the grace of his heart.

No matter what collaborations or accolades lie ahead, I can say, one of the greatest honors of my life was getting to share the stage with Kris. My heart goes out to Lisa Kristofferson, his family and friends who loved and knew him well.

LeAnn Rimes
an epic human with the biggest heart ♥️ you will be so, so missed. rest easy, my friend.

Lulu Roman 
Kris was always so sweet to me. They would throw us in the cornfield together on “Hee Haw.” Those are some of my fondest memories. My prayers for his family.

T.G. Sheppard
Another one of our great musical treasures Kris Kristofferson has left for home. He will go down as one of the most prolific writers in music history. To us he will go down as one of the nicest most down to earth talents that our business has ever known. I was honored to have the pleasure of working with him and any time @kellylangmusic or I was in his presence it was a wonderful memory. R.I.P. Kris.

Barbra Streisand
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.

Travis Tritt
Sad to hear of Kris Kristofferson’s passing. He was an inspiration to me and 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.

Diane Warren
Brilliant songwriter, Rhodes scholar, great actor, not to mention criminally handsome. How often do U get all that in one human?! Write In Power forever Kris Kristopherson. We are losing too many greats and we just lost another one.🖋🎶🎵💔

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young
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.