Legendary American country singer and actor Kris Kristofferson reportedly died on Saturday.
His passing, which has not been attributed to a specific cause, has sparked a global outpouring of grief and tributes from family, friends, fans and colleagues, a testament to the profound impact of his career.
Kristofferson’s death was announced by his family’s spokesperson, who stated that he died surrounded by family members.
According to the family’s spokesperson, the late actor passed away peacefully in his home in Hawaii at 88, adding that his family was grateful for the time they shared with him.
The representatives’ statement also described the singer as a “peacenik, a revolutionary, an actor, a superstar, a sex symbol and a family man” who had set the pace for a global audience.
“Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all,” the statement added, appreciating friends and fans for their show of love.
In a social media post, popular country music singer, Dolly Parton, known for her global hit song, “Coat of Many Colours” expressed shock over the death of her colleague while reassuring of her love for him.
Parton wrote, “What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend. I will always love you.”
Also, via a social media post, Kristofferson’s co-star in his “A Star Is Born,” Barbra Streisand in her tribute, described him as “something special.”
According to the iconic actress, she could tell Kristofferson was cut out for greatness the first time she saw him perform and that inspired her decision to have him take a role in a script she was writing at the time.
The script which eventually became one of their popular creative pieces ” A Star Is Born,” gracefully scored the Oscar for best original song, for the song titled Evergreen.
Streisand showered much more eulogies about the late country music singer as much as “Sex and The City” actress Kim Cattrall, who starred alongside him in the 1991 film “Miracle in the Wilderness,” did when she shared a picture of them together on Instagram.
In her post, Cattrall simply wished the legend a peaceful rest in his new sojourn while describing him as a truly exceptional and gifted man.
This further highlights his exceptional qualities throughout the six decades he remained relevant in the industry and how much his life and career impacted the world. With his songs and several other creative pieces, Kristofferson had impacted the lives of many.
He is known for an exceptional creative prowess and is credited for receiving several awards including the Grammy award for best country song in 1972 with his song, “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”
In 1974 and 1976 respectively, Kristofferson also won two Grammy awards for two different duets with his former wife Rita Coolidge.
Also, he reportedly graced the silver screen where he won Golden Globe for his portrayal of destructive rocker John Norman Howard opposite Streisand’s Esther Hoffman in the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born.
He was born in Brownsville, Texas, in 1936 to a family headed by a father who finished his career as a U.S. Air Force major general and wrote his first song, “I Hate Your Ugly Face” at 11.
