The late actor and well-known country singer-songwriter is being honored by Barbra Streisand, who costarred with Kris Kristofferson in the film A Star Is Born. Streisand, who was 82 at the time, took to Instagram to pay tribute to her longtime friend and companion after learning of his peaceful passing on Saturday, September 28, at the age of 88, in his Maui home.
They played Esther Hoffman and John Norman Howard in the 1976 film A Star Is Born, and Streisand shared two touching photos from their performance at her British Summer Time concert in Hyde Park, London, in July 2019. Streisand saw Kristofferson as a unique talent when she recalled their first meeting at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. “Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect fit for a script I was developing, which ultimately became A Star Is Born,” she writes.
She recalled with fondness their duet from the Oscar-winning song “Evergreen” and their on-stage reunion in 2019, where they performed another duet from the film “Lost Inside of You.” Streisand praised Kristofferson’s timeless charm, saying, “The audience showered him with overwhelming applause.” I was happy to see him receive the love and respect he so richly earned.
In her moving letter, she also expressed her condolences to Kristofferson’s wife, Lisa Meyers, acknowledging her unwavering support of him over the years.
After hearing of Kristofferson’s death, celebrities from various industries poured accolades on him. In a touching message, his close friend Dolly Parton called him a “wonderful writer, actor, and friend.” Reba McEntire, Melissa Etheridge, Dakota Fanning, and LeAnn Rimes also expressed their sorrow over the passing of such a remarkable individual.
Kristofferson’s family thanked everyone for their love and support throughout his life in a statement. “Whenever you see a rainbow, know that he is beaming down at each and every one of us,” was the beautiful statement they left behind.
