Tributes paid to Kris Kristofferson: "A gentleman, kind soul, and a lover of words"

Following the sad news of the death of Kris Kristofferson over the weekend, tributes have continued to pour in for the iconic American singer, songwriter and actor – with Barbra Streisand and Dolly Parton among those sharing their own personal reflections.

Taking to social media last night, Barbra Streisand – who starred alongside Kris in 1976's A Star Is Born – recalled the first time she saw the singer-songwriter performing at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.

"I knew he was something special," she wrote. "Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing, which eventually became A Star Is Born.

"In the movie, Kris and I sang the song I’d written for the film’s main love theme, 'Evergreen'," she continued. "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.

"My thoughts go to Kris’ wife, Lisa who I know supported him in every way possible."

Dolly Parton shared her own tribute – describing Kris as a "great friend".

#KrisKristofferson

What a great loss
What a great writer
What a great actor
What a great friend

I will always love you, Dolly pic.twitter.com/AzbCvBlJiz

— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) September 30, 2024

Other notable country stars also shared their own posts dedicated to Kris.

Reba McEntire remembered him as "a gentleman, kind soul, and a lover of words."

"I am so glad I got to meet him and be around him," she resumed. "One of my favourite people. Rest in peace, Kris."

Reflecting on Kris's legacy, Eric Church described it as the "ultimate life well lived."

"Thank you for being a beacon of light in a darkening world," he added. "You were my hero and my role model. And even then, you managed to exceed my expectations when you became my friend."

In other tributes shared online, Ron Sexsmith described Kris as "one of the best songwriters of any genre", and Russell Crowe remembered him as a "great man".

"Kris gave us one of the most poignant, heartfelt songs ever written with 'Help Me Make it Through the Night' and I truly loved singing it in my show," Nancy Sinatra wrote on X. "He had a complete understanding of passion and prayer. I will miss his tender presence."

"It is hard to imagine a world without Kris Kristofferson in it," Sheryl Crow said in her own tribute. "Knowing and singing with him has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. I feel certain he will be holding court in heaven. RIP Kris. You will be missed."

In a statement shared last night, Kris Kristofferson's family confirmed that he "passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at home."

See more tributes to Kris Kristofferson below:

"Don't let the b******s get you down" 🙌🏼🤍✨

Kris Kristofferson agus Sinéad, Madison Square Garden, 1992 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/FjO9iAFKr4

“I was in Nicaragua with the Sandinistas. I’ve argued for Leonard Peltier, Mumia Abu-Jamal, the United Farm Workers. I’ve been a radical for a long time. I guess it’s too bad. I’d be more marketable as a right-wing redneck. But I got into this to tell the truth as I saw it”—Kris… pic.twitter.com/Gb51d95Toh

— Tom Morello (@tmorello) September 29, 2024

— TG4 (@TG4TV) September 30, 2024

“Kris Kristofferson believed creativity is God-given, and those who ignore such a gift are doomed to unhappiness. He preached that a life of the mind gives voice to the soul, and his work gave voice not only to his soul but to ours. He leaves a resounding legacy.”
—Kyle Young,… pic.twitter.com/JMyZp6lJUr

— Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (@countrymusichof) September 29, 2024

We learned with genuine sadness of the passing of famed singer/songwriter Kris Kristofferson. Cesar Chavez went backstage in the 1970s to thank Kris when he headlined fundraising concerts for the UFW.

They maintained a lifelong friendship, and Kris stayed active in our movement. pic.twitter.com/mjC3JQzPfg

— United Farm Workers (@UFWupdates) September 30, 2024