After 84-Year-Old Kris Kristofferson Shared Startling News, His Fans Led The Tributes

Kris Kristofferson has been open about his struggles as he grows older. But at the age of 84, the country music legend made his most startling announcement yet. And following the shock news, fans couldn’t help but post tributes to the star online.

Five decades in music

During his 50 years in music, Kristofferson has picked up a lot of fans, too. Over that time, he’s become a mainstay of the country music scene, known for such classic songs as “Me and Bobby McGee.” He’s also appeared in movies – A Star Is Born, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and Lone Star among them.

He didn’t slow down

Even with that impressive legacy behind him, Kristofferson continued to work through his late 70s and into his early 80s. He released his latest original album Feeling Mortal at the grand age of 76. And that certainly wasn’t the end. Two years later, he also re-recorded old material for The Cedar Creek Sessions, with that record ultimately winning him a Grammy nomination.

Shocking statement

But while Kristofferson has continued to work for longer than most, he’s been forced to confront his own ailing health. And in January 2021 the musician issued a shocking statement that stunned the many fans he’d acquired over his long and bountiful career.

Texas beginnings

Kristofferson can at least know he’s earned his place in music history. Hailing from Brownsville, Texas, the singer-songwriter grew up in a military family. That meant the clan moved often, but they eventually made a home in San Mateo, California, while Kristofferson was still young.

Talented writer

Kristofferson would go on to attend Pomona College in Southern California, where he studied creative writing. And he showed a clear flair for his craft. He even bagged the top prize in a short-story competition by The Atlantic. An early sign of his songwriting skill, perhaps?

An Oxford man

Writing was not Kristofferson’s only talent, mind you. He was also a Golden Gloves boxer and a college football player. Perhaps in another life, he would have been a champion sportsman. In the end, though, he decided to pursue literature. After graduating from Pomona in 1958, he won a scholarship to study at the prestigious University of Oxford in England.

Performing his own material

And during his time in the U.K., Kristofferson began to write and perform his own songs. He even put down some tracks with a small label, although they didn’t do anything to gain him public attention. So, the yet-to-be-discovered talent returned to the U.S. to finish his education. There, he ultimately ended up tying the knot with high school sweetheart Frances Beer.

Then he enlisted

Newly married and with his studies completed, Kristofferson was ready for a new chapter. It was then, around 1960, that he signed up to the U.S. Army, training as a helicopter pilot and ranger before being deployed to West Germany. But throughout his time in the military, the singer continued to indulge his love of music, writing songs and even setting up a soldiers’ band.

He climbed the ranks

Despite his musical endeavors, Kristofferson kind of seemed committed to his Army career. After rising to the rank of captain, he was offered the opportunity of becoming an English instructor at the military academy in West Point. But it was here that fate intervened and put the musician on the path to stardom. And it all started with a trip to Nashville in June 1965.

A career turning point

At that time, Nashville was somewhat of a musical mecca. So, following his visit to the city, Kristofferson was inspired to ditch his military career and pursue songwriting instead. Much to his parents’ horror, he declined the job at West Point and instead moved to Tennessee with his wife and their young daughter, Tracy.

He struggled to get by

But while Kristofferson was snapped up by publisher Bighorn Music, his path to success would not be smooth. To make ends meet, the songwriter juggled odd jobs alongside his fledgling music career. Eventually, all of his hard work would pay off.

Early success

During the early years of Kristofferson’s career, he did experience some moderate success. Songs he’d written, including “Jody and the Kid” and “Vietnam Blues,” found spots on the country charts after being recorded by other artists. And he eventually recorded and released his own debut single, “Golden Idol,” in 1967, though the track was pretty much a flop.

The break he needed

Things became more difficult following the birth of son Kris, who had medical issues. Escalating care bills put a financial strain on the budding country star and his family. But he never gave up, and just one year later he saw his fortunes change when his song “Me and Bobby McGee” was covered by Roger Miller.

Collaborating with Johnny Cash

Miller’s cover was a country top 20 hit, boosting Kristofferson’s profile and bringing him to the attention of Johnny Cash. The former Army captain even delivered a song to the Man in Black after landing a helicopter in his backyard. Impressed by the songwriter’s swagger, Cash invited Kristofferson onto his TV show and presented him at the Newport Folk Festival.

A rising star

With Cash’s backing, Kristofferson saw his star finally rise. He released his eponymous debut album in 1970. And while the record was unsuccessful, other artists enjoyed success with some of its tracks. They included Cash and Ray Price, who both reached number one with their covers of “Sunday Morning Coming Down” and “For the Good Times,” respectively.

Sweeping the charts

But Kristofferson’s big break ultimately came in 1971. That’s when Janis Joplin covered “Me and Bobby McGee” which stormed to the top of the pop charts. Then Kristofferson’s second album The Silver Tongued Devil went gold and sparked the rerelease of his first record, which did much better this time around.

He ventured into acting

In fact, the 1970s turned out to be a fruitful decade for Kristofferson. As well as continuing to release country music – and scooping three Grammy Awards – he also ventured into acting. He starred in such famous films as Billy the Kid, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore and the Barbra Streisand-led remake of A Star Is Born in 1976.

Award attention

While A Star Is Born was not a critical success, it was a box-office smash hit. And the soundtrack to the film – which featured Kristofferson’s songs – stormed the charts and sold millions of copies. The singer also bagged a Best Actor Golden Globe for his performance in the movie. Pretty amazing change of fortunes, right?

He found the groove

Kristofferson has ridden the ups and downs of show business ever since. And while his acting career eventually went on the back burner, he continued to win acclaim for his music into the ’80s. He even received an Oscar nomination for the score he provided for 1984’s Songwriter.

Songwriters Hall of Fame

A year after the release of Songwriter, Kristofferson earned a place in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also joined superband The Highwaymen, alongside Cash, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. Their first self-titled album went on to top the country charts, became gold-certified, and spawned several successful singles.

Movie resurgence

Kristofferson’s next career revival came in 1996, when he starred as sheriff Charlie Wade in the acclaimed movie Lone Star. That performance resurrected the actor’s film career, and he went on to star in a number of big hits. Remember him popping up in the Blade movies? Or Tim Burton’s remake of Planet of the Apes?

He continued collecting hits

And the singer’s most recent musical offerings have also been well-received. All three original albums the songwriter has released since 2000 have charted on the country top 40. No mean feat! Oh, and Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004. Not only that, but he also bagged a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2014.

Health issues

But while Kristofferson was still in his stride creatively, his health was beginning to wane. In 2013 the country star revealed his memory was in decline. In an interview with FOX411 at the time, he said that the issue had been caused by “concussions” he’d endured as a footballer and boxer.

The cause of his memory loss

In 2016, however, Kristofferson claimed that his memory loss had at least partly been caused by Lyme disease. Doctors had originally believed the singer-songwriter may have been suffering from Alzheimer’s. Instead, a test revealed he was suffering from the effects of the tick-caused condition.

It wasn’t Alzheimer’s

So, Kristofferson swapped his Alzheimer’s meds for three weeks of Lyme disease treatment. And, apparently, the difference was clear to see. In 2016 Kristofferson’s third wife, Lisa Meyers, told Rolling Stone, “All of a sudden he was back… some days, he’s perfectly normal, and it’s easy to forget that he is even battling anything.”

He got his life back

With the new treatment, Kristofferson saw improvements in his memory and was able to continue touring. And in 2019 the legend was celebrated at that year’s Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, when Sheryl Crow, Joe Walsh, and Dierks Bentley covered “Me and Bobby McGee.” The songwriter was even honored with a Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contribution to country music.

He continued performing

Kristofferson’s career was showing no signs of stopping anytime soon. But little did he – or anyone else – know that his performance on board the Outlaw Country Cruise may well have been his last.

A final bow

That’s because, in January 2021, it was revealed that Kristofferson was retiring from music. He’d actually chosen to take a step back from the spotlight the previous year, when Morris Higham Management acquired his estate. His son John was lined up to take control of the family businesses, while MHM would be responsible for his record label.

Carrying on the legacy

In a press release announcing Kristofferson’s retirement, John said, “It’s been amazing to dig into my dad’s catalog and history with this seasoned group of professionals... I can’t imagine a better partnership to bring the full depth of his songwriting to a new generation. The name [Kristofferson] has always been synonymous with songwriting as an art, and we’re excited to reintroduce his work to new and old fans alike.”

Representing other country stars

Alongside managing Kristofferson’s estate, MHM also represents a number of other performers, including Carly Pearce and Kenny Chesney. In a statement, the president of the company, Clint Higham, said, “Kristofferson is the artist that every artist strives to be. He is an artist’s artist. If Mount Rushmore had a place for songwriters, Kris would be on it.”

Fans’ outcry

And following the shock news of Kristofferson’s retirement, many fans took to Twitter to thank him for the music. One such message said, “I’m not sad he’s retiring. I’m happy we had him as long as we did and that now he gets to spend time with his family instead of the road.”

One of the greats

Sharing their gratitude for Kristofferson’s talent, another fan wrote, “At 84, Kris is retiring from the road. Luckily for music lovers, his songs will continue to be sung on stages for years – maybe generations – to come. One of the greatest who I thankfully saw in concert. Keep writing, Kris.”

Lasting memories

And while reflecting on an encounter they’d had with Kristofferson, a Twitter user said, “Glad I saw him perform in New York. It was 22 years ago. Surreal night. After the show, my friend Will and I got to meet him, then we all paused in confusion as Bill Clinton and his motorcade cruised by on the street.”

Quiet retreat

Kristofferson’s quiet bowing out of the music scene was also remarked upon. While many stars like to go out with a bang, he didn’t even make his retreat from the spotlight public until months after it had happened.

His low-key approach

But it turns out that this low-key approach to his retirement had just come naturally. Speaking to Variety in 2021, the star’s manager Tamara Saviano explained, “It wasn’t any big stake in the ground, like, ‘I’m retiring! I’m not doing this anymore!’”

An organic decision

“It was an evolution, and it just felt very organic. There was no big change – it was this sort of slow ‘What should we do now? What’s next?’… It was like, ‘Yeah, let’s retire.’ To us, on this side of the fence, it was an organic, normal, ‘things are changing’ thing. Kris is aging; Kris is 84. It didn’t feel like such big news to us,” Saviano said of Kristofferson’s retirement.

Retirement is a technicality

“That’s why there was no announcement. It was just sort of a slow changing of the guard thing,” Saviano added to Variety. “It doesn’t feel like a retirement because Kris’ music isn’t going anywhere. There are still going to be new projects, But he’s not going to be on the road anymore.”

Will he perform again?

By “new projects,” Saviano appeared to be referring to potential tributes or archive releases. But she also refused to rule out Kristofferson making more music in the future. She explained to Variety, “I’m not gonna say, ‘Kris will never record again, Kris will never take the stage again.’ Because the moment I say that, Kris will prove me wrong.”

He’s doing just fine

And while Kristofferson may have been taking a step back from music, his people were eager to stress that his retirement wasn’t health-related. Saviano assured his fans, “Kris’ body of work will live on – and hopefully he’ll live on for a lot longer… He’s really healthy and in good shape.” In fact, she teased, “He might wake up a month from now and go, ‘I’m gonna go in the studio and make an album.’ And he will.”

A shock reunion

Maybe he’ll even make more sweet music with Barbra Streisand. In April 2019 the stars got together again – and this time they left fans wondering if their meet-up could mean something more. Perhaps the feelings Streisand and Kristofferson shared on screen stuck with them once filming had ended...

The temperamental rock star

In that 1976 version of A Star Is Born, you’ll remember that Kristofferson plays the part of John Norman Howard. He’s a rock star who’s well known for both his music and his self-destructive nature.

The meet cute

So, after Howard arrives drunk to his own concert, Howard’s manager shuttles him to a bar where Barbra Streisand’s Esther Hoffman is singing. And eventually, Howard gets her to come to one of his shows – and sing with him on stage. The audience protests at first, of course, but her stunning vocals earn their respect.

Tragic end

As in the other films, Hoffman’s career skyrockets from there, while Howard’s fizzles. The pair find love with each other, too – but the movie doesn’t have a fairytale ending. Instead, Howard drives away from the house that he shares with his protégée. And as he speeds and drinks behind the wheel, Howard gets into a fatal car crash.

Showered with awards

The 1976 film actually had a lukewarm reception from critics, but its $80 million box-office haul still made it the third-highest grossing film of the year. Streisand and Kristofferson won Best Actress and Actor in a Musical or Comedy awards at the Golden Globes too. And Streisand’s original song “Evergreen” took home an Oscar – making her the first female composer to ever win the gong.

Streisand made it happen

In fact, the film would arguably not have even happened without Streisand. She served not only as the movie’s leading actress, you see, but also as its co-producer, a responsibility she shared with her partner at the time: Jon Peters. Yet the star didn’t initially think to cast Kristofferson as her love interest in the flick.

The King was first choice

Instead, Streisand and Peters had pursued rocker Elvis Presley to play opposite her fledgling singer. Presley appeared interested in the opportunity at first, too, as it could potentially have stoked his declining film career. However, the King’s manager had a different idea about how the movie would go.

Tom Parker intervenes

Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded that his client receive A Star Is Born’s top billing, in fact. And on top of that, Parker wanted Presley to get a huge paycheck for his part in the movie. He set his sights on this agreement even though Presley hadn’t been in a movie for seven years at that point.

Elvis turns it down

Parker apparently didn’t like that Presley’s character would be portrayed as a rock star in the latter stages of his career, either. Off-screen, you see, Presley could still sell out venues as he toured the U.S. So Parker’s demands and fears seemingly got the better of the deal – and Presley subsequently turned down the role.

Next up, Neil Diamond

Streisand and Peters also considered actor Marlon Brando and singer Neil Diamond for the part. In the case of the latter, in fact, Streisand had known him since they had attended the same Brooklyn high school. Diamond considered accepting the role, too – but his busy concert schedule prevented him from doing so.

Kristofferson gets the gig

So Kristofferson eventually secured the gig – and it was a somewhat fitting role for him. A singer-songwriter in real life, Kristofferson had released his fifth studio album in 1974 without much commercial success. This was arguably how the rest of his music career would go too. He in fact told Classic Rock magazine that playing the “washed-up rockstar” on film “was more about me.”

Best buds

Streisand and Kristofferson have a long history of friendship post-A Star Is Born, in fact, even as both have continued to pursue their separate creative careers. In Streisand’s case, that meant a lot of music: 50 studio albums in total so far. Music critic Stephen Holden once wrote that she “enjoys a cultural status that only one other American entertainer, Frank Sinatra, has achieved in the last half century.”

A stellar career

Streisand also continued her movie career after the 1976 movie. In fact, she produced, directed, and starred in a slew of her own films in the ’80s and ’90s. She even wrote Yentl, an accomplishment for which she apparently often does not receive credit. And after an eight-year break from the big screen, Streisand returned in 2004 to star alongside Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, and Ben Stiller in Meet the Fockers.

Star of the silver screen

As for Kristofferson, his musical pursuits continued to stall after A Star Is Born – but he embarked on a long-lasting career in movies. He starred in films including Flashpoint, Blade, Dance With Me, and Raise Your Voice, for instance. Kristofferson also took part in 1989’s Lone Star, a flick that would be nominated at the Oscars for its original screenplay.

Country supergroup

Eventually, though, Kristofferson found his footing in the music industry once again. He actually collaborated with Willie Nelson – first on a duets album and then in a country supergroup called The Highwaymen. And alongside the pair, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash featured in the band. Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, given that star power, their music proved to be a huge success.

Still going strong

In 1985, in fact, Kristofferson was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for the work he had penned over the course of his career. And the star has continued to put out solo albums. As recently as 2016, in fact, Kristofferson earned a Grammy Award nomination for Americana album The Cedar Creek Sessions.

Getting back together

Throughout it all, though, Streisand and Kristofferson have continued to team up for appearances and show up to support each other. In 2011, for instance, Streisand returned to the Grammys to perform there for the first time in 31 years. And when it came time to introduce her, Kristofferson appeared on stage to do the job.

Praising Streisand

The pair also reunited in 2013. That year, Streisand was one of the honorees at the Chaplin Award Gala, which lauds standout talent in the film industry. Former President Bill Clinton came on stage to praise the actress and singer, as did a slew of former co stars – including, of course, Kristofferson.

Returning the love

Streisand also returned the love for Kristofferson in her award acceptance speech that night. “I noticed something when we were doing A Star Is Born. I was standing on the side, and I was watching the beautiful Kris Kristofferson do a very sensitive scene. And the director yelled, ‘Cut,’ and I thought, ‘Oh my god. Look at him.’”

Learned from him

“He’s still in character, and there’s a quality that’s beyond acting; it’s a moment that’s so unaffected, so vulnerable. And that particular moment wasn’t captured on film,” Streisand went on. She said that Kristofferson had taught her something right then and there: as a director, she should always keep rolling after saying, “Cut.” He never knew that she had learned that from him.

A tantalizing glimpse

But it would be a 2019 reunion between the pair that would really raise eyebrows – especially because of the way Streisand framed her meeting with Kristofferson. On April 3, 2019, the star shared a photo of the two of them via Instagram and wrote, “It was so wonderful to see my friend Kris who stopped by yesterday.”

Was it true?

Streisand concluded the post by writing, “Stay tuned…” and attaching a winking emoji to the end of it. Instantly, the image – and its corresponding caption – got fans in a tizzy. For one thing, some fans wondered if their meeting meant that they had an A Star Is Born reunion in the works.

Fans go crazy

Others wondered whether the pair might sing together at one of Streisand’s impending shows. “If you have a reunion with Kris at your upcoming concert, it will be one of the greatest things to happen to me in my entire life… OMG… Thank you for the hint of a possibility!” commented one Instagrammer.

Showing their love

But most were just pleased to see the on-screen pair back together in real life – no matter what it meant. “Love both of you and your talents, glad you stay connected. You both have given so many of us joy over the years! Kris & Barbra… stay tuned? Hmm? Can’t wait to hear if it’s something involving you two,” wrote another fan.

A special performance

And although neither Streisand nor Kristofferson have confirmed any sort of A Star Is Born-related reunion, fans saw them sing together again. When Streisand played the British Summertime Hyde Park festival in July 2019, she brought out a very special guest: Kristofferson.