Kris Kristofferson, the legendary singer, songwriter, and actor, passed away peacefully on September 28 at home. His family shared, “We’re all so blessed for our time with him… when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”

Born on June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas, Kristofferson was raised in a military family that valued discipline and education. A Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, he developed a love for literature and music inspired by William Blake and Hank Williams. After serving as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, he left the military to follow his passion for songwriting.

In the 1960s, he moved to Nashville and worked odd jobs — even as a janitor at Columbia Records — while chasing his dream. His persistence paid off when his songs “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” and “For the Good Times” became chart-topping hits for Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, and Ray Price.

Kristofferson’s debut album Kristofferson (1970) earned critical acclaim, and he became a leader of the “outlaw country” movement. As part of The Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings, his influence on American music became timeless.