Kris Kristofferson, Country Music Superstar And Actor, Dies at 88

Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes Scholar known for his masterful songwriting and rugged charisma, has died at 88.

Kristofferson's varied life experiences included boxing as a Golden Gloves champion, playing football in college, earning a master's degree in English from Merton College at the University of Oxford, and turning down a teaching appointment at West Point to pursue his dream of songwriting in Nashville. I Photo: Kris Kristofferson Facebook

The country music legend and Hollywood actor passed away peacefully at his home in Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday, surrounded by his family, according to family spokeswoman Ebie McFarland, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

Starting in the late 1960s, the Brownsville, Texas, native penned iconic songs such as “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” “Help Me Make it Through the Night,” “For the Good Times,” and “Me and Bobby McGee.”

Although Kristofferson performed his own music, many of his songs became hits when recorded by other artists—Ray Price’s rendition of “For the Good Times” and Janis Joplin’s powerful take on “Me and Bobby McGee” are just two examples.

Kristofferson, who could recite poetry by William Blake from memory, combined intricate folk music lyrics with themes of loneliness and love, transforming them into country music staples.

With his long hair, bell-bottoms, and counterculture songs influenced by Bob Dylan, he helped define a new generation of country songwriters, alongside peers such as Willie Nelson, John Prine, and Tom T. Hall.

“There’s no better songwriter alive than Kris Kristofferson,” Nelson remarked during a 2009 award ceremony.

Kristofferson's varied life experiences included boxing as a Golden Gloves champion, playing football in college, earning a master's degree in English from Merton College at the University of Oxford, and turning down a teaching appointment at West Point to pursue his dream of songwriting in Nashville.

Before launching his music career, Kristofferson served as a captain in the US Army and was a helicopter pilot.