US country singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson passes away 'peacefully' at 88 years old

Clarence Ford chats to Primedia Digital Content Editor Barbara Friedman about trending stories online.

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Kris Kristofferson was a singer-songwriter and global star.

He passed away 'peacefully' at 88 years old on Saturday, September 28 at his home.

The musician retired in 2021 after a six-decade career. He has inspired many people in the entertainment industry throughout his life. 

Kristofferson’s family confirmed his death on Sunday night, 29 September with a post to fans on Instagram.

'We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all,' the family said.

Kristofferson frequently topped the US country charts, and cover versions of his songs were hits for artists like Janis Joplin, Gladys Knight and Johnny Cash.

In the mid-70s, he worked with film directors including Martin Scorsese and Sam Peckinpah, and won a Golden Globe for his work opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1976 remake of 'A Star is Born.'

Friedman remembers Kristofferson as 'amazing and iconic to many with incredible talent and energy.'

"There's something about him that always touched me. He lived a bit of a torrid life in terms of alcoholism and substance abuse when he was younger which he spoke a lot about over the years but he turned his life around... he spoke out saying he thought it was the way he had to be [to be high or an alcoholic] to be creative... and realised that it's not the case."

- Barbara Friedman, Barb's Wire 

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.