Willie Nelson has paid tribute to his “great friend” and former Highwaymen bandmate Kris Kristofferson, saying he “hated to lose him”.
The country legend died on September 28 at the age of 88, four years after announcing his retirement from the entertainment industry. Known for songs like ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ and ‘Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down’, he was also a celebrated actor, starring in films including A Star Is Born and Heaven’s Gate.
Kristofferson was also a founding member of the influential outlaw country supergroup The Highwaymen, alongside Nelson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, who released three albums between 1985 and 1995.
In an interview with Associated Press, Nelson said: “He was a great songwriter. He left a lot of fantastic songs around for the rest of us to sing, for as long as we’re here. Kris was a great friend of mine. And, you know, we just kind of had a lot of fun together and made a lot of music together — videos, movies. I hated to lose him. That was a sad time.”
Reflecting on their work together, he added, “If you just take the music part of it and go back to, you know, Waylon and Kris and John and, you know, all of us working together, the Highwaymen. And then I am the only one left. That’s just not funny.”
Among others to pay tribute to Kristofferson following his passing are Martin Scorsese, who directed him in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. “His presence… the voice, the cool, benign manner, the way he moved… On screen or in person, he brought all of himself,” Scorsese wrote. “He gave so much heart and humour to his character, and to all of our days shooting in Tucson. What a beautiful human being. What a great artist.”
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His A Star Is Born co-star Barbra Streisand also had kind words for him. “For my latest concert in 2019 at London’s Hyde Park, I asked Kris to join me on-stage to sing our other A Star Is Born duet, ‘Lost Inside Of You’,” she wrote. “He was as charming as ever, and the audience showered him with applause. It was a joy seeing him receive the recognition and love he so richly deserved.
“My thoughts go to Kris’ wife, Lisa who I know supported him in every way possible.”
Dolly Parton, who performed duets with the late country star including ‘From Here To The Moon and Back’, wrote in her own tribute: “What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend. I will always love you.”
Meanwhile, in other Nelson news, he recently released an emotional version of The Flaming Lips’ ‘Do You Realize??’, taken from his upcoming 153rd album ’Last Leaf On The Tree’.
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