Welcome back to Country Music 4 Ever! Kris Kristofferson sadly passed away on Saturday at age 88. He was a huge part of country music as a singer, songwriter, and member of the country music supergroup The Highwaymen. Today I want to take a look at his life and career.

Kris was born in Texas, along the Mexican border. His dad was in the Air Force, so his family moved frequently until Kris was in his early teens. Kris loved country music as a child and wrote his first song “I Hate Your Ugly Face” at age 11.

Kris graduated from “Pomona College” with a degree in Creative Writing and attended “Oxford University”, where he earned a Master's Degree in English Literature.

In 1965, Kris was a captain in the Army and was assigned to “West Point Military Academy” to teach English. Before accepting the position, however, he took two weeks leave in Nashville. He loved the music scene in Nashville so much that he resigned from the academy to come back to Nashville.

Kris paid his dues writing songs for five years while working a series of part-time jobs such as a janitor at Columbia recording studios.

In 1969, Roger Miller gave Kris his first hit song by recording “Me and Bobby McGee,” which went to number 12 on the country charts. He then earned two number one songs thanks to Ray Price and Johnny Cash with “For The Good Times” and “Sunday Morning Coming Down.” 

It was then that Kris established himself as a hit-making songwriter. As he put it, he “never had to work again.”

Kris also had one solo number one song with “Why Me” and another number one as part of The Highwaymen with their song “Highwayman.”

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back soon!