Kris Kristofferson, the legendary singer-songwriter and actor, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2024, at the age of 88. Known for his poetic lyrics and rugged charm, his journey through fame wasn’t without challenges. Looking back on a candid 1998 interview he did with PEOPLE, the musician and actor once reflected on his hard-fought sobriety and how it transformed his life.
Living life in the fast lane
Kris Kristofferson came from humble beginnings. After serving as a US Army helicopter pilot, he opted to pursue music, moving to Nashville, Tennessee and working odd jobs, including janitorial work at Columbia Records. It was there that he met a number of influential artists who’d help in his own rise in fame.
Kristofferson’s big break came in 1970, when several of his songs, including “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night,” were recorded by stars like Janis Joplin and Johnny Cash.
In these early days, Kristofferson dealt with substance abuse, which resulted from a belief that, to make it as an artist, you had to live life in the fast lane. “I thought all serious artists were self-destructive. That anybody worth their salt was going to be out there living on the edge,” he said at the time.
This was around the same time Kristofferson formed a relationship with Joplin, who was struggling with substance issues herself. “I don’t know what you call a love affair, but we were real close,” he said. “I liked her sense of humor. I was doing a lot of drinking then… And she was trying to kick [heroin].”
A Star Is Born (1976) changed Kris Kristofferson’s perspective
Sadly, Janis Joplin succumbed to her addiction, passing away in October 1970 from an overdose. Her death had a big impact on Kris Kristofferson, who said it “tore me up.”
However, it wasn’t enough to encourage the musician to change his ways. He thought of himself as a “functioning alcoholic” and, as such, didn’t have the desire to get sober. “For a couple of years, it was Jack Daniels, then it was tequila, then it was anything,” he explained. “When I was performing, I couldn’t imagine getting up and doing it without drinking.”
Kristofferson’s turning point came with his role in the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born, in which his character also struggled with drinking. Watching the film and seeing himself play out the death of his character, Kristofferson saw how this could become his own reality.
“I had a half quart of Jose Cuervo in my icebox that they never let get empty,” Kristofferson said of his life before beginning his sobriety journey. “I remember feeling that that could very easily be my wife and kids crying over me. I quit drinking over that. I didn’t want to die before my daughter grew up.”
Kris Kristofferson passed away having lived a full life
In the years that followed, Kris Kristofferson’s life began to look a lot different. In 1982, he met his third wife, Lisa Meyers, with whom he’d share five of his eight children. When he reflected on what his life had become, he admitted his surprise, saying, “I never could have imagined this. I sit right here and think how it could have turned out so differently. I never thought I’d live past 30. I could have ended up dead.”
Kristofferson lived a long and happy life with his family, passing away at his Maui, Hawaii, home on September 28, 2024, at the age of 88. Following his death, his family shared a statement, which read, “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.”
More from us: Eric Roberts Pens ‘Public Apology’ to Sister Julia Roberts in New Memoir
Want articles by The Vintage News delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!
Kris Kristofferson’s impact on the music industry was unrivaled, and his legacy will continue to live on.