10 Facts About Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson is one of greatest songwriters of all time

Kris Kristofferson paved the way for so many singers after him, and helped cultivate a an entire sub-genre of country music. He is an accomplished singer, songwriter, actor, and has so many other accolades to his name.

He Is A Rhodes Scholar

The Rhodes Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship awarded to the 32 most deserving American college students. He was attending Pomona College when he applied.

According to their website, “Rhodes Scholars are chosen not only for their outstanding scholarly achievements, but for their character, commitment to others and to the common good, and for their potential for leadership in whatever domains their careers may lead.”

Apparently, whoever becomes a Rhodes Scholar can get a job pretty much anywhere and many have become Presidents or Prime Ministers.

According to the Rhodes Trust website, Kristofferson’s application read, “I want to be a writer, and I am, therefore, anxious to continue the study of literature…But, I do not consider myself very scholarly, and I do not think I would like a life of undiluted study.”

Kristofferson was awarded with the scholarship in 1958 to study literature at Oxford University.

He Was A Golden Gloves Boxer

When Kristofferson attended Pomona College (before the Rhodes Scholarship that sent him to Oxford to study), he played on the football team and was a Golden Gloves boxer…because of course he was.

Golden Gloves is an amateur boxing tournament held annually in the United States. Legendary names who have won the tournament include Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Kris told Rock Cellar Magazine once that his big boxing heroes were Rocky Graziano and Muhammad Ali, who eventually became a close friend.

He Was A Helicopter Pilot In The Army

Kristofferson came from a long line of veterans. He was under pressure from his family to follow in their footsteps, so he joined the Army. He completed Ranger School and was stationed in Germany in the early 1960s as a helicopter pilot. While he was there, he formed a band.

After he came back in 1965, he was offered a position at West Point to teach English literature, but turned it down to pursue a career in music. His family disowned him and they sadly never reconciled.

Kristofferson was awarded the “Veteran of the Year Award” in 2003 from the American Veterans Awards.

He Got His Start In Music As A Janitor

After he moved to Nashville, Kristofferson began working for the National Guard, but it wasn’t enough to make ends meet. He got a job as a janitor at the Columbia Records studios.

He was actually in the studio when Bob Dylan recorded his album Blonde to Blonde! Here he was, a Rhodes Scholar, Oxford graduate, and helicopter pilot, but he was taking out the trash at a recording studio!

But the job ultimately paid off.

He Is An Award-Winning Actor

Kristofferson has 119 acting credits between the years 1971-2018. Probably his best known role is 1976’s A Star Is Born, which he starred in alongside Barbra Streisand.

His portrayal of musician John Norman Howard earned him a Golden Globe nomination, and eventual win, in the Best Actor in a Musical category.

In fact, the whole movie swept the Golden Globes that year! Streisand won Best Actress in a Musical, “Evergreen” won Best Original Song, the film won Best Original Score and Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

He Landed A Helicopter On Johnny Cash’s Lawn

After Kris left the Army to pursue music, he struggled as a songwriter, so he took up a job with the National Guard to help pay the bills, while also working as a janitor at Capitol Records.

Kris really felt that Johnny Cash would like his song “Sunday Mornin’ COming Down,” but Johnny did not want to listen to it.

After Cash refused to listen to his demos time and time again, Kristofferson took matters into his own hands during a training run with the National Guard. He actually landed the helicopter on Cash’s front lawn in Hendersonville to give Cash a demo.

Ultimately it worked, because Cash recorded the song and it was a huge hit! He later invited Kristofferson on stage at a music festival and the rest is history!

The story ended up on an episode of Comedy Central’s Drunk History.

He Wrote Hit Songs For Other Artists

We already know about “Sunday Mornin’ Coming Down,” but that was’t the only song he wrote for other musicians!

Kris wrote “Me And Bobby McGee” and it was first recorded my Roger Miller. His version peaked at No. 12 on the country chart. Kenny Rogers and the First Edition recorded it in 1969, followed by Gordon Lightfoot. Kristofferson ended up recording for his own debut album in 1970 and his former girlfriend Janis Joplin recorded it just a few days before her October 1970 death. Her version was released posthumously, and it topped the charts, becoming her only number one song.

First recorded by Bill Nash in 1968, “For the Good Times” was later covered by Ray Price, who took it to Number One in 1970.

He Dated Janis Joplin

Briefly, Kris Kristofferson and Janis Joplin dated in 1970, months before she passed away. The first time he heard her recording of “Me and Bobby McGee” was on the radio a few days after she passed away. The two remained close friends and in the years since her passing, Kristofferson has been present at many events honoring her including Joplin getting a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

He Was Happily Married For 41 Years

In 1983, Kris married Lisa Meyers and they remained happily married until his death in 2024. They shared five children together.

He Had Eight Children

Kristofferson was married three times and had children with all of his wives.

He had two children with his first wife, Frances Beer, one child with his second wife, musician Rita Coolidge, and five children with his third wife, Lisa.

RELATED: Introducing Kris Kristofferson’s 8 Kids

Some of his kids have followed in his footsteps into the entertainment industry, while a couple have chosen a life of privacy. His children have become singers, actors, lawyers, and one of his sons even became a professional WWE wrestler!

He also helped form the country music supergroup The Highwaymen with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. All four men are known for growing the outlaw country movement.

His songs have been recorded by over 450 artists including Janis Joplin, Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jennings, Ray Price, and so many more.