Following news the death of Kris Kristofferson at the age of 88 on Sept. 28, tributes have poured in from some of the biggest names in the music industry, honoring the legendary songwriter and actor whose influence spanned decades.
Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Eric Church, and more have shared personal reflections on the man they admired, loved, and called a friend.
Dolly shared a close friendship with Kristofferson, with the pair performing duets such as “From Here to the Moon and Back” and “Put It Off Until Tomorrow” over the years.
“What a great loss,” Dolly said. “What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend. I will always love you.”
Country star Reba McEntire said, “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.”
Travis Tritt, who appeared in the spaghetti Western TV movie Outlaw Country alongside Kristofferson wrote, “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.”
For songwriter Diane Warren, Kristofferson was the epitome of a multi-talented artist.
She wrote, “Brilliant songwriter, Rhodes scholar, great actor, not to mention criminally handsome,” she noted in her tribute. “How often do U get all that in one human? Write in Power forever Kris Kristofferson. We are losing too many greats and we just lost another one.”
Country star Eric Church shared his admiration for Kristofferson as both a role model and a friend. “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.”
Rosanne Cash, singer and daughter of legend Johnny Cash, said: “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.”
Cash’s words hold even more weight considering one of Kristofferson’s final public performances was with her. The two performed a heartfelt duet of “Lovin’ You Was Easier” at Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday celebration in April 2023.
She continued, “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.”
Barbra Streisand, who co-starred with Kristofferson in the 1976 version of A Star Is Born, also paid tribute to him earlier, recalling the first time she saw him perform at L.A.’s Troubadour. Their on-screen chemistry in A Star Is Born helped cement both actors’ status in Hollywood, with the film’s soundtrack—featuring their duet “Evergreen”—becoming a No. 1 hit on the Billboard 200.
