Kris Kristofferson, a country music legend and A Star Is Born actor, has died aged 88.
Kristofferson became a leading figure in country music winning the Grammy for Best Country Song in 1972 for Help Me Make It Through the Night, as well as two Grammy-winning duets with his former wife Rita Coolidge in 1974 and 1976.
He was also an award-winning actor, winning a Golden Globe for his portrayal of destructive rocker John Norman Howard opposite Barbra Streisand’s Esther Hoffman in the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born.
The singer died ‘peacefully’ at his home in Maui, Hawaii on Saturday surrounded by family, a representative confirmed, with musicians including Barbra and LeAnn Rimes paying tribute.
Sharing a tribute on Instagram, Barbra she ‘knew he was something special’ the first time she saw him perform.
‘Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing, which eventually became A Star Is Born,’ she wrote.
The film scored the Oscar for Best Original Song, for the song titled Evergreen.
Barbra continued: ‘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.’
More to follow.
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